WWMD stifeing up my front wheel.

[tromano]

I am noticing much of flex in the front wheel and that it doesn't track all that great in rock gardens. I am riding a Stumpjumper 2007. Bike is currently setup with stock fork and wheelset (Fox 32 Talas QR). I think most of the flex is coming from the wheels and not the fork. I read on MTBR that for a guy my size 200lbs a TA fork makes a noticable difference.

Should I simply upgrade the wheelset which is the obvious weakest link or should I ditch the QR fork and wheel set for a pike and a more beeft AM wheelset?

[Spats]

Once you go TA you never go back.

[davep]

If you go TA, I have a pike coil with med and stiff springs for sale, in like-new condition.

[tigerstripe40]

What wheel do you have?
Specialized in house stuff?

how about going with a 36 spoke wheel instead of a 32 spoke wheel?
Also are yo sure it's not the fork flexing? My RS Reba fork on my 29er flexes like CRAZY when I ride the bike like I ride my FR bike. That said, when I ride my 29er like an XC bike the fork flex isnt' a problem.

[toast2266]

just to be sure - are your spokes up to proper tension? Spoke tension is free, so its a good place to start.

[mntlion]

drop someone else wheel on your bike for a ride and see if it is your wheel? or your fork? (or tire? big side lugs can fold over or too high/low tire pressure can make things drift too)

I'd start with the wheel.

[Tech Tonics]

i was underwhelmed by the TA.

heavier. I guess i'm a total fag.

buy my pike coil, b/c I'm going back to qr once my vanilla comes back from fox.

[Conundrum]

Yeah, mess with your air pressure and spoke tension. Then try a different tire then wheel. That said, I'm around 200 and I switched to a TA on my XC bike. If I want to drop weight, I could drink less beer. I'm pretty happy. Most of the lighter TAs have some type of QR built in. The only hangup is using a fork adapter for certain bike racks and that really isn't that big of deal.

[snoweater]

Same issue on the same bike. Like the fork, but prolly going TA as soon as i can.

tires didn't make any diff. that i noticed, and spokes are good. set-up just seems :tdo13:

[kidwoo]

Through axle isn't going to make much difference.

It probably IS your front wheel flexing like a bitch because all spec trail bikes come with wheels built with pinner ass db spokes that are something wierd like 1.8/1.5.

But yeah, check your tire pressure first just because it's easy to do. Then rebuild your exact same wheel (same rim and hub) with some dt swiss db 2.0/1.8 spokes with brass nipples and tighten them up.

I've owned about 5 complete bikes from spec and always ended up either replacing or relacing the wheels. They skimp on wheel beef to make the bikes light.

A better rim would help if you feel like spending the money but the thicker spokes will do most of what you're after.

[tromano]

Thanks for the ideas! So, I popped in an old heavy wheel and that was actually much less flexy just by hand flexing the front wheel in the fork. I guess that isolates most of the flex in the wheels.

the wheel is a specialized brand hub laced 3x 32 1.8mm spokes to DT X430 rim.

After doing that I tightened up the spokes on the stock wheel as much as possible and it is noticeably stiffer now. Still not as solid the old rhyolite wheels, but an improvement. I think you nailed the spokes as they are flimsy feeling and ping and popped alot as I tightened them. I think re-lacing is the solution long term, maybe with a new rim. Maybe something slightly wider would support a 2.3" tire much better.

[tromano]

Same issue on the same bike. Like the fork, but prolly going TA as soon as i can.

tires didn't make any diff. that i noticed, and spokes are good. set-up just seems :tdo13:

Yea, I love the bike, but the stock wheels are sort of crap. I have been adjusting the rear hub lately to keep it rolling smoothly. Its hard to keep it not too tight, not too loose. I think it either needs to be rebuild or replaced.

[snoweater]

and spokes are good

I should have said "tight" ...

is there much difference in stiffness between 2.0 / 1.8 spokes? ...or can you just tighten them more without worrying about popping them in rocky stuff?