Frustrated with Front Wheel Hop; can’t find a shop willing to touch it

Ski_rush · 05-24-2019, 03:38 PM

So, I’ve loosened and re-tightened the spokes on the front wheel 3 times now. I thought I had the wheel laterally “true”; I was pretty happy with the result. However, the radial hop was still there. I have a noticeable low spot and high spot on the rim. This issue has been there since I got the bike. At first, I thought it was in my head. It was only recently that I learned how to check for trueness. I just can’t seem to get that rim radially true. And, I can feel the hop as I’m riding on road. That’s how I noticed the problem in the first place.

So, I called several shops and they won’t work on the wheel. The first question they ask, “what kind of bike is it?” I say “Apollo”. They quickly figure out that’s its Chinese and the conversation ends there. “I don’t work on Chinese bikes!”

Ok...so, am I now left with a bike that’s not viable to ride?

Manny’s parts warranty has expired so I can’t even ship the guy the wheel and hope and wait for a replacement.

A new wheel for this bike is $200. Is that my only option here, because if it is...then this bike is going to sit for a while like a paper weight in the garage.

Anyone have any suggestions for me? i would greatly appreciate it. I got the lemon of the bunch I suppose...lucky me.

**JerryHawk250** · 05-24-2019, 03:50 PM

That's just crazy. Some people can be so narrow minded. It shouldn't matter where the bike came from it they are just going to true the wheel. Have you tried just bringing in the wheel to a shop? It's a wheel, they aren't working on the engine. There's got to be someone that will do it.

Wild Dog · 05-24-2019, 04:07 PM

The chinese rim can be hard to true, they are far cry from a oem DID rim that are equiped on my kawasakis.
Two days ago, i went to change my tyres for my chinese motorcycle, they are not very eager or happy to work on chinese rims. But they did the job anyway, because they know since i was 10 years old..... and oh boy they had hard time to true them, but they able to to do it.

I would do what Jerry said take the wheel out of the motorcycle, go to a shop and if they ask question about it. "It's a backup wheel for my CRF230"

Seeing how the commercial war with China is going and i can see that some uber patriots won't even dare to touch a chinese made wheel xD (But the iphone is the exception to the rule)

**JerryHawk250** · 05-24-2019, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wild Dog

I would do what Jerry said take the wheel out of the motorcycle, go to a shop and if they ask question about it. "It's a backup wheel for my CRF230"

That's exactly what I would do.

Ski_rush · 05-24-2019, 06:07 PM

If I get the lateral true, but I still have a radial hop, is it ok to ride on dirt? Or, will I risk bending the wheel by riding it like that?

Wild Dog · 05-24-2019, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ski_rush

If I get the lateral true, but I still have a radial hop, is it ok to ride on dirt? Or, will I risk bending the wheel by riding it like that?

If you can fell the hop, then it's pointless to continue using it. Can you?? Sure, it will get worst eventually and you may run into problems.
The easy solution is to take the whell, go to a shop and lie to the technician. Unless it's really busted up, they can fix it with the right tools.

Megadan · 05-24-2019, 06:39 PM

Other option is to start from scratch and loosen every spoke fully and begin from there. I had to do that with my Hawks front wheel. Its tedious and can take a few hours, but it is doable. It is a good skill to learn. I used to make money on the side doing it for people.

Otherwise, do as suggested above and take just the rim in and say its for a Honda if they ask.

I don't get the mentality of turning a bike away. Work is work.

ChipToothy · 05-24-2019, 06:40 PM

I wonder if you can just buy the same size rim and replace it yourself for the same money a shop will charge. I see used rims for $100. A set sometimes on eBay.

Wild Dog · 05-24-2019, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChipToothy

I wonder if you can just buy the same size rim and replace it yourself for the same money a shop will charge. I see used rims for $100. A set sometimes on eBay.

Indeed paying 200 for a chinese wheel, unless the hub is busted is pointless. On Amazon you can find DID rims for 100 usd...

Ski_rush · 05-24-2019, 06:46 PM

I just don’t get it. I’ve watched a dozen videos and I’m doing everything suggested on the videos. I just can’t get that hip to come down.

Ski_rush · 05-24-2019, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChipToothy

I wonder if you can just buy the same size rim and replace it yourself for the same money a shop will charge. I see used rims for $100. A set sometimes on eBay.

I can’t find a 17” x 2.50 wheel. All I find is 17” x 1.40.

Ski_rush · 05-24-2019, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Megadan

Other option is to start from scratch and loosen every spoke fully and begin from there. I had to do that with my Hawks front wheel. Its tedious and can take a few hours, but it is doable. It is a good skill to learn. I used to make money on the side doing it for people.

Otherwise, do as suggested above and take just the rim in and say its for a Honda if they ask.

I don't get the mentality of turning a bike away. Work is work.

Dan...the one guy’s tone on the phone was like it was “beneath” him to touch the bike.

I tried loosening them all and started from the beginning so to speak. I’m wondering if a major problem is that the tire is still mounted? I don’t currently have spoons to remove the tire, but maybe that is the next step. Would that be part of the problem the rim won’t budge?

ChipToothy · 05-24-2019, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ski_rush

I can’t find a 17” x 2.50 wheel. All I find is 17” x 1.40.

What about a 18” ?

Wild Dog · 05-24-2019, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ski_rush

I can’t find a 17” x 2.50 wheel. All I find is 17” x 1.40.

You changed the rims on the apollo??

ChipToothy · 05-24-2019, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ski_rush

I just don’t get it. I’ve watched a dozen videos and I’m doing everything suggested on the videos. I just can’t get that hip to come down.

True and Dish are 2 different things. When a bicycle wheel rubs the brake it’s out of true. When it stops being round it’s out of dish. Sounds like yours is out of dish or you have something up with your tire causing the skip.

My front wheel is out of true about a 1/4 inch at one area and it doesn’t skip. It’s just not efficient as it could be.

05-24-2019, 03:38 PM	#1
Ski_rush Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 449	Frustrated with Front Wheel Hop; can’t find a shop willing to touch it So, I’ve loosened and re-tightened the spokes on the front wheel 3 times now. I thought I had the wheel laterally “true”; I was pretty happy with the result. However, the radial hop was still there. I have a noticeable low spot and high spot on the rim. This issue has been there since I got the bike. At first, I thought it was in my head. It was only recently that I learned how to check for trueness. I just can’t seem to get that rim radially true. And, I can feel the hop as I’m riding on road. That’s how I noticed the problem in the first place. So, I called several shops and they won’t work on the wheel. The first question they ask, “what kind of bike is it?” I say “Apollo”. They quickly figure out that’s its Chinese and the conversation ends there. “I don’t work on Chinese bikes!” Ok...so, am I now left with a bike that’s not viable to ride? Manny’s parts warranty has expired so I can’t even ship the guy the wheel and hope and wait for a replacement. A new wheel for this bike is $200. Is that my only option here, because if it is...then this bike is going to sit for a while like a paper weight in the garage. Anyone have any suggestions for me? i would greatly appreciate it. I got the lemon of the bunch I suppose...lucky me.
	0

05-24-2019, 03:50 PM	#2
JerryHawk250 Moderator Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Houma, La. Posts: 11,554	That's just crazy. Some people can be so narrow minded. It shouldn't matter where the bike came from it they are just going to true the wheel. Have you tried just bringing in the wheel to a shop? It's a wheel, they aren't working on the engine. There's got to be someone that will do it. __________________ 2023 Lifan Lycan 250 Chopper 2023 Venom Evader 2022 Lifan KPX250 2020 Kawasaki Vulcan S 2004 Honda ST 1300 2016 Black Hawk 250 (sold) Keihin PE30 carb,125 main,38 slow.Pod filter,ported & decked head 10:1 CR,Direct Ignition Coil,15/40Sprockets,NGK DPR8EIX-9,De-Cat,Dual Oil Cooler,Digital Cluster 2016 Cazador180 XL 2014 Coolster150 JerryHawk250.com My YouTube Channel
	2

05-24-2019, 06:39 PM	#7
Megadan Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 7,990	Other option is to start from scratch and loosen every spoke fully and begin from there. I had to do that with my Hawks front wheel. Its tedious and can take a few hours, but it is doable. It is a good skill to learn. I used to make money on the side doing it for people. Otherwise, do as suggested above and take just the rim in and say its for a Honda if they ask. I don't get the mentality of turning a bike away. Work is work. __________________ Hawk Information and Resource guide: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=20331 2018 Hawk 250 - Full Mod list here. http://www.chinariders.net/showpost....62&postcount=1 2024 Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 https://chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=34124
	0

05-24-2019, 06:40 PM	#8
ChipToothy Join Date: Apr 2018 Posts: 819	I wonder if you can just buy the same size rim and replace it yourself for the same money a shop will charge. I see used rims for $100. A set sometimes on eBay. __________________ Bashan Storm: Ebay steel exhaust wrapped, folding shift lever, seat mod, vm26 carb, air pod, dual led scrambler headlamps, windshield mod, led brake/tail light, secondary led brake light (swingarm), Ebay 295mm rear shock, back up CDI (racing unknown), oil cooler, digital gauge cluster,
	0

05-24-2019, 04:07 PM	#3
Wild Dog Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Argentina Posts: 756	The chinese rim can be hard to true, they are far cry from a oem DID rim that are equiped on my kawasakis. Two days ago, i went to change my tyres for my chinese motorcycle, they are not very eager or happy to work on chinese rims. But they did the job anyway, because they know since i was 10 years old..... and oh boy they had hard time to true them, but they able to to do it. I would do what Jerry said take the wheel out of the motorcycle, go to a shop and if they ask question about it. "It's a backup wheel for my CRF230" Seeing how the commercial war with China is going and i can see that some uber patriots won't even dare to touch a chinese made wheel xD (But the iphone is the exception to the rule)
	1

05-24-2019, 06:07 PM	#5
Ski_rush Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 449	If I get the lateral true, but I still have a radial hop, is it ok to ride on dirt? Or, will I risk bending the wheel by riding it like that?
	0

05-24-2019, 06:46 PM	#10
Ski_rush Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 449	I just don’t get it. I’ve watched a dozen videos and I’m doing everything suggested on the videos. I just can’t get that hip to come down.
	0