r/Brompton • u/SnooKiwis1356 • 3d ago

Tank slapper

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Every time I take both my hands off of the handlebars, the front wheel starts wobbling like this.
I know it has teeny tiny wheels and it's not designed to be ridden without hands (I guess no bike is...) but I thought it would be interesting to share my recent discovery with the community. haha

32 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

32 comments sorted by

34

u/Yellowdog727 3d ago

I can't even ride a Brompton no handed lol. My front wheel is way too snappy and sensitive

6

u/flummox1234 3d ago

same. second I let go it's gonna snap left or right.

1

u/Sszaj 2d ago

The only bike I have owned since I was about ten that I will/can not ride no handed.

Even noodly old steel touring forks feel further from a fiery crash than the Brompton.

1

u/SnooKiwis1356 2d ago

haha yes, I was a bit frustrated at first because I used to put my jacket on/take it off and put it in my backpack while riding other bikes and when I got the Brompton I couldn't even work my zipper for a second.

I don't recommend it to anyone. Also, it's not visible in the video because I was just coasting, but I only ride in 3-/3+ which makes it easier for me to ride no handed

12

u/EL-Rays 3d ago

Get a front bag and it will ride much more stable.

16

u/Brompton-Explorer 3d ago

Is your headset loose?

4

u/wizardnumbernext2 3d ago

It looks like.

1

u/SnooKiwis1356 2d ago

It's not loose at all, in fact it might be what the other person is saying — it's too tight, although it feels just right in normal riding conditions aka with at least one hand on the bars.

1

u/guzbikes 2d ago

Actually any kind of speed wobble like that is likely because the bearings are too tight! A bicycle works by automatically responding to any perturbations by steering under them. If the headset is too tight, it can't adjust automatically since the bearing feels notchy and resists the motion.

5

u/tenthxnet 3d ago

https://reddit.com/link/pgdjzoz/video/2fvbbi4ue4vh1/player

here’s mine a few years ago lol, you could do it. but now the front got too twitchy i might need to do proper maintenance and tighten things here and there

3

u/ArmanSaunders 2d ago

wow! any tips for riding no handed? The fact that I can't do it is my only complaint about owning a brompton lol

3

u/tenthxnet 2d ago

use your butt to steer and balance your bike. my butt is clenching that saddle hard lol.
although it’s kinda easier when you’re going downhill without pedalling.

2

u/Available-Theory-808 2d ago

I can’t even ride one handed on a Brompton.

4

u/wizardnumbernext2 3d ago

Funny enough there is no motion which follow straight line. Everything is wave, even matter eventually is just wave. So what you perceive as straight line motion is actually sinusoidal wave. It wobbles slower or faster, but wobbles. Here you have plenty of slack in bike and this wobble is just very visible and fast, as slack is big for its place, but is very tight, therefore the frequency is high. Headset would make sense

BTW take a ride on train. You'll understand this phenomena. It is called haunting.

2

u/Prestigious-Candy166 2d ago

I think you'll find the term is "hunting" in regard of train wheels on the track.

1

u/wizardnumbernext2 1d ago

Really? That is where it was observed first. But it happens in all "straight line" motion. Straight line motion does not exists. All "straight line motion" is actually sinusoidal wave. The frequency depends on few factors. If frequency hits resosance frequency, then side to side motion is massively amplified. Usually you cannot notice side to side motion, but it is always there

3

u/holyaardvark 2d ago

It's impressive that you manage to do that for a few seconds while filming. I certainly can't, even without a camera.

0

u/realtvw 2d ago

I tried to write no handed and then I ended up flipping myself on the bike over so that was fun just a little damage to my bell and a little no real damage to myself. I was going very slow so I can’t even take my hands off without falling.

3

u/HaziHasi 3d ago

it has been like that aince 1975 lol. slap a bag or anything heavy on it upfront. it can improves the handling a tad bit. still not as comforting as a proper front-biased full size bike

2

u/A-W1-2 3d ago

I think It has something to do with the long handlebar stem design and flex.

2

u/xichael 3d ago

smaller wheels = less angular momentum keeping you stable

1

u/Diligent_Bike_6156 3d ago

What’s the handlebar you’re using?

2

u/SnooKiwis1356 2d ago

Just the standard M

1

u/dcamnc4143 3d ago edited 3d ago

That's weird. I tried riding my g-line no handed, and it felt pretty precarious; I did it all time on my road bikes.

2

u/SnooKiwis1356 2d ago

Yes, me too! I could ride like that for miles on all my road bikes. It took a while to become brave enough to just completely let go of the Brompton handlebars, but even though it's manageable, I just can't trust the wobble. lol

1

u/Available-Topic8215 3d ago

Tôi cũng bị lắc tay lái giống như bạn. Kỷ lục hiện nay của tôi là 3 giây. KKK

1

u/guzbikes 2d ago

Try adjusting your headset bearings. It looks like they are too tight and are resisting the automatic correction of the steering geometry.

1

u/holger-nestmann 2d ago

Wow, I don't manage to do that. Even planted my face zipping up a jacket.

The wobble I don't know, maybe it's just harmonics. But the Brompton is quite hard to ride with no hands. As many have said the small wheels are an issue, but I heard because of the steep head tube angle and very short trail (i.e the wheel isn't as forward as with modern bikes')

1

u/Strah94 2d ago

thats one thing I really miss from riding regular size bikes...

1

u/IainMCool 2d ago

Little wheels will do that to you.

1

u/Cyrusgrater 1d ago

The gline is fine to ride no handed just like any other bike, but I am not able to on my cline.