Hanging your bike(merged)

[Skeeter]

I've never thought of this before but my dad brought it up after buying Dell's bike.
Is it ok to hang your bike upside down for storing:-k .
I have always done it, but was wondering if that hurt the fork or anything being fully extended and having the weight of the bike pulling opposite of normal. I hang my bike from hooks in the ceiling of my garage by the wheels. I never gave it a second thought, but is it ok???

 

[LBmtb]

From what I remembe reading, it's good for the fork since it gets oil on the seals and such but the brakes (if they're hydros) MIGHT have issues.

Don't go off my word though, I want to hear what Rob or another good bike mechanic says . . .

 

[Sprockethead]

The only negative thing I've heard of is, if you have hydraulic brakes, hanging the bike upside down could let air into the lines. That being said, I've hung my bikes upside down for years. Only recently have I purchased a bike with hydraulic brakes. The bike is going on 1 year and so far, so good on the hydraulic front.

 

[dirttorpeedo]

awhile back(years?) it wasnt good for the forks cause the oil wood end up in the wrong place.

 

[b-rad!]

As a mechanic, PLEASE DONT DO IT! Its ok to turn it over short term, like fixing a flat, adjusting der. etc. However, long term(ie. overnight, or more than a day) could lead to issues with the brakes and fork. Hydro brakes, especially an open system (Shimano, Magura, Hope), will almost always take in air. Obviously this is bad, and you will need a new bleed. Even closed systems can have pockets of air tucked in the caliper or master cylinder that would otherwise not affect your braking, but will break loose if given time upside down.
Forks can also leak over extended periods. While it sounds logical, storing upside down will not help your seals. Forks are designed to be run and cycled in the upright position as well as seals are designed so that they are lubricated as the fork cycles. Hanging will do nothing except cause oil to pool near the seals and possibly leak out. This can be exadgerated if there is dirt or grime under the seals, as it gives the capillary action of the fluid a bigger opening to creep through.

If you made it this far through the rant, thanks! Otherwise, let me summarize it all by saying this: Do Not store your bikes upside down if you have Hydraulic brakes or any kind of suspension.

B-Rad:read:

 

[Skeeter]

Thanks

I have mechanical disks, so thats not an issue, but i do have suspension, Not Much, but some

 

[FyrFytrRyn]

i suspend my bike from the roof aswell. but i use 3 hooks in stead of 2.. normally people use 2, one for each wheel to suspend upside down. i use one to hold each grip, and one for under the seat.. so its suspended like it would be sitting on the ground... works for me.

 

[Skeeter]

i suspend my bike from the roof aswell. but i use 3 hooks in stead of 2.. normally people use 2, one for each wheel to suspend upside down. i use one to hold each grip, and one for under the seat.. so its suspended like it would be sitting on the ground... works for me.

Thats a good idea, i think im going to copy you, Thanks

 

[FyrFytrRyn]

Thats a good idea, i think im going to copy you, Thanks

why not, every one else does... J/K!! what also works, loops of nylon screwed into the rafters, bike sways a bit but cheaper than hooks, i did that the first time because i had some webbiing lying around..

 

[Homer]

Any negatives to hanging my bike vertically on one hook?

Hey all,

I've always stored my bike by hanging the front wheel on a single coated bike hook screwed into the ceiling of my garage. Cheap and easy compared to tall, heavy racks and pulley systems. As far as I can tell, I've never had a problem with this. But with my new full suspension bike at just under 30lbs., I'm worried about stressing the wheel. If I add a second hook to spread the weight onto both wheels, I wonder about air bubbles slowly rising to the calipers on my hydro brakes.

Anyone know if storing bikes either way could cause problems, or is this a non-issue? :-k Many Thanks.

 

[jeffj]

Hey all,

I've always stored my bike by hanging the front wheel on a single coated bike hook screwed into the ceiling of my garage. Cheap and easy compared to tall, heavy racks and pulley systems. As far as I can tell, I've never had a problem with this........

Anyone know if storing bikes either way could cause problems, or is this a non-issue? :-k Many Thanks.

Rack and pulley system?

Just throw it in the dryer like everyone else :lol:

Seriously though, I've never had an issue when I used to run hydros, but I'm just one guy in a sea of different hydraulic brake systems.

 

[Rawhead]

Won't hurt it a bit.:wave:

 

[jeffj]

Vandit, I love it :clap:. Here's mine:

tiny bubbles on a hike

creeping upward on my bike

SHIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT, no brakes!!!

 

[protijy]

hanging upside down bad idea for the hydro brakes I have used these they work great!

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=2268&subcategory_ID=6600

 

[bluefirepictures]

if you have air in your brake lines it might move towards the top of your bike, but you shouldn't have air in there anyway. I dont think it should be a problem.
The oil in your forks might move but it will fall back to where it should be as soon as you take it down and start riding.

 

[Abui]

Bad for the fork too.

 

[Mondo]

It's only bad for hydraulic brakes that aren't properly bled. A common problem is that a customer takes his bike to the shop, where the shop hangs it. When the customer gets it back, his brakes suddenly don't work, and he claims there was never a problem. The air bubble was in the brakes all along, but it didn't become noticeable until the bike was hanged.

The moral of that story is that hanging bikes with hydraulic brakes isn't the problem - the problem may already secretly exist.

Another potential problem when hanging the bike from the front wheel (rear is ok) is if you have a Rock Shox fork. Many of them leak when upside down.

Very true to both statements; insure your brakes are properly bled and your top caps on your forks are tightened to spec to help prevent leakage from the top of the fork. :bang:

 

[DLM]

Yo, Homey...

You have a Fox fork, and Fox recommends hanging the bike upside down so the fluid keeps the seals moist.

Moreover, I would think you wouldn't have any air in the brake lines if they've been bled correctly.

 

[LoisMustDie]

Hey all,
Anyone know if storing bikes either way could cause problems, or is this a non-issue? :-k Many Thanks.

I have often thought about this same issue. I figure that bikes are designed to carry thousands of pounds of load over and over gain. I think they can handle a 35lb constant load.

My vote: not a problem.

 

[Alex]

Do rims ovalize over time when held that way? I figure that I'll be riding enough to not have it held in the same spot on the rim for too long, but I want to make sure.