Suddenly, A Death Wobble???

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LeftieBiker
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Suddenly, A Death Wobble???

I went for a ride on my VX-1 yesterday, and early on I decided to close my helmet visor. I usually do that one-handed, but today I briefly took both hands off the bars, for about 2 seconds, to snap the visor shut wile holding my helmet steady. The bike shocked me by immediately going into a low speed (maybe 20MPH) "death wobble" with the bars going into rapid oscillations of rapidly increasing violence. I hastily grabbed the bars and it stopped. Several times during the ride I CAREFULLY checked to see if the tendency was still there, and...it was. I find it hard to believe that yesterday was the first time I had both hands off the bars at once while moving, but it isn't impossible. Is this is a known issue with these bikes? I don't feel any wobble with even just one hand on a bar - it only happens with both off, but it happens quickly. I don't see anything odd about the tires...

Sacko
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Re: Suddenly, A Death Wobble???

Thrown a weight off the wheel? So the wheel is now out of balance?

LeftieBiker
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Re: Suddenly, A Death Wobble???

Maybe. It will be hard to spot a weight that is no longer there, though. Maybe I can enlarge some photos I have, and compare them to how the wheels look now.

PJD
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Re: Suddenly, A Death Wobble???

Might a wobble be common characteristic of a scooter? They tend to have less rake and trail, and the underbone-type frame is less rigid. The added mass of the batteries probably does not help either. Two of the three (non-Vectrix) scooters I've had have or had a wobble if one lets go of the handlebars at low speed, but they are hardly "death" wobbles, just some 5-15 degree handlebar shaking oscillations (embarrassing if anyone were watching), with no loss of directional control, that stop as soon as the hands are put back on the handlebars. It is not very elegant - but it never feels dangerous. Never had it happen at higher speed.

Aircon
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Re: Suddenly, A Death Wobble???

Completely normal, and changes with the amount of wear on the tyres.

martinwinlow
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Re: Suddenly, A Death Wobble???

I can't say I have ever seen it but then, I can't swear that I have done what you did either!

If there is an issue I say it would be more likely down to wear in a bearing - headstock or axle. Either would be fairly easy to detect 'in the usual way'.

Regards, Martin Winlow
Isle of Colonsay, Scotland
evalbum.com/2092

R
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Re: Suddenly, A Death Wobble???

I agree, happens on almost every vectrix. depends on tyre wear.

israndy
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Re: Suddenly, A Death Wobble???

Another agreement, I had been disappointed that my V was so unstable but when I got new tires suddenly I was able to ride hands free with my throttle lock. Sweet. Like a new bike.

-Randy

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mf70
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Re: Suddenly, A Death Wobble???

I've had wobbles arrive with my non-Vectrix scoot when the head tube bearings got loose.

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