Bicycle Speed Sensor and Ways to Measure Speed

Testing the speed on a bicycle sensor is integral to ensuring that you are traveling at the correct speed. By knowing your actual speed, you can avoid getting into traffic accidents and save on fuel costs.

A reliable way to measure your bike’s speed is crucial for keeping you and others safe. If your wheel speed sensor isn’t working correctly, it could cause you to fall behind in traffic or even get in trouble with the police.

This article will show you how to test the wheel speed sensor on any bicycle.

What is wheel speed sensor?

A Wheel Speed Sensor is a device that attaches to the front or back wheel of a bicycle and monitors the speed of the wheel. This information is used to calculate the bike’s speed and position.

To test the sensor, place it on a flat surface and spin the wheel around it. The sensor will detect how fast the wheel is spinning and will provide data about that speed in millimeters per second (mm/s).

Your bike should have a wheel speed sensor; it will send data to your computer every time you spin your wheels. This data can be used to calculate how fast your bike is moving.

Ways to test your wheel speed sensor

If you’re having trouble with your bike’s wheel speed sensor, you can do a few things to test it. The first thing you can do is check the wire connection between the sensor and the bike. Make sure the connection is tight and there isn’t any dirt or debris on the wire.

If you still don’t see a problem, turn the wheel slowly by hand. Sensor should work correctly, the speedometer will change as the wheel turns. If there’s a problem with the wheel speed sensor, it’ll stay at 0 mph no matter how fast you turn the wheel.

You can use a wheel speed sensor tester to test your sensor if you have a bike with a mechanical drivetrain, like a derailleur-equipped bike or a cyclo-computer.

To use this tester, attach it to the hub of one wheel. Then spin the wheel until the displayed reading matches your Speed Sensor label on the tester.

Place your bike in gear and let it idle. The displayed reading should be zero (0).
Spin the pedals hard—the displayed reading should increase as rpm increases.
Spin the pedals slowly—the displayed reading should decrease as rpm increases.

If you have an automatic transmission, hold down both shift levers simultaneously while pedaling to measure engine rpm against pedal rpm.

Hold down the shift for about two seconds to get an accurate measurement. If your transmission has TPS (time-based shifting), hold down.

Possibility?

Suppose, all these methods fail to fix the issue, you might need to replace the wheel speed sensor.

Contrary, you have a bike with a torque sensor, you can also try cycling the bike. Cycle the bike in different directions and seeing if the torque readings change.

If the sensor works correctly, the torque readings should remain steady no matter how much you cycle the bike.

If you suspect that the Wheel Speed Sensor on your bicycle is broken, you will need to do some tests to determine the extent of the damage:

You will need to remove the wheel from the bicycle.
Using a speedometer or a timer, you will need to measure how fast the wheel turns.
You will need to replace the Wheel Speed Sensor if the measurement shows that it is broken.

To remove the wheel from the bicycle, first, use a socket wrench to unscrew the hub from the axle. Be sure to wear gloves and eye protection so that you do not get any debris in your eyes.

Next, use a Phillips head screwdriver to remove the wheel’s bolt. Once the bolt has been removed, carefully remove the wheel from the bike. Be sure to save both parts in case you need them later.

Use a speedometer or a timer to measure how fast the wheel turns. If you have a digital speedometer, attach it to the axle using clamps and turn it until it reaches its maximum speed. If you don’t have a digital speedometer, you can use a mechanical timer that attaches to an object with a rotating shaft.

Measurements

If you’re having trouble turning your bicycle and think the wheel speed sensor is the problem, here are some steps to try.

Having a bicycle that doesn’t have a wheel speed sensor, you can still test the wheel speed by using a piece of paper and a pencil. Take the piece of paper and draw two circles on it. The first circle should be about twice the size of the second circle. Then, place the pencil between the first and second circles and hold it while you spin your bike. The faster your bike goes, the closer the pencil will be to touching either circle.

First, make sure sensor is not broker. If it’s not, you can try adjusting the chain or gears. If those don’t work, you should replace the wheel speed sensor.

Here are instructions on how to do that:

You have to change broken sensor. You can do that by following these instructions:

Wheel speed sensors can be a little tricky to work on if you’re unfamiliar with them, but fortunately, there are a few easy ways to test them. If your bike is still under warranty, take it in for repair, and they will do the testing for you.

Otherwise, here are some simple steps that you can take to test your wheel speed sensor:

Check the sensor’s connections – Make sure the wires connecting the sensor to the hub or frame aren’t loose or damaged.
Test resistance against the ground – A low reading indicates a lousy sensor, while high readings mean no issue with the sensor itself.
Verify signal strength – If Step 2 fails to indicate any problems with the sensor, then checking signal strength might help pinpoint where an issue lies

Try connecting one end of the wire from the sensor directly to your bike’s battery, and see if you get a positive or negative voltage reading depending on whether or not your wheel is spinning correctly.