When you ride your bicycle, noises such as creaks, squeaks, squeals, and clicks may indicate a severe problem. This could result in injury to you or damage to your bicycle.

It is sometimes difficult to determine why your brand-new bicycle is creaking sound and where noises originate. And, if you believe the noise is coming from a particular source, try eliminating it as soon as possible.

Moreover, beginner to pro cyclists should understand bicycle parts and how they work is required to diagnose and repair the most common cycle noises. And, that’s why my today’s writing is all about the creaking or bad-sound of bicycles, the reasons, and how to handle them. Some problems are good to handle, but if you are not such a pro or enthusiast and badly need help fixing something, then take your bicycle to your local bicycle renovation shop. But first, let’s take a tour of our main discussion.

Why Brand New Bicycle Creaking Sound?

Fixing creaks is more of an elimination process because it can be challenging to pinpoint the exact source of the noise. It’s often difficult to find out why your brand-new bicycle is creaking sound, right? So, here are the most common offenders, thus you know how to identify them.

  • Instead of playing whack-a-mole with each element of your cycle, it’s better to work through them systematically.
  • Meanwhile, start tweaking right away.
  • Dirty bearings and less lubrication usually cause these super familiar sounds.
  • These noises often occur when you ride your bicycle for a long time or in harsh conditions.

And, you may hear these noises in the following areas:

  1. Brackets on the bottom of the crankset
  2. Wearing a headset
  3. The pivots (MTB)
  4. Chain guide pulleys or jockey wheels for derailleurs
  5. The chain
  6. Lockout area or a clutch of the derailleur
  7. Bolt for saddle rail clamping
  8. Pedals with no clip

You May Like: Why Is Your Old Bicycle Making Creaking Sound|Reason & Fixing

Top Reasons: Why Is Your Brand-New Bicycle Making a Creaking Sound?

Sometimes, it is difficult to determine where the Sound comes from. It would help if you tried to identify the source of the Sound and eliminate it as soon as possible.

Here are some top reasons why is your brand-new bicycle making a creaking sound:

  1. Are there any creaks when I pedal? – Then you may have a problem with your drivetrain.
  2. When I sit down, does it creak? – There’s a high chance it’s coming from your saddle or seat post.
  3. Is the suspension creaky when I use it? – Check out the suspension.
  4. What if I weigh the front end, and it creaks? – There’s a high chance it’s coming from your headset or fork.
  5. Are your wheels causing it? – Check it, my friend.
  6. Is your brake system noisy or squeaky? – Take an inspection. Actually, any cyclist should do it before every ride or at least within a week.

Some Tips To Assure About Your Issues:

  • Try riding in a quiet area, pedaling hard when sitting down, and pedaling hard when standing up to see when the scratching begins.
  • Make the front wheel come back down after a wheelie, squish the suspension without pedaling, and play with different gears.
  • If the bicycle makes a noise, try to pinpoint what you are doing at the time.
  • Identifying the source of the noise will help you fix it.

And, no worry my cyclist friend, I have already listed a few solutions below for you to consider.

How Do You Stop Your Brand-New Bicycle From Creaking Sound?

Understanding how bicycle parts work and function is necessary for diagnosing and repairing most bicycle noises. And, a local cycle shop can help you with any issues you might be experiencing with your bicycle if you really can’t. But believe me, dude, it is not as hard as you may think.

Fix a Clicking Bicycle Chain

Often, clicking noises are caused by the transmission trying to change gears. In this case, your rear derailleur’s cable tension can be adjusted to fix this issue-

  • The shifters, cables, or rear derailleur may have barrel adjusters, depending on the style of your bicycle.

And, by adjusting the barrel adjusters, you can fine-tune the cable tension.

  • One turn at a time is required to adjust the barrel.
  • When the chain falls into a smaller cog, the adjusters must be turned clockwise.
  • Rotate the barrel adjuster counterclockwise if the chain isn’t shifting.

Moreover, sometimes derailleur hangers that are bent may cause the clicking. And it is okay to diagnose your job by a bicycle mechanic if the barrel adjuster cannot be turned a complete turn and the issue persists.

Fix Creaks & Noises From Saddle

Seat rails and seat tubes are most likely to cause your bicycle’s noise when you sit on the saddle. If your seat post is connected to the frame’s seat tube, there is a reasonable chance you’ll hear unpleasant noises. I’ll show you how to fix it.

  • After removing the seat tube and the seat post from the frame, wipe down their insides.
  • If you are riding an aluminum or steel frame, make sure your shaft is torqued to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
  • And, you can do the same with carbon grip paste with your carbon frame.
  • Most seat creaks can be eliminated by doing this.

If that doesn’t solve the issue, your seat rails may be the problem. After completing the fixing, don’t forget to ensure the rails and clamp of your saddle are clean and lightly greased.

  • If the saddle flexes or plays when you weigh it, ensure that both bolts on the clamp are correctly torqued.
  • Because most creaks that only occur while seated can be eliminated by taking care of the rails and the seat tube.

Fix Suspension Noises

Keeping the bearings and bushings in the rear linkage of a complete suspension cycle in proper working order is essential. Then it is possible to seize without adequate maintenance, causing noises, clunking, and other problems.

  • It can be done by bare hand, cycle the linkage when you remove your shock from the bicycle to check the bearings or bushings.

But it is challenging to clean approaches that make noise. So ensure the rear linkage turns smoothly by disassembling the unit, cleaning all the bearings, and lubricating them.

  • The bearings may need to be replaced if they are binding.
  • You can also have your link checked by a shop.
  • Bearings wear out faster as a result of dirt and dust getting into their seals.
  • And, this approach should be maintained at least once a year.

Fix Headset And Handlebar Noises

It is likely your headset is to blame if you hear noises only when you lift the front tire and then weigh it.

  • So, hold both brakes while standing over your bicycle to check your headset.
  • Move the bicycle forward and backward by holding the brakes.
  • Having a jiggling sensation (not from suspension or tires) or experiencing a clicking sensation indicates that your headset is loose.
  • And, the headset should be tightened by loosening the bolts on the stem, tightening your top cap, then re-tightening the branch.
  • Also, you may have to clean and re-grease your headset if you need something else.

Fix Wheel Noises

Hubs can occasionally cause noise issues. Therefore, you may need to replace some bearings if your wheels grind or make noise, as this usually stems from a loose cassette. This may be because your axles are not torqued correctly or tightened correctly.

Moreover. you can also hear unpleasant noises coming from your wheels’ spokes. Sometimes you can hear loud noises when a wheel is out of adjustment, or loose spokes are present. In that kind of scenario,

  • Turn the wheel around and check each spoke by hand.
  • And, remember- the spokes on your bicycle might make noise if you try to straighten the wheel at home.

Fix Squeaky The Brakes

When you’re not using the brakes, the brakes can make weird noises. If your brand-new brake pads are noisy when you use them, it is good to replace them or utilize your cycle warranty if there are any. Furthermore, it can start cleaning your brake rotors if your bicycle has disc brakes. For this job, you will need isopropyl alcohol, if your brakes still make noise after replacement.

Some Other Pieces Of Advice-

Your bicycle brakes may make strange noises if you don’t have loose rotors.

  • A flexible rotor will cause some weird noises.
  • Once that’s done, check if you still have spare brake pads.
  • Last but not least, ensure that your calipers are tight and centered.
  • Loosen both bolts holding them to the bicycle, then spin the wheel fast to recenter them.

Ah! If you are doing this job at home, then your family member or a friend can help you to get out of it.

  • While a friend keeps the brake lever locked, tighten the bolts while you grab the lever and close the brake.
  • As a result, the caliper will be recentered over the rotor.

Well, if you still hear noise when the rotor spins after recentering the caliper, you might have a bent rotor In this case, you can gently tweak it by hand if it’s just a bit warped, but if it’s bent or warped, you’ll need to replace it.

Fix a Squeaky Crank

A loose bolt is usually the cause of a squeaky crank.

  • Pull one side of your cranks and wiggle them side to side to check for play.
  • You should hand-tighten your crank bolts if there is play in the crank.
  • Check your crank bolts using a hex wrench if there is play.

Fix a Squeaky Derailleur

Squeaking rear derailleurs can be caused by dry pulley wheels.

  • Use a pre-moistened cleaning towel or citrus cleaner diluted in water, a rag, or a toothbrush to clean them first.
  • Drop a lubricant on each pulley wheel axis, then spin the pedals to work the lubricant in.
  • To keep parts moving freely, apply lubricant to the hinges of the front or rear derailleurs.

Routine Maintenance Techniques to Reduce Squeaks and Creaks

  • Regularly service your cycle at a bicycle shop such as REI or another one in your area. If you can’t do it on your own, please go to the nearby cycle mechanic shop. Because a qualified bicycle mechanic will address your cycle’s clicks, creaks, and squeaks before they become a bigger issue.
  • Ensure your bicycle is well lubricated and clean to avoid squeaks and creaks once a week.
  • Make sure you have paste grease and liquid lube for different riding conditions. And, that’s why lubricants and cleaners designed for cycles should always be used.
  • Tightening wrenches are the only way to secure all bolts on your bicycle according to manufacturers’ specifications. Moreover, whether it’s on your rotor or stem, you’ll find a note next to the bolt indicating how tight it should be. As the wrench is tightened, the pressure will release once the desired torque has been reached. And do remember- Torx wrenches, Star-shaped bit wrenches should be distinct from adjustable torque wrenches.

Before The Closing

You might hear creaking from your brand-new bike for a variety of reasons where a loose bolt or ungreased pedals could be the cause, or a more severe problem with the frame or bearings could be the culprit. But whatever the reason is, the issue must be addressed as soon as possible to avoid further damage and maintain optimal performance. When you know what’s causing the noise or how to fix it, then it is a great option to save your extra bucks. But if you can’t able to identify or fix the issues, then should check your bike with a qualified mechanic.

My friend, take care new bicycle properly and a regular inspection, lubricant, and cleaning should be done once a week. Only then, your new sweet bi-cycle will serve you for many years without any big problems.

Spread The Love 👍