Mokwheel Basalt 2.0 front end wobbling after first 17 miles

[Smaug]

Glad you got it fixed.

Sounds like a missing spacer was the cause. Tires wouldn't be the cause of what you've described, though it's good to hear about HEB Allscapes.

I have to admit that in the back of my mind, I was thinking that an extreme cowgirl such as yourself should be able to handle a bucking bronco of a wobbly eBike.

 

[cowgirlextreme]

Well, I am back, many miles later, still dealing with same wobbling issues. I tighten the stem bolt, ride 40-60 miles, it starts wobbling again. Figured it was a fluke with mine...bought another lightly used Mokwheel for hubby, he just did not have any confidence on it, so since that one did not wobble, I alternated between the 2...until the "wobble virus " spread. Tightened down stem bolt, no wobble. 40-60 miles later, sometimes sooner depending on condition of roads, wobbling. My friend that also has same bike, hers remained fine....until we rode 51.6 miles today on all dirt roads, at times pretty bumpy. We came back with both bikes wobbling after 40-45 miles. What on earth is the problem here??? We are now both very frustrated. Should not be rocket science! I have played with tire air pressure, the shock settings, nothing but retightening the stem bolt going into the star nut. Why does it keep coming loose on bumpy roads? We got heavy duty bikes for that reason. The local bike shop has turned me away, said they have done all they can and I need to take it up with mokwheel. All they have said is to tighten it down to the point you cannot move the handlebars left or right, then back off a little until you can turn it. I have taken so many falls on these two bikes when I am out and do not get back home before the wobbling is severe, I am just over it. Chad at customer service dropped me like a hot potatoe, now tomorrow my friend and I are both getting on the phone to an actual dealer in Muskegon, MI. to try and resolve this. The local bike shop said maybe it is time to try a different manufacturer? They carry Troxus brand, and also make a 4" fat tire called Explorer Plus. My friend and I have now put over 500 miles on our bikes, I have done 172 miles in the past 5 days, but I have to retighten it before every ride.

 

[Joecrow]

The local bike shop said maybe it is time to try a different manufacturer?

That sounds like very good advice given the horrible saga you have suffered. Different manufacturer from a local shop is maybe the way to go.
Also a lighter, around 55lbs, bike with mid motor would definitely be better balanced and should be a lot more stable.

 

[Smaug]

That sounds like very good advice given the horrible saga you have suffered. Different manufacturer from a local shop is maybe the way to go.
Also a lighter, around 55lbs, bike with mid motor would definitely be better balanced and should be a lot more stable.

Yes, I don't recommend buying a 3rd one.

This is why I recommend avoiding the ChiComm brands. They don't really put in the design & test riding effort, nor the cost of providing good after-sale support.

Life's too short to have our precious rides ruined by poor quality bikes, IMO.

 

[HumanPerson]

I once had a death wobble and it turned out to be the plastic washer on the bottom not letting the bearings seat all the way like they are supposed to.

 

[Annieolnie]

The Xpeaks all had a death wobble and the answer was to install a Cranes Creek Hellbender Visco 70 headset, which i guess is what Wired Freedom is now sending out on their ebikes. You could see if Mokwheel wants to reimburse you for it.

 

[Joecrow]

The Xpeaks all had a death wobble and the answer was to install a Cranes Creek Hellbender Visco 70 headset, which i guess is what Wired Freedom is now sending out on their ebikes.

The Cranes Creek Hellbender Visco 70 headset seems to be a hydraulic/friction damper that will supress speed wobble but the OPs problem is that everything seems OK as long as the headset is tight (no speed wobble reported) but after a short distance ride it becomes loose and causes the bike to wobble, so not sure the Hellbender would help.

 

[Annieolnie]

The Cranes Creek Hellbender Visco 70 headset seems to be a hydraulic/friction damper that will supress speed wobble but the OPs problem is that everything seems OK as long as the headset is tight (no speed wobble reported) but after a short distance ride it becomes loose and causes the bike to wobble, so not sure the Hellbender would help.

I'm wondering if something isn't sized properly. I'd love to measure the steerer tube and the headset bearings to see if they are a proper fit. Did the bike shop that worked on it replace the entire headset after measuring, or just refit the old one with a new star nut? Perhaps they are all coming through with the sizing off, so they loosen up as they go along. It makes me also ponder.

 

[Annieolnie]

Well, I looked up the Mokwheel, Basalt headset on their website and went through Google Lense to see what else it matched. It is in my opinion, a bottom tier, very cheap headset. It would explain why each bike eventually develops problems. If you want to keep the bikes, I would pick out a higher quality, full headset and have it completely replaced. The Hellbender would be my choice, but any quality headset with the proper number of bushings and decent bearings would be better than what you have. I was surprised at what a low tier they chose for a heavy, off road ebike. This is the Basalt's below, try comparing it to some of the better quality ones on the market.

 

[cowgirlextreme]

Well, I looked up the Mokwheel, Basalt headset on their website and went through Google Lense to see what else it matched. It is in my opinion, a bottom tier, very cheap headset. It would explain why each bike eventually develops problems. If you want to keep the bikes, I would pick out a higher quality, full headset and have it completely replaced. The Hellbender would be my choice, but any quality headset with the proper number of bushings and decent bearings would be better than what you have. I was surprised at what a low tier they chose for a heavy, off road ebike. This is the Basalt's below, try comparing it to some of the better quality ones on the market.


View attachment 22796

Omg. Thank you so much! I talked to my avid dirt bike neighbor, he told me to see if there is any sort of steering stabilizer that can be used on my bike, and then I seen your post to check into this. From the beginning I felt it was in the headset, but Mokwheel has been less than accommodating about my problem, now we times it by 3 bikes! I don't think the common person rides this bike like my friend and I are. Perhaps it is time to "let the cat out of the bag" for the reviews in this bike. We have liked most everything about this bike except for the repetitive wobble, at times being so severe it is dangerous! But then the kind of miles we are putting on them, I am on edge about what is next? We have approx 600 miles on each bike since June, I put 200 on mine in past 6 days. Have any knowledge on the Troxus Explorer Plus? That is what our local bike shop sells.

 

[cowgirlextreme]

Naw, the brake is perfect, headset play can do some nasty chattering when it gets excessive.

And this was excessive… like, several broken balls and a cracked ball cage.

But.., a new Record headset and she rides like a dream again. No chatter, no muss, no fuss, you face need never touch the pavement.

I am definitely going to check into a new headset!

 

[DieselTech]

The reason you keep setting head set bearing preload is. The cheap factory headset bearings are wearing/cutting into the races as you ride & hit bumpy terrain. Cheap soft head set bearings & races.

Buy a quality bearing head set kit.

 

[Annieolnie]

Omg. Thank you so much! I talked to my avid dirt bike neighbor, he told me to see if there is any sort of steering stabilizer that can be used on my bike, and then I seen your post to check into this. From the beginning I felt it was in the headset, but Mokwheel has been less than accommodating about my problem, now we times it by 3 bikes! I don't think the common person rides this bike like my friend and I are. Perhaps it is time to "let the cat out of the bag" for the reviews in this bike. We have liked most everything about this bike except for the repetitive wobble, at times being so severe it is dangerous! But then the kind of miles we are putting on them, I am on edge about what is next? We have approx 600 miles on each bike since June, I put 200 on mine in past 6 days. Have any knowledge on the Troxus Explorer Plus? That is what our local bike shop sells.

This video shows how the Crane Creeks headset addressed the Xpeak wobble problem. I think any well made headset would help, but their's is made for this specific problem.

 

[Square Pants]

Mokwheel likes to sell bikes but not support them, I have a newer Scoria and had an issue with it, that required support from Mokwheel. They wouldn't even return my emails with several questions I had about the issue, it's been 2 months and still no reply. I did buy it from my local bike shop who carries this brand, so I can get support there if all else fails. But I suppose he will have the same no response from Mokwheel issues as I have been having. I will be avoiding this brand going forward.

 

[cowgirlextreme]

Mokwheel likes to sell bikes but not support them, I have a newer Scoria and had an issue with it, that required support from Mokwheel. They wouldn't even return my emails with several questions I had about the issue, it's been 2 months and still no reply. I did buy it from my local bike shop who carries this brand, so I can get support there if all else fails. But I suppose he will have the same no response from Mokwheel issues as I have been having. I will be avoiding this brand going forward.

I will be getting ahold of Chad AGAIN, I lost count on how many emails, mid 20's now. and yes, avoid them, but a little too late.

 

[cowgirlextreme]

This video shows how the Crane Creeks headset addressed the Xpeak wobble problem. I think any well made headset would help, but their's is made for this specific problem.

View attachment 22817

I talked to Brian at Cane Creek today, he suggested both upper and lower, that is basically $250 per bike plus finding a competent person to install. Brian needs the specs, so far Mokwheel is not answering, and the local bike shop is refusing to touch our bikes any more, liability reasons. I called an actual dealer in lower Michigan, they do no servicing, only put them together and send out the door. Can anyone tell me how to get the headset specs for this bike? I am sooooooo frustrated! I sent 2 "not very nice" emails to Chad at Mokwheel this morning, requesting $250 per bike for the Cane Creek headsets, or 3 boxes to return all 3 bikes for a full refund.
Brian at Cane Creek assured me this will take care of the problem, just needs the specs. I have googled it every which way, says no specific.info available.

 

[Annieolnie]

I'm going to post what came up on AI on Google. It is specifically for the Basalt. It would be good to check some of these measurements yourself. You've adjusted your headset enough times that you could easily take off your fork on your own. I don't know where you are in Michigan, but there are a number of well rated bike repair shops listed on Google, if you would prefer a mechanic. I'll post some inexpensive calipers from Amazon, in case you want to double check anything. I'll also show a simple video, so you can see how it comes apart. Let us know how it goes.

 

[cowgirlextreme]

I'm going to post what came up on AI on Google. It is specifically for the Basalt. It would be good to check some of these measurements yourself. You've adjusted your headset enough times that you could easily take off your fork on your own. I don't know where you are in Michigan, but there are a number of well rated bike repair shops listed on Google, if you would prefer a mechanic. I'll post some inexpensive calipers from Amazon, in case you want to double check anything. I'll also show a simple video, so you can see how it comes apart. Let us know how it goes.
View attachment 22866View attachment 22867View attachment 22868

You are awesome! Why did your AI come up with that and my AI said information is unknown?? ‍ Maybe AI overslept this morn! Again, thank you so much!
Mokwheel responded today and just can't understand how 3 people can have same problem in Michigan when they have sold thousands of Basalts with no problems whatsoever. Yeah, we planned this whole plot, each bike taking a different amount of time to present the wobbling. ‍ At least he asked for the names and addresses of each person to "get started" on resolving this. I am just real short on patience with this issue.
So is it your opinion for us to get both the top and bottom kits?

 

[HumanPerson]

So is it your opinion for us to get both the top and bottom kits?

Yeppers the whole kit and caboodle

Rebuild it and be done with the nonsense, until another bit of nonsense pops up!

 

[Annieolnie]

You are awesome! Why did your AI come up with that and my AI said information is unknown?? ‍ Maybe AI overslept this morn! Again, thank you so much!
Mokwheel responded today and just can't understand how 3 people can have same problem in Michigan when they have sold thousands of Basalts with no problems whatsoever. Yeah, we planned this whole plot, each bike taking a different amount of time to present the wobbling. ‍ At least he asked for the names and addresses of each person to "get started" on resolving this. I am just real short on patience with this issue.
So is it your opinion for us to get both the top and bottom kits?

You're welcome. I've never installed a CaneCreek headset. I know at the beginning some people just put on the bottom bracket, but I don't know how that worked out long term. It's probably best to do whatever Cane Creek suggests. As far as AI goes, it's a bit like talking to a toddler, just keep changing the question until you get a reasonable answer. It always helps to verify though. I doubt it knows a controller box from a chocolate box, in which case it could easily tell you that your controller is filled with almond nougat. So, watch out for that.