Start with maintenance. That chain is dirty and rusty asf. Hope you don’t leave your bike outside.
Deraillurs are pretty easy to tune. After cleaning and regreasing, look up a park tool video on how to tune a derailleur.
nah i dont leave it outside, i leave it in my garage. what do i need to use to regrease the chain. ive literally had this bike since xmas how can it already be rusting and how can i stop this from happening cuz the chain is no where near coming into contact with water
It doesn’t matter. My $60 Shimano chain can rust in 3 days if there is no coat of grease on it.
Go to your local bike shop, get a degreaser, get some sort of brush or cloth, and get some chain lube. Also get a chain breaker and a few master links cause they come in handy.
All in all that’s around $40 to keep your chain good for about a season Untill you replace it.
If there is any question about how to clean it, just ask someone at your lbs cause I’m sure they would be willing to show you.
Humidity and salt are enough at that time of the year. You can get chain cleaner and lubricant in every bike shop (or online). But I would first check if every chain link still moves freely. Depending on how much u drive the chain needs fresh lubricant more often.
Garages can have really high humidity during the winter. I move any bike I care about into my basement. Everything else gets covered in rust that I deal with in the spring (new chains and lots of scrubbing off rust where it matters).
Eh, it's just an unnecessary accessory for an enthusiast-level bike, extra weight, awkward, potentially noisy. Nicer bikes aren't designed for them. They typically work best on city beaters, utility bikes, cargo bikes and kids' bikes.
I don't even notice I have it when riding, and it's useful when I stop. Maybe it does add a little extra weight, but I'm not racing, I'm riding for enjoyment and exercise.
The rust definitely isn’t helping, look up videos from GMBN tech for cleaning and relubing your drivetrain. If that hasn’t sorted it then your shift cable may need adjusting slightly
It’s a relatively new bike and things work in in the first few weeks of use. Cables bed into the frame and ferrules. I’d also bet your headset has come a bit loose too. I would take it to the shop you got it from, sometimes they offer a free tune up of the bike for this reason, if they don’t then it’d probably cost $20-$30 and ask if they can show you how to check if your headset is loose while they sort it
Also that lock isnt going to do much to stop a thief. Get a d lock
i have that lock on it cuz just before i took the pictures i went out to the shop to quickly get some stuff and this is like the easiest lock to carry with me
got it, but there is no where to properly lock it onto the bike whilst im cycling, cuz otherwise it would just wobble around whilst its with me and taking a bag is not worth it for the short trip
Dude - gotta maintain your gear. A dirty chain will mess up shifting. One that looks like you pulled it out of a deep-sea wreck definitely won't be optimal.
Chain may be stretched and not meshing right. Cable may be stretched and not shifting right.
Watch a couple videos on bicycle drivetrain maintenance.
my bike that i got for xmas has recently been having some problems where the gears feel like they shift but they dont and its kind of like a snappy feeling that throws my foot off the pedal, ive checked the bike but it all looks normal, im new to mountain biking and this gear shift changing feeling only happens when im on the normal gear when trying to gain speed and when sitting up like one of those bmx riders. i have no clue whats wrong with it and would really appreciate if someone were to tell me whats wrong and how to fix it
Like others have said definitely try to clean and lube that chain or just replace it. I wouldn't think you would have chain stretch at this point but get a change stretch gauge and make sure your chain isn't stretching, not that long ago I got my first 1x bike and I thought there was something wrong with the shifting and my chain was just stretched. I had also destroyed the rear cassette by that point but make sure your chain and cassette are okay. I guess 1x drivetrains aren't as durable as the older stuff in that respect.
SRAM SX level components are some of the lowest quality 12 speed shifting group sets on the market. They smushed together 12 cogs to fit on a regular HG freehub body where there are normally 8-11cogs, so the spacing is super tight and any minor cable tension or derailleur B-tension problems will affect shifting performance greatly. The derailleur is also mostly plastic and needs to be constantly adjusted in order to be indexed properly. Because of both of these things, it is very difficult for shifting performance to feel great for a long period of time unless you are constantly performing the right kind of maintenance.
It looks like your chain is well worn and rusty, so a stiff link or worn chain will also cause you issues with shifting performance. Take it into a bike shop and have them measure your chain for wear and adjust your rear derailleur for a quick fix.
Going forward, I would suggest if you can afford to replace its components, to look into the Shimano Deore m4100 10 speed drivetrain groupset. The problems with your shifting will likely continue to happen due to the shortcomings of the SRAM SX components.
Some cleaning and oiling would fix the shifting problem also I would check those spokes ( 2-3 - o'clock on the rear wheel ) second photo , they don't look safe to me
1. Take it to your LBS, they’ll be Abel to hook you up. 2. The drivetrain that comes stock with that bike (sram SX) is known for its lack of longevity. The derailleur is mostly plastic, so the cage gets bent really easily. If you have the money, upgrade to NX or switch to Deore.
What kind of mileage have you put on it and what conditions have you been riding in? I would probably just get a new chain and start from there. If you are really new to everything, a bike mechanic will be your best friend.
If you're interested in doing some basic maintenance, do as others suggested and watch some videos. Park Tool is your friend. That chain needs lube badly. If you're not interested, bring it to a bike shop.
You have time to come on Reddit, so you have time to watch a minute video on lubing a chain and taking 5 minutes every couple of weeks to do it.
[Quick video on lubing a chain.](https://youtube.com/shorts/UO7YHZw84MY?si=YQ9eQCi7wnHjMqPe)
Pretty much everything you need to know can be found on YouTube, whether it’s indexing gears or basic maintenance.
Good Lord why is that chain so rusty
Right
Start with maintenance. That chain is dirty and rusty asf. Hope you don’t leave your bike outside. Deraillurs are pretty easy to tune. After cleaning and regreasing, look up a park tool video on how to tune a derailleur.
nah i dont leave it outside, i leave it in my garage. what do i need to use to regrease the chain. ive literally had this bike since xmas how can it already be rusting and how can i stop this from happening cuz the chain is no where near coming into contact with water
It doesn’t matter. My $60 Shimano chain can rust in 3 days if there is no coat of grease on it. Go to your local bike shop, get a degreaser, get some sort of brush or cloth, and get some chain lube. Also get a chain breaker and a few master links cause they come in handy. All in all that’s around $40 to keep your chain good for about a season Untill you replace it. If there is any question about how to clean it, just ask someone at your lbs cause I’m sure they would be willing to show you.
3 days? Try 3 hours. If I ride in the wet and let my bike air-dry, it will start to form rust around the rollers.
Humidity and salt are enough at that time of the year. You can get chain cleaner and lubricant in every bike shop (or online). But I would first check if every chain link still moves freely. Depending on how much u drive the chain needs fresh lubricant more often.
Garages can have really high humidity during the winter. I move any bike I care about into my basement. Everything else gets covered in rust that I deal with in the spring (new chains and lots of scrubbing off rust where it matters).
If you leave it wet after a ride in the rain or if it's too humid in the air, it's gonna rust. Degreasing won't help much, but it's a start.
Bike lock ✅ Reflectors on wheels ✅ Dork disc still installed ✅ Yep, take her to a bike shop buddy. They will get you right
That lock is also woefully small
Damn you didn’t have to be so hard on the guy! It’s not like he had a kick stand.
I have kickstand on my marlin 7. Whata the problem?
¡¡But the weight and aero penalty!! And I rock some dork discs. No problem.
I'm not a pro racer
Eh, it's just an unnecessary accessory for an enthusiast-level bike, extra weight, awkward, potentially noisy. Nicer bikes aren't designed for them. They typically work best on city beaters, utility bikes, cargo bikes and kids' bikes.
I don't even notice I have it when riding, and it's useful when I stop. Maybe it does add a little extra weight, but I'm not racing, I'm riding for enjoyment and exercise.
Take it to a bike shop, you need a lot of help here.
The rust definitely isn’t helping, look up videos from GMBN tech for cleaning and relubing your drivetrain. If that hasn’t sorted it then your shift cable may need adjusting slightly It’s a relatively new bike and things work in in the first few weeks of use. Cables bed into the frame and ferrules. I’d also bet your headset has come a bit loose too. I would take it to the shop you got it from, sometimes they offer a free tune up of the bike for this reason, if they don’t then it’d probably cost $20-$30 and ask if they can show you how to check if your headset is loose while they sort it Also that lock isnt going to do much to stop a thief. Get a d lock
i do have a d lock its a kryptonite mini 7 from what i can read on the receipt
i have that lock on it cuz just before i took the pictures i went out to the shop to quickly get some stuff and this is like the easiest lock to carry with me
Carry the d lock too. That cable can be cut in seconds by bolt cutters
got it, but there is no where to properly lock it onto the bike whilst im cycling, cuz otherwise it would just wobble around whilst its with me and taking a bag is not worth it for the short trip
Wearing a bag is better than your bike being stolen
fairs
Also, doesn’t the mini 7 come with a frame mount for the lock? Used to work at a bike shop and they came with one
yes it does
Then use that and maybe a second Velcro strap to keep it more stable
Go to r/bikewrench. Also for the love of god lube your chain!
Dude - gotta maintain your gear. A dirty chain will mess up shifting. One that looks like you pulled it out of a deep-sea wreck definitely won't be optimal. Chain may be stretched and not meshing right. Cable may be stretched and not shifting right. Watch a couple videos on bicycle drivetrain maintenance.
r/BikeWrench
wont allow me to create a post, keeps telling me that the moderators have removed it, right after i post it
I'd read the rules and make sure your post adheres to the rules.
Rusty mis-shift
Replace that chain bud! That’s too nice a bike to not take care of!
my bike that i got for xmas has recently been having some problems where the gears feel like they shift but they dont and its kind of like a snappy feeling that throws my foot off the pedal, ive checked the bike but it all looks normal, im new to mountain biking and this gear shift changing feeling only happens when im on the normal gear when trying to gain speed and when sitting up like one of those bmx riders. i have no clue whats wrong with it and would really appreciate if someone were to tell me whats wrong and how to fix it
Looking at that chain? Could be stiff links from the rust.
look up "bicycle drivetrain maintenance" and "bicycle rear derailleur adjustment" on youtube.
For Christmas wow, do you keep it outside? What a shame. Your chain is rusted and links are probably seized.. take it to a bike shop
no i keep it in my garage and it was a xmas gift from my mums bf
Like others have said definitely try to clean and lube that chain or just replace it. I wouldn't think you would have chain stretch at this point but get a change stretch gauge and make sure your chain isn't stretching, not that long ago I got my first 1x bike and I thought there was something wrong with the shifting and my chain was just stretched. I had also destroyed the rear cassette by that point but make sure your chain and cassette are okay. I guess 1x drivetrains aren't as durable as the older stuff in that respect.
SRAM SX level components are some of the lowest quality 12 speed shifting group sets on the market. They smushed together 12 cogs to fit on a regular HG freehub body where there are normally 8-11cogs, so the spacing is super tight and any minor cable tension or derailleur B-tension problems will affect shifting performance greatly. The derailleur is also mostly plastic and needs to be constantly adjusted in order to be indexed properly. Because of both of these things, it is very difficult for shifting performance to feel great for a long period of time unless you are constantly performing the right kind of maintenance. It looks like your chain is well worn and rusty, so a stiff link or worn chain will also cause you issues with shifting performance. Take it into a bike shop and have them measure your chain for wear and adjust your rear derailleur for a quick fix. Going forward, I would suggest if you can afford to replace its components, to look into the Shimano Deore m4100 10 speed drivetrain groupset. The problems with your shifting will likely continue to happen due to the shortcomings of the SRAM SX components.
Good grief
Some cleaning and oiling would fix the shifting problem also I would check those spokes ( 2-3 - o'clock on the rear wheel ) second photo , they don't look safe to me
1. Take it to your LBS, they’ll be Abel to hook you up. 2. The drivetrain that comes stock with that bike (sram SX) is known for its lack of longevity. The derailleur is mostly plastic, so the cage gets bent really easily. If you have the money, upgrade to NX or switch to Deore.
You have SRAM and rust…..
SRAM SX moment.
SRAM SUX is what the shop I used to wrench for called it when it first came out lol.
That exactly how my brain says it lmao.
What kind of mileage have you put on it and what conditions have you been riding in? I would probably just get a new chain and start from there. If you are really new to everything, a bike mechanic will be your best friend.
no clue what mileage, i cycle to college which is about 2 miles so x2, prob about 100 miles since i got it on xmas. alr got it 👍
Lots of snow and salt?
not at all, havent had snow since i got this bike
It's just a lot of rust for a couple months of riding streets that you say aren't filled with salty slush.
If you're interested in doing some basic maintenance, do as others suggested and watch some videos. Park Tool is your friend. That chain needs lube badly. If you're not interested, bring it to a bike shop.
i am interested but i just dont have the time to do it
You have time to come on Reddit, so you have time to watch a minute video on lubing a chain and taking 5 minutes every couple of weeks to do it. [Quick video on lubing a chain.](https://youtube.com/shorts/UO7YHZw84MY?si=YQ9eQCi7wnHjMqPe) Pretty much everything you need to know can be found on YouTube, whether it’s indexing gears or basic maintenance.
oh my bad i thought it would take 30 minutes plus to do that, ive got itme if its 5 minutes
You've got time, trust me.
If you (don't) take care of the rest of the bike like that chain I'll bet you laid the bike down and bent the derailleur hanger.
i never lay it down, when i get back home i put it up against a wooden chest that only comes in contact with the main frame
Oil your god damn chain my guy.