Peloton Handlebar Wobble – 5 Possible Causes + Fixes

If you’re experiencing a handlebar wobble on your Peloton bike, you’re not alone. This is a common problem and can be caused by many factors. Fortunately, some easy fixes can help you get back to your cycling workouts with minimal disruption.

The five most common causes of wobbly Peloton handlebars are:

1. A loose stem on the handlebars
2. Damaged handlebar bushings
3. Bolts not being properly adjusted
4. Handlebar height not being properly adjusted
5. Carpet wobble

In this post, I’ll take a look at how to diagnose all of these issues, and most importantly how to fix each one. With just a little TLC that you can almost always do yourself, you can get back to indoor cycling wobble-free.

I’ll also take a look at:

• How to level a Peloton on a hard floor
• How to replace a Peloton handlebar sleeve
• And how to contact the Peloton team

5 Reasons Why Peloton Handlebars Wobble

Working out gets a little annoying when we notice a wobble! Here are the five most common reasons why you Peloton handlebars are wobbling:

1. Loose Stem on the Handlebars

This is the most common reason! A loose stem causes anything from a slight to a large wobble.

Most of the time, this is due to loose screws that hold the stem to the grips.

The fact that the bar sleeve is too large to fit in the stem frame may also be a contributing factor to the instability. The benefits we enjoy at times wind up being our downfall. Applying this logic to a Peloton bike, we find that the movable handlebar hinders performance.

When the stem of the handlebars becomes loose, the Peloton’s handlebars will jiggle from side to side.

How to Fix

The Peloton’s handlebars are often too loose for the comfort of some riders.

This can make it tough to have a firm grip on the handlebars and eventually wear you out.

If you’re having problems keeping up with the rest of the group as you exercise, tighten the handlebar.

But how can you tighten the Peloton’s handlebars?

Well, you can tighten the bars up and make them more comfortable to grasp onto in a few different ways. Here are some suggestions for properly tightening peloton handlebars!

• Tighten the button-head screws — start by securing the stem in place using the four button-head screws. The 5 mm wrench included with your peloton bike should be used here. The stem could be damaged if the bolt is tightened too much.
• Tighten the Lever — the next step is to tighten the lever at the base of the handlebar. To prevent a shift in the handlebar’s orientation, be careful not to overtighten the lever. If the handlebar’s height has to be adjusted, just loosen the lever, adjust the bar to your preferred height, and tighten it back up.
• Tighten the touchscreen’s screw — this is the section for Peloton bike+ users. It’s important to note that the touchscreen on your Peloton Bike+ can be rotated a full 360 degrees. Simply use the same wrench you used to secure the button head screw to tightly fasten this one.

Now you know how to properly adjust the handlebars on your peloton bike.

2. Damaged Handlebar Bushings

This is a less common issue.

The handlebar bushings are responsible for preventing the handlebars from wriggling and shaking.

Bushings are cylindrical fixings in the handlebars. They are used to reduce friction between two surfaces.

If the bushings become worn, they will no longer be able to keep the handlebars from rocking from side to side.

How To Fix

It’s a pretty simple fix for this one! You should replace the handlebar bushings if you notice any wobble in the bars.

3. Bolts Not Properly Adjusted

The wobble could be caused by several factors, the most prevalent of which is incorrectly adjusted or fixed bolts to the bike’s stem.

Sometimes the bolt isn’t tightened properly or isn’t included in the delivery package.

If you find yourself in this situation, simply contact Peloton’s support team to request replacement bolts.

How to Fix

• Bolts and knobs are essential components of a Peloton because they strengthen the frame and prevent it from breaking. If you notice a wobble, check the knob that controls the movement. Make sure that the knob is tight. Turn the knob with a lot of force to tighten it. Once you determine the appropriate height for your handlebars, you should accomplish this immediately.
• Let’s start with the knob, and then move on to the bolts. They play a role in keeping the Peloton handlebar sleeve securely fastened to the bike’s stem. Check if there are bolts there. You should double-check your delivery equipment if they are missing. If for some reason, they aren’t included in the starter pack, you can always contact Peloton’s support team.
• Use the included Allen wrench (it’s the little one) to get started. Do up all the screws and nuts. By now, your wobble should be gone. If the shaking persists, check the interior of a handlebar sleeve for a loose screw. Put some pressure on it to get rid of that irritating riding as well.
• Now you need to know where a crank bolt goes because it has a lot to do with how balanced your bike is so you can ride it. You’ll find it between the bike’s screen and the lever on the handlebars. The touchscreen may spin on its own with the aid of a crank bolt. Make sure there are no faulty placements in this region if your handlebars rock back and forth in sync with the display.
• Last but not least, try rotating the screen up to 90 degrees to double-check the horizontal placement of the bolt. A similar lever to the one used to tighten the stem bolts on the handlebars should be used to tighten the crank bolt.

4. Handlebar Height

Peloton suggests altering the handlebar height to find the most comfortable position. The handlebars will rock from side to side if they are set too high or low.

On top of this, the handlebars start to wobble when they are raised past the N marks.

When you put it further up, your bike will begin to perform incorrectly.

How to Fix

The height of your handlebars is modifiable to ensure a comfortable ride.

Turn the front knob on your Bike+ counterclockwise to raise the handlebars. Position your forearms under the handlebars while standing in front of the seat.

Raise them and steady them with care. When you’re done, make sure the lever is down.

If you’ve never done so before, it’s best to begin by raising the bars to their maximum height and working your way down to a more comfortable position. After a few rides, you’ll learn what works best for your comfort.

Here’s a video from Peloton on how to adjust the height of the handlebars:

5. Carpet Wobble

A typical Peloton clocks in at roughly 135 pounds, making it a sizable piece of fitness machinery. That means it’s heavy enough to stand securely on most types of flat flooring.

Carpet, especially thick pile carpet, might be problematic because the cushioning the carpet threads provide can lead to movement while you pedal.

When undertaking a workout that requires you to stand up to pedal, this problem can become even more acute.

How to Fix

The Peloton company advises against using the bike directly on the carpet because the handlebars tend to wobble when riding on softer surfaces. The carpet’s thickness directly correlates to how unstable your bike will become.

Using your Peloton on the carpet is not ideal, but it is OK if you have no other choice. Before you set out on your journey, you should make sure your bike is secure.

You should start by investing in some high-quality rubber mats that will serve to separate the carpet from the machine. The Peloton cycles will fit nicely on a specially-made cycling mat. They’ll have a sturdy base that won’t give way underfoot and can be wiped clean with ease.

Make sure your riding mat is at least 150 cm in length and 60 cm in width to accommodate your Peloton. Additionally, it should be at least 5 mm thick to prevent indentation on your carpet.

The added thickness of a foam base might also serve to dampen noise in the space. (Source)

How to Level a Peloton on Hard Floor

Peloton bikes are less likely to wobble when placed on a hard surface like solid wood flooring.

If you get down on one knee next to your bike, you’ll be able to see the tiny feet attached to the four corners of the frame. You can tell they are the stabilizing feet because of the threaded hole they have in the bike stand.

The feet can be positioned however you choose by twisting them. Revolving the dial clockwise brings the foot down, and counterclockwise brings it up.

Get down on the same level as the bike’s base, and check to see which feet are floating. If you bring these feet down till they’re flat on the ground, the bike’s balance should improve dramatically.

Here’s a video from Peloton on how to stabilize the Peloton bike:

How to Replace a Handlebar Sleeve

Sometimes the sleeve that attaches the handlebars to the stem of a bicycle becomes damaged or doesn’t work. Peloton will mail you a replacement sleeve if this happens.

In that case, how does one go about changing the sleeve on a Peloton bike?

Here are seven steps to help you achieve that:

1. Find a screwdriver with a 6mm bit
2. Find an Allen wrench
3. Turn off the touchscreen, unplug the power cable, then pry it out with the screwdriver. Keep it far enough away so you can securely work on the handlebars without fear of breaking the screen.
4. Then, loosen the L-handle at the front of the stem to lower the handlebars to their lowest point.
5. After that, unscrew the stem of the handlebars from the bottom using the Phillips screwdriver. Don’t forget to be cautious because it’s tough when the sleeve doesn’t work. The old sleeve can be removed from the bike by using the Allen wrench to force the pin out of the sleeve and the bike.
6. The last step is to install the replacement sleeve into the head tube until it is snapped into place. Insert the grips into the new sleeve and secure them with the L-handle.
7. The screw should be reinserted into the stem and the bike’s display.

If the new lever works as intended, it will be much simpler to tighten the handlebars and prevent wobbling from occurring. (Source)

Contact Peloton Team if Wobble Stays

Do not hesitate to contact Peloton’s customer care if tightening the handlebars in every possible way does not resolve the issue.

The majority of the time, they will request a video of the shaky handlebars to verify the issue.

When the problem affects the entire bike or a significant portion of the frame, they may even send someone to help you out physically.

When the entire bike breaks down, they’ll replace it, and the new one will usually have been through several checks to make sure it’s in good working order.

The mechanics can also swap out the frame and straighten the shaky grips so that you don’t have to worry about it. Finally, if the handlebars are broken or otherwise unfit for the bike, the mechanical crew may decide to simply replace them.

Final Thoughts

The Peloton bike and bike + handlebars aren’t designed to wobble. You also shouldn’t lose the bolts every time you tighten them. Get in touch with Peloton’s support team if you’re stuck and need some advice.

At first glance, it may seem like a lot of work, but if you follow this advice to a T, you’ll notice that it’s quite simple. Your peloton handlebars will no longer cost an arm and a leg to repair.

So, relax and have a safe and happy workout!