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Wheel reflectors

Mattbot2Mattbot2 Posts: 384
edited December 2008 in MTB general
Anyone know how to get them annoying reflectors that are on all new bikes off. The ones mounted to the spokes? Without breaking them.

Cheers,

Matt
2q2kfno.png
^^^ Click for pictures of my bike ^^

Posts

  • ceecee Posts: 4,553
    of course.......to comply with road safety requirements, wheels should have reflectors attached.

    But usually they have a little plastic screw which can be undone.....or break them off gently...

    If you want to put them back on at a later date, buy more.
    Whenever I see an adult on a bicycle, I believe in the future of the human race.

    H.G. Wells.
  • The Northern MonkeyThe Northern Monkey Posts: 19,174
    Anyone ever been stopped for not having reflectors?

    Some of them need twisting off, but this can bend the spokes... just snap the little tab that holds it on around the spoke using pliers or something and it then falls off.
    Santa Cruz Butcher
  • ceecee Posts: 4,553
    bigbenj_08 wrote:
    Anyone ever been stopped for not having reflectors?

    nup
    Whenever I see an adult on a bicycle, I believe in the future of the human race.

    H.G. Wells.
  • mtbikerboymtbikerboy Posts: 325
    why do you want to remove them? to loose weight....?
  • P-JayP-Jay Posts: 1,478
    I just break them off, but I don't ride on the road. My old DH bike came with reflectors on it, ha ha AND a bell.

    Also if anyone has the pony ones that come on OE pedals take them off too, the Trails at Afan, Brecfa, Coed, Cwm Carm all seem to be littered with broken pedal reflectors.
    Shocker Enduro
  • P-JayP-Jay Posts: 1,478
    mtbikerboy wrote:
    why do you want to remove them? to loose weight....?

    I take them off because they look pants and they're easily destroyed in normal off road use and litter the trails.
    Shocker Enduro
  • jwestonjweston Posts: 37
    mtbikerboy wrote:
    why do you want to remove them? to loose weight....?

    Why pay for smooth running well balanced wheels and then put a weight imbalance in them?
    ~Jessica
    Astounding Adventures
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  • The Northern MonkeyThe Northern Monkey Posts: 19,174
    P-Jay wrote:
    I just break them off, but I don't ride on the road. My old DH bike came with reflectors on it, ha ha AND a bell.

    Also if anyone has the pony ones that come on OE pedals take them off too, the Trails at Afan, Brecfa, Coed, Cwm Carm all seem to be littered with broken pedal reflectors.

    :lol: my bro's Kona Stinky had reflectors and a bell... maybe is for when he's going DH and theres someone in the way... ding ding.. get out of the fecking waaaayyyyy...
    Santa Cruz Butcher
  • NorthwindNorthwind Posts: 14,675
    jweston wrote:
    Why pay for smooth running well balanced wheels and then put a weight imbalance in them?

    Just fit another one on the other side to balance :) (I have 8 on my commuter now, I've gathered them up off various garage floors and random old bikes)
    Uncompromising extremist
  • mtbikerboymtbikerboy Posts: 325
    i usually wait for mine to break before i take them off. reflectors are still on. I took off the broken bell yesterday. The only thing i took off immediately i got the bike were those foot straps that were on the pedals.
  • Mattbot2Mattbot2 Posts: 384
    1. They look horrid
    2. Will break in no time anyway.

    Will be getting some reflective tape though methinks.
    2q2kfno.png
    ^^^ Click for pictures of my bike ^^
  • singlespeedexplosifsinglespeedexplosif Posts: 1,564
    get a f*cking big hammer - the kind you put headsets in with - and tw@ them until they shatter into a million pieces. It's so much more rewarding and satisfying than gently unscrewing them...
  • Mattbot2Mattbot2 Posts: 384
    I don't want to break them lol.
    2q2kfno.png
    ^^^ Click for pictures of my bike ^^
  • Stephen-HawkingStephen-Hawking Posts: 320
    Jeez guys, just had to run to the garage to make sure I hadn't left mine on - musnt've had them when I got it. TFFT, credibility in the toilet or what!!
    Be happy, communicate happiness.
  • Mattbot2Mattbot2 Posts: 384
    Was that sarcasm?
    2q2kfno.png
    ^^^ Click for pictures of my bike ^^
  • Stephen-HawkingStephen-Hawking Posts: 320
    No for real!!

    I remember it came with a bell in the box, so I thought bloody hell reflectors!! they're probably compulsory on new bikes - surely I wouldn't have missed that. Well you just wouldn't want them would you. would you?

    Just can't understand why you're bothered about breaking them??
    Be happy, communicate happiness.
  • Mattbot2Mattbot2 Posts: 384
    Stephen-Hawking wrote:
    No for real!!

    I remember it came with a bell in the box, so I thought bloody hell reflectors!! they're probably compulsory on new bikes - surely I wouldn't have missed that. Well you just wouldn't want them would you. would you?

    Just can't understand why you're bothered about breaking them??

    Might come in handy one day.
    2q2kfno.png
    ^^^ Click for pictures of my bike ^^
  • WheelieguyWheelieguy Posts: 139
    They unscrew off with a decent flatblade screwdriver, mine, my pedal reflectors, sea and fork mounted ones and the bell that came on mine all vacated from the bike about five minutes after i bought it lol
    "Don't ask the reasons why cos there arent any, don't follow convention, never say no, just believe in what you see and let the good times roll!"
  • Mattbot2Mattbot2 Posts: 384
    Did it. Required needle nose pliers.

    "Some types of reflectors actually have two teeth that catch the inside of the reflector and hold it to the spoke. Yours may be like this. Look at it closely on both sides around the middle of the circular piece of the reflector and you should be able to see them if you have this style. Use a pair of needle nose pliers to squeeze them together so you can then push it out from the backside. A couple of pictures of the middle of the reflector rather than just the side would help the rest of us see which style it is as well. Hope that helps. If not, take some closeups and post them here so we can figure it out for you."

    Got it from googling.
    2q2kfno.png
    ^^^ Click for pictures of my bike ^^
  • batch78batch78 Posts: 1,320
    Might come in handy one day.

    Probably, but it won't matter if you've taken them off! :roll:
  • Mattbot2Mattbot2 Posts: 384
    batch78 wrote:
    Might come in handy one day.

    Probably, but it won't matter if you've taken them off! :roll:

    No, I meant. I rarely go out at night. So I can just stick em back on when I do. Or just get some of that reflective tape. These wheel reflectors are awful, you can only see them in a car when the bike is at a 90 degree angle to the car. By which time the car has hit the guy. Or the guy has crossed safely.
    2q2kfno.png
    ^^^ Click for pictures of my bike ^^
  • batch78batch78 Posts: 1,320
    I agree completly, don't have any on my bike, but are you really seriously contemplating putting them on and taking them off again each time?

    What about if you go out and it gets dark before you return?

    Reflective tyres are available! Or tape, but wont last long if you use your bike heavily off road, I think your spending far too much time pondering this situation now.

    Damn that means I am too! :oops:

    I think we all just need to go for a ride and forget about it now. :lol:
  • Mattbot2Mattbot2 Posts: 384
    batch78 wrote:
    I agree completly, don't have any on my bike, but are you really seriously contemplating putting them on and taking them off again each time?

    What about if you go out and it gets dark before you return?

    Reflective tyres are available! Or tape, but wont last long if you use your bike heavily off road, I think your spending far too much time pondering this situation now.

    Damn that means I am too! :oops:

    I think we all just need to go for a ride and forget about it now. :lol:

    Probably just going to get some tape, stick some on either side of my forks. Also going to be getting a light set.
    2q2kfno.png
    ^^^ Click for pictures of my bike ^^
  • Rich9Rich9 Posts: 1,635
    mine didnt come with any at all. not even on the crappy pedals. Hate the damn things
    2014 Whyte T-129S
  • Stephen-HawkingStephen-Hawking Posts: 320
    I checked, mine were in the bag-o-bits that came with the bike, LBS is probably obliged to make sure you get them to cover their own arses.
    Be happy, communicate happiness.
  • jadamsonjadamson Posts: 644
    took mine off today =] i needed a pair of pliers and a big censored flat blade screw driver! but got them of quickly. they looks stupid. and do you realy think you have the time before every night ride to put them back on?!? with all the other checking you have to do.
    Get cashback on items from Wiggle and CRC! and many more... That's free money!
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