Broken Spoke
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 8,641
Likes: 26
From: Ozark Country
One of the potential problems with a broken spoke is that it can (even with a rim strip) work it's way into the tube. Instant flat tire.
As far as spoke wheels themselves, loose spokes are as bad as having a broken spoke, yet many people fail to realize that spoke tension needs to be checked frequently.
It's very easy for spokes to vibrate loose causing the wheel to go 'out of true', and an educated guess would be that this condition exists on the majority of the bikes out there that run spoked wheels.
Many people never have a qualified technician true up their spoked wheels and check spoke tension, and no, it's not the same as just mounting a new tire and having it balanced.
I have the spokes on my bikes checked at least twice each year, and every time spokes had to be loosened or tightened to get the wheel 'back in true'..
As far as spoke wheels themselves, loose spokes are as bad as having a broken spoke, yet many people fail to realize that spoke tension needs to be checked frequently.
It's very easy for spokes to vibrate loose causing the wheel to go 'out of true', and an educated guess would be that this condition exists on the majority of the bikes out there that run spoked wheels.
Many people never have a qualified technician true up their spoked wheels and check spoke tension, and no, it's not the same as just mounting a new tire and having it balanced.
I have the spokes on my bikes checked at least twice each year, and every time spokes had to be loosened or tightened to get the wheel 'back in true'..
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Greenville, S.C.
Thanks guys,
This is the wifes bike and she told me it had been feeling kinda squirelly in the rear end for a while. I jacked it up to tighten the spokes and this is when I find the broken one. She apparently has been riding it for a while like this and never said anything.
I will ride it into the shop and have this taken care of.
Thanks again everyone!!
This is the wifes bike and she told me it had been feeling kinda squirelly in the rear end for a while. I jacked it up to tighten the spokes and this is when I find the broken one. She apparently has been riding it for a while like this and never said anything.
I will ride it into the shop and have this taken care of.
Thanks again everyone!!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,937
Likes: 1
From: SE Wisconsin
If you really want to see what loose or broken spokes look like ... check out some of the kids bicycles going down the road. The wheels will move noticeably from side to side ... motorcycle wheels work on the same principle.
In addition to the true, they are also out of round and have a little hop to them.
Worst case scenario ... If not taken care of the rim could fold like a potato chip or taco shell from the torque stress. (I started out building bicycle wheels).
Glad you are looking out for the better half.
In addition to the true, they are also out of round and have a little hop to them.
Worst case scenario ... If not taken care of the rim could fold like a potato chip or taco shell from the torque stress. (I started out building bicycle wheels).
Glad you are looking out for the better half.
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Road Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,231
Likes: 2
From: Upstate NY
Chit, I thought this was going to be about the Broken Spoke in Daytona.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,140
Likes: 17
From: Wisconsin
Only broke a spoke once in my riding time, just one spoke at first. I just happened to see it walking out of a gas station. Checked it out, yep, one broken spoke. Rode it to the nearest shop, about ten miles and when I showed it to the owner, there were now four broken. He couldn't get to it that day so I though tI'd ride it home and pull the wheel off. By the time I got home, another few had broken, so NOPE, I wouldn't ride it.