Can't tell you how many front wheels I've removed/replaced on these Valks and never had the first moments trouble following the procedure. After a number of weeks after I finished my 20 yr. maintenance project, I finally had a chance today to take the bike out for a test ride. Didn't get more than two blocks and could hear this awful noise from up front so did a u-turn and headed back. Visual inspection divulged nothing so up on the jack to raise the front end to free up the wheel. The left caliper was dragging big time. Then I saw it....the axle wasn't all the way in and flush with the left fork. I dismounted the whole shebang and started over....only not in as big a hurry as before. An hour later it's back on the ground so off I go down the street. Aaaahhh....silence! Took it out on the nearby 6-lane and gradually opened it up, no noise of any kind. Did another u-turn and headed back but this time let'er rip, catching the light at my corner. While sitting there I heard a little toot next to me....deputy dog in his green 'n white. I'm thinking "whoops" I'm busted. But he's sitting there grinning ear to ear then said "damn that thing is fast." He explained he saw me do the u-turn and thought the traffic would catch me before I had a chance to accelerate, then added I must have had it wide open. To which I replied "did you see any smoke from the rear tire?" "No." "Then it wasn't wide open." He just laughed and left with the green light.
As for the test ride, great results....should be good for another 20 years before I have to do it again.
