Motorcycle Wheel Wobble: What, Why, and Solutions

While riding a bike, you might often notice strange vibrations or balance problems. The alloy rim or disc of the wheel, and even the tire, can sometimes become bumpy or bent in some places; we call this problem 'wheel out of true' or 'wheel wobble'. Even without any accident, the wheel can become out of true. This matter is not only annoying but also carries the risk of a major accident later on. In our country, many bikers believe that if a bike's wheel is out of true, there's only one solution – to replace the wheel or rim. But this is not true. In our country, there are very few places that can fix alloy rims and discs that are out of true. However, sometimes even broken rims can be fixed if you go to the right person. Today, we will learn how a bike's wheel becomes out of true, when you will know that the wheel is out of true, and what to do if the disc or bike wheel is out of true, etc.

How Do You Know if Your Bike's Wheel is Out of True?

Before going out with your motorcycle, take at least 5-10 minutes to observe it. We have emphasized this in our report on motorcycle maintenance. Often, if a bike's wheel is out of true or there's a problem with the disc, it can be noticed by careful observation. Here are some things you can look out for to understand if your bike's wheel is out of true:

• There might be an abnormal bulge or dent on the tire. If you look closely at where the rim meets the tire, you might notice bends or cracks in some places on the rim.
• Even if nothing is visible to the eye, the bike might vibrate abnormally while riding.
• Most often, the front wheel of our bike gets out of true. In such cases, the bike's balance is significantly compromised. If you ride the bike at 60-70 speed, the handlebars will shake, or the front of the bike will bounce unnecessarily. If this happens, you should understand that your bike's wheel is out of true.
• Similar symptoms may appear with the rear wheel.
• If the disc is out of true, it will also be noticeable from the outside.

How and Why Does a Bike's Wheel Become Out of True?

A bike's wheel can become out of true for various reasons. Sometimes, even without an accident or riding over broken roads or potholes, the bike's wheel can become out of true. The most common reasons for a wheel to become out of true are listed below:

• Bike Accidents

The biggest cause of a wheel becoming out of true is a bike accident. If you get into an accident while riding, or if you hit something hard, the bike's wheel can become out of true. In the case of minor accidents, this misalignment is often not noticeable or doesn't come to our attention. So, if something like this happens, be sure to stop somewhere safe and inspect the wheel, or observe if there's any vibration while riding.

• Riding the Bike Forcefully Over Potholes or Broken Roads

While riding, situations can often arise where you have to ride over broken roads or potholes to save yourself. But if you ride your bike forcefully over a large pothole at high speed, your bike's wheel can become out of true.

• Riding Forcefully Over Speed Bumps

In our country, many roads have speed bumps in various places that are not visible from a distance, or they don't have proper road signs painted on them. In such cases, it's not impossible to suddenly ride forcefully over a speed bump without reducing speed due to lack of attention. Even if no accident occurs in this situation, there is a possibility that your bike's wheel will become out of true.

• Carrying More Load Than Capacity

Every bike has a specific load capacity. This means it's better not to carry more weight than this on the bike. However, in our country, many people, either unknowingly or carelessly, try to carry excessive weight on their motorcycles beyond the load capacity. In such cases, the bike's wheel can also become out of true. Additionally, the bike's disc can also become out of true, which is even more dangerous. Some main reasons for a disc becoming out of true are listed below:

• Not Noticing the Disc Lock

The purpose of a disc lock is to provide security for your bike. However, being careless about it can lead to damage. Many of us forget about the disc lock after putting it on. If the bike is pulled without removing the disc lock due to carelessness before starting the bike, there is a possibility of an accident in some cases. And if it's pulled forcefully, along with personal injury, the disc can become out of true or even break.

• Strong Impact on the Disc

If you encounter an accident while riding, the bike's disc and wheel can become out of true. Sometimes, if you ride carelessly or lose control and hit a vehicle in front, this impact can also affect your bike's disc. Moreover, many new bikers also cause such impacts while riding in the rain or when applying emergency brakes. A strong impact on the disc can cause it to become out of true.

• Carelessness While Removing the Wheel

When getting your motorcycle repaired or maintained by a mechanic, pay close attention to their work. Observe carefully whether they are handling the wheel with care when removing it, or if anyone is standing on the wheel while they work, in short, whether the wheel is subjected to any abnormal pressure or impact. Sometimes, some mechanics forcefully drop the wheel on the road after removing it. Even a small child standing on the wheel can put excessive pressure on the wheel and disc. Such unexpected impacts can cause the disc to become out of true.

What to Do if Your Bike's Wheel is Out of True

When an alloy rim becomes out of true, many people think they need to buy a new rim. In Bangladesh, just like the price of motorcycles, the price of rims is also very high. So, whether it's the rim or the disc, if the bike's wheel is out of true, the first thing to do is try to fix it. If the bike's wheel can be fixed, the huge cost of buying a new rim will be saved. And this is possible in our country! In this regard, you can inquire at Mozammel Bhai's shop. Experienced bikers recognize Mozammel Bhai from the Banshal area of Dhaka city as the 'magician of bike wheels'. For almost 10 years, Mozammel Bhai has been fixing bike wheels that are out of true. If you ask in Banshal, anyone can show you Mozammel's shop; and we will also provide the address below. Here, not only are bike wheels fixed, but discs that are out of true are also repaired, and he also provides simple solutions for various tire-related problems.

Mozammel Motorcycle Wheel Workshop:

142/R-2, Banshal, Majed Sardar Road, Bangladesh Match More, Dhaka - 1211.

Mobile Number: 01717938582

Conclusion

Regular maintenance of the bike is essential for a smooth and comfortable ride. Some basic maintenance you can do yourself. And for any help, experienced mechanics like Mozammel Bhai are always there. We hope our tips on what to do if a bike's wheel is out of true and how to prevent it will be useful to you. May all our bikes be well maintained. Happy Riding!