Where can you buy the little rubber bumpers just behind the brake calipers that protect the fork from the downtube gussets (or vice versa)? Is there some sort of after market product that is better? It seems like every Transition I see has them missing and or chipped paint. What kind of adhesive is best? Thanks.
I’m sure Specialized or your lbs can find you a new set, or you can head to Home Depot & MacGuyver something.
I lock mine down with a touch of superglue. Then again, unless you are cramming your bike into a trunk to travel, you should never have your bars turned that far anyhow, so it shouldn’t be an issue.
I have chipped the wings on most of my Transitions, but that was all before I got a rear travel rack. No more problems.
I have the same issue on my Transition and I’m looking for replacements bumpers as well. Little bit of a bad design to have a sharp point on the fork wing putting that much point load on a little rubber stick-on bumper, IMHO.
I’m curious though why one would say, “you should never have your bars turned that far anyhow.” My bars flop left and right freely until they contact the rubber bumpers, that are missing at the moment.
I asked my LBS about the free nature of my front-end and they said it was perfect. But yet I see others running out of T1, holding their bikes by the seat. If I tried to do that my bars would turn and I would go down in a hurry.
Am I missing something?
p.s. Sorry didn’t mean to jack the original post!
I asked my LBS about the free nature of my front-end and they said it was perfect. But yet I see others running out of T1, holding their bikes by the seat. If I tried to do that my bars would turn and I would go down in a hurry.
I’m pretty sure that’s a technique thing, not how loose or damped your headset is…if you put a little downward pressure on the nose of your seat, the front wheel should track straight. You may have to tilt or cant the bike slightly to either side to straighten or turn the front wheel. Or just grab the stem.
I think there is a touch of technique involved, but you can also tighten your top cap bolt a bit. Not so much that you are binding the headset bearings, but enough to make the steering a bit tighter.
I run through transition & around corners only holding the back of the saddle, with no issues.
I don’t see why your bars would ever be turned so far that you’d even contact the bumpers, unless you had to cram a bike in a car’s trunk.
I think there is a touch of technique involved, but you can also tighten your top cap bolt a bit. Not so much that you are binding the headset bearings, but enough to make the steering a bit tighter.
I run through transition & around corners only holding the back of the saddle, with no issues.
I don’t see why your bars would ever be turned so far that you’d even contact the bumpers, unless you had to cram a bike in a car’s trunk.
Yes, I put my bike in a trunk and have to turn the wheel all the way to one side. Take a look at how many transitions are either chipped or at least missing / damaged bumpers.
I’ve owned 3, and still own 1. I’m pretty sure I know what I’m talking about.
And if you read my original post, I said clearly that I chipped every one of them until I got a rear rack.
Turning the bars until the stops hit the wings, it’ll chip eventually. The wings put pressure on the stops, and the rubber to slip. If you put on a better glue, I’d wager that eventually the paint will give & the bumper will pop off with the paint still attached.
Do yourself a favor & get some kind of roof or trunk rack. It makes a big difference for a Transition. But other than cramming in a trunk, the bars should never turn that far.
I’ve owned 3, and still own 1. I’m pretty sure I know what I’m talking about.
And if you read my original post, I said clearly that I chipped every one of them until I got a rear rack.
Turning the bars until the stops hit the wings, it’ll chip eventually. The wings put pressure on the stops, and the rubber to slip. If you put on a better glue, I’d wager that eventually the paint will give & the bumper will pop off with the paint still attached.
Do yourself a favor & get some kind of roof or trunk rack. It makes a big difference for a Transition. But other than cramming in a trunk, the bars should never turn that far.
I did read your original post and I wasn’t questioning your knowledge of Transitions but rather confirming your suspicion of what was causing the problem. And actually, it’s not a trunk it’s the back of a mid size SUV. I prefer to keep my bike out of the weather and limit my exposure to theft. But I’m guessing all the chipped bikes I’ve seen are not solely a result of being stuck in a trunk. Good day.
I have used some tubular glue to hold my bumpers in place, working great.