13
to the handlebar, the brake is too loose.
When brakes are not applied, the brake
pads should be .25-.75mm away from
the disc. If the pads are too near to the
disc, the brake is not in line or it is too
tight and the brake should be adjusted.
Examine the Steering
Make sure the stem is in line with the
front wheel and correctly attached to the
fork and handlebar.
To examine the connection to the fork,
try to turn the handlebar from side to side
while you hold the front wheel between
your knees (Fig. 7).
To examine the connection of the
handlebar, try to twist it in the stem. The
handlebar should not move or be loose.
Follow the inspection instructions for the
type of brake equipped on your bicycle:
•
Hand-rim brake
: a cable connects
a hand lever to the brake. The lever
causes brake pads to apply pressure
to the rim. Pull the lever to make sure
the brake moves freely and stops the
bicycle. If the lever can be pulled to the
handlebar, the brake is too loose. When
brakes are not applied, brake pads
should be 1 to 2mm from rim. If brake
pads are too near the rim, brake is too
tight. The brake pads should be in line
with the rim surface (Fig. 6, page 13)
•
Disc brake
: a cable or hydraulic hose
connects a hand lever to the brake. The
lever causes the brake to apply
pressure to a disc attached to the hub.
Pull the brake lever to make sure
the brake moves freely and stops the
bicycle. If the brake lever can be pulled
Never ride a bike with an improperly
adjusted handlebar or stem as this
can cause you to lose control of the
bike, leading to serious injury or death.
Also, handlebar ends that are not
plugged or covered can cut in a crash.
WARNING
Fig. 7:
Try to turn the
handlebars while
holding the front
wheel between
your knees.
Disc brakes and discs get very hot
during use and could burn skin. Also,
the disc edges can be sharp and could
cut skin. Do not touch the disc or disc
brake when it turns or when hot.
CAUTION
A
B
C
D
Rim
Pad
Fig. 6: Pad alignment. A: Brake pad lined up with
rim surface. B: Brake pad and rim should be paral-
lel. C: Rim direction. D: Toe-in of .5-1.0mm.
BEFORE EVERY RIDE
CONTINUED
Summary of Contents for DIRECT CONNECT
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