I am planning a 200-mile ride starting in a few days, and have not yet test ridden my heavily loaded Navigator. Should I be concerned about potential for wobble? I have 20 to 30 pounds of gear in my panniers.
The bike flexes laterally when I wiggle it and feels like it could swim like a fish going down the road. The racks, frame pivot QR, and front fork / headset are all tightened to spec.
I have not ridden it yet, and I’m concerned that it might develop a death wobble at speed.
Does anyone have experience touring with a fully loaded Navigator carrying 20 to 30 pounds of loaded panniers? Any advice?
More details: I just loaded up my Montague Navigator with racks and panniers, just like I would normally do with my steel Surly Disc Trucker. The front rack is a Topeak Tetrarack M1, rear is the OEM Montague Rackstand. This bike feels far more flexxy to me and I’m concerned.
by Jgilber0
3 Comments
You should ride it around the block. Feel how it behaves. It’s definitely a different sensation than a not loaded up bike. It just takes some getting used to with that flex. If everything is tightened down correctly then it should be just fine. I’ve done tours/bikepacking on my old 1970 Schwinn road bike with a big milk crate on the back loaded up (even brought my cast iron pan lol it was my first time), my more modern road bike, and on my 90s mountain bike. All over gravel, single track, roads. All have felt fine even on long downhill and all that. You’ll get a feel.
seen a few places that max weight is 250 load and rider. I would guess that if you are feeling flex now it will be exacerbated when you’re riding. Death wobble seems very possible.
How was your loaded test ride?
That will tell you more accurately than anyone on a forum can.
Also note that one person’s trash is another’s treasure.
Personally I’d prefer low-riders that place the front load lower and more towards the center of the fork, but that is my preference. Everyone is different.