srdavo
Well-Known Member
I've seen 2 broken MB frames.... ask around, it's more common than you might think.
Safety first - Mods to make your bike safer.
- Thread starter Molotov256
- Start date
Hawaii_Ed
Member
I have personally broken two qood bikes, off road, without an engine.
Happy Valley
Active Member
A good idea this thread. It might be instructive to discuss what the bike was that had the broken axle.
Molotov256
Member
The bike with the broken axle is/was a Huffy Santa Fe II beach cruiser style bike. The wheel/axle was a steel wheel I stole from a parted roadmaster mountain bike. Obviously not particularly high end equipment. No suspension in the front fork, and probably a low quality axle and bearing set.
In hindsight, I'm surprised it didn't snap sooner!
In hindsight, I'm surprised it didn't snap sooner!
Happy Valley
Active Member
Yeah, that's a tough lesson to learn, hope you're healed up fine.
Roadmaster actually went out of business in 1998, however the badge was picked up by Pacific Bicycle. Older Roadmasters weren't actually that bad but the newer versions, and actually just about anything that comes from Pacific and sold at Walmart has suffered terrible quality fade.
Chromoly axles from reputable makers are not that expensive but the Chinese makers will cut corners wherever and whenever they can. For that reason I would not ride a new bike made in China, with or without an engine.
Roadmaster actually went out of business in 1998, however the badge was picked up by Pacific Bicycle. Older Roadmasters weren't actually that bad but the newer versions, and actually just about anything that comes from Pacific and sold at Walmart has suffered terrible quality fade.
Chromoly axles from reputable makers are not that expensive but the Chinese makers will cut corners wherever and whenever they can. For that reason I would not ride a new bike made in China, with or without an engine.
I'm likely to be the oldest chap on this forum. As a kid living in a mountainous region in Southern Australia I rode bikes everywhere. We had to be 18 to drive a car, I cheated and at age 16 bought a 500CC Matchless, but I digress.
A few months ago I became hooked on bikes once more after restoring a Ladies 70c bike and also a 3/4 size Mountain bike. Getting back on the bike again after so many years I got the same thrill as I did when I was a four year old. It never leaves you, trust me.
One night I am up until midnight oiling and adjusting the mountain bike and marveling at the clever front and rear suspension of the modern alloy unit. My last bike was a 1957 English made Gentleman's made of steel, which will have been molten down and turned into at least one small Toyota sedan.
I woke early next morning keen to take the little thing for a spin before the missus woke, so I quietly crept into the garage and skulked out the back onto a VERY steep part of our suburban lawn.
Forgetting I had sprayed the bikes wheels with a lubricant called WD40 (also CRC) I commence an unsteady descent down the grassy slope gathering speed very rapidly and hit the brakes, gently at first, then HARD!
No answer, thanks to the lubricant all over both wheels, so not wishing to hit the street at 30Mph, I put it down sideways on the grass with about 3 or 4 yards of damp grass left before I hit the Bitumen. The bike stopped and I went over the handlebar skidding on my left knee until it hit the concrete kerb and stopped me but not before momentum made me go over the knee and I kissed the road tarmac, head down, lips on road, backside in the air, like a Muslim at prayer.
A lady neighbor two doors up is reversing her Toyota Yaris out of her driveway sees this
and I feebly attempt to make a dignified show of standing up.
Very painful!
That was nearly 20 weeks ago. I had my last visit to my physiotherapist on Friday and I am able (just) to walk without a limp to port. I post this as a cautionary tale.
Safety First!
A few months ago I became hooked on bikes once more after restoring a Ladies 70c bike and also a 3/4 size Mountain bike. Getting back on the bike again after so many years I got the same thrill as I did when I was a four year old. It never leaves you, trust me.
One night I am up until midnight oiling and adjusting the mountain bike and marveling at the clever front and rear suspension of the modern alloy unit. My last bike was a 1957 English made Gentleman's made of steel, which will have been molten down and turned into at least one small Toyota sedan.
I woke early next morning keen to take the little thing for a spin before the missus woke, so I quietly crept into the garage and skulked out the back onto a VERY steep part of our suburban lawn.
Forgetting I had sprayed the bikes wheels with a lubricant called WD40 (also CRC) I commence an unsteady descent down the grassy slope gathering speed very rapidly and hit the brakes, gently at first, then HARD!
No answer, thanks to the lubricant all over both wheels, so not wishing to hit the street at 30Mph, I put it down sideways on the grass with about 3 or 4 yards of damp grass left before I hit the Bitumen. The bike stopped and I went over the handlebar skidding on my left knee until it hit the concrete kerb and stopped me but not before momentum made me go over the knee and I kissed the road tarmac, head down, lips on road, backside in the air, like a Muslim at prayer.
A lady neighbor two doors up is reversing her Toyota Yaris out of her driveway sees this
and I feebly attempt to make a dignified show of standing up.
Very painful!
That was nearly 20 weeks ago. I had my last visit to my physiotherapist on Friday and I am able (just) to walk without a limp to port. I post this as a cautionary tale.
Safety First!
EsQueue
Member
Thanks for the Safety First message but I have to say that this was well writen. I usually skip long posts but took interest from the first post. Hope to see more of them (not of you getting hurt though
).LOLIt's great that you are recovering. It is also easy to forget how something that seems as simple as a bike can get very dangerous very quickly.
H
HoughMade
Guest
...I've heard of far fewer broken axles.
Attachments
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fetor56
Guest
Always the front engine mount.
With the rear engine mount u can always put a section of seat post down the seat tube to strengthen it in that area.
With the rear engine mount u can always put a section of seat post down the seat tube to strengthen it in that area.
EsQueue
Member
WOW, seems that the resonance caused by the engine vibration are quite destructive.
