Another spoke question....I know
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Club Member
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: Missouri
Another spoke question....I know
I did my searches so I apologize in advance but I didn't find the answer I was wanting (or maybe wanting to hear). My question is to you guys who have a lot of experience with spokes. I check my spokes regularly. I mean each time I jack it up to clean the wheels. I have read where all the spokes should make the same pitch 'ting.' All of mine ting, but they have never all had the same pitch ting. Should they? The dealership has checked them for me a couple of times. I also take my bike to a local independant mech. who is a friend of mine for services and he says they are ok too. I have read on here in some posts that they should all make the same pitch sound.
I know, some of you are gonna say 'get rid of the spokes' but that is not an option right now and I do like the look of the spokes. Any help or advice from you spoke guys out there would be greatly appreciated.
I know, some of you are gonna say 'get rid of the spokes' but that is not an option right now and I do like the look of the spokes. Any help or advice from you spoke guys out there would be greatly appreciated.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,144
Likes: 10
From: Mass
RE: Another spoke question....I know
....O.K. Sparky...take a deeeeep-breath...now relax...
...spokes are older than dirt...I've had em on and off for over 30 years...check em once a year and you should be fine...we don't take our hub-caps off,(ya I know...they're called "wheel-covers" these days
..), and check our lug-nuts every time we drive,...millions of spoked wheels out there on the road...when was the last time you picked up a paper and read about a guy ridin down the highway when suddenly his spokes flew apart and he crashed....it's like anything else...there is some level of maintanance to em, but don't over do it.....ride and enjoy....
...spokes are older than dirt...I've had em on and off for over 30 years...check em once a year and you should be fine...we don't take our hub-caps off,(ya I know...they're called "wheel-covers" these days..), and check our lug-nuts every time we drive,...millions of spoked wheels out there on the road...when was the last time you picked up a paper and read about a guy ridin down the highway when suddenly his spokes flew apart and he crashed....it's like anything else...there is some level of maintanance to em, but don't over do it.....ride and enjoy....
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 10,675
Likes: 95
From: Billings,Mt.
RE: Another spoke question....I know
You have had them checked several times and the spokes were ok.Why are you so worried about them?
If you are that worried about the the spokes self-destructing,then maybe you should get cast wheels.
If you are that worried about the the spokes self-destructing,then maybe you should get cast wheels.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,945
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From:
RE: Another spoke question....I know
Okay....mebbe yer kinda **** with stuff like this (like I am) - so as the others have indicated, chill a tad....
I'm thinkin' that one of the things ya need ta do is figure out what "bad" REALLY sounds like. To have all the spokes perfectly tensioned so that they all give the same sound pitch would be nigh-on impossible - but the thing here seems to me is that you haven't yet heard a REALLY bad one, so you don't have a basis for comparison. Wuz it me, next time ah'm at the Indy, ah'm pay a few extry "educate me" bucks an' have him loosen one of mah spokes, demonstrate the sound, then retighten it and show me what/how he's doin' it.
One of the issues here is that yer dealin' with something more art than science - kinda like someone that "knows" how to tape an' float drywall, but couldn't begin ta tell ya in writin', because "it's just something ya know". What they REALLY mean is that ya gotta git your hands dirty an' LEARN it.
I personally love spoked wheels, but ah also hate the time ta polish an' maintain 'em - so ah live vicariously through the folks that DO have 'em.
So figger out how ta check 'em an' keep 'em polished fer me, eh?
I'm thinkin' that one of the things ya need ta do is figure out what "bad" REALLY sounds like. To have all the spokes perfectly tensioned so that they all give the same sound pitch would be nigh-on impossible - but the thing here seems to me is that you haven't yet heard a REALLY bad one, so you don't have a basis for comparison. Wuz it me, next time ah'm at the Indy, ah'm pay a few extry "educate me" bucks an' have him loosen one of mah spokes, demonstrate the sound, then retighten it and show me what/how he's doin' it.
One of the issues here is that yer dealin' with something more art than science - kinda like someone that "knows" how to tape an' float drywall, but couldn't begin ta tell ya in writin', because "it's just something ya know". What they REALLY mean is that ya gotta git your hands dirty an' LEARN it.
I personally love spoked wheels, but ah also hate the time ta polish an' maintain 'em - so ah live vicariously through the folks that DO have 'em.
So figger out how ta check 'em an' keep 'em polished fer me, eh?
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 404
Likes: 1
From: Athens, Georgia
RE: Another spoke question....I know
ORIGINAL: sparky_mo
I did my searches so I apologize in advance but I didn't find the answer I was wanting (or maybe wanting to hear). My question is to you guys who have a lot of experience with spokes. I check my spokes regularly. I mean each time I jack it up to clean the wheels. I have read where all the spokes should make the same pitch 'ting.' All of mine ting, but they have never all had the same pitch ting. Should they? The dealership has checked them for me a couple of times. I also take my bike to a local independant mech. who is a friend of mine for services and he says they are ok too. I have read on here in some posts that they should all make the same pitch sound.
I know, some of you are gonna say 'get rid of the spokes' but that is not an option right now and I do like the look of the spokes. Any help or advice from you spoke guys out there would be greatly appreciated.
I did my searches so I apologize in advance but I didn't find the answer I was wanting (or maybe wanting to hear). My question is to you guys who have a lot of experience with spokes. I check my spokes regularly. I mean each time I jack it up to clean the wheels. I have read where all the spokes should make the same pitch 'ting.' All of mine ting, but they have never all had the same pitch ting. Should they? The dealership has checked them for me a couple of times. I also take my bike to a local independant mech. who is a friend of mine for services and he says they are ok too. I have read on here in some posts that they should all make the same pitch sound.
I know, some of you are gonna say 'get rid of the spokes' but that is not an option right now and I do like the look of the spokes. Any help or advice from you spoke guys out there would be greatly appreciated.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 404
Likes: 1
From: Athens, Georgia
RE: Another spoke question....I know
Sorry about the "empty" post, I'm new here and just screwed up. I'm a road bicycle guy, have a 14 lb. bike with wheels that have 8-10 spokes, when one brakes the wheel hits the fork/frame-you crash. Over the years my motorcycles have had broken spokes and I didn't even notice, they are usually 3-4 crossed with the pattern and are strong as H---. Only the idiots that rede "straight" laced spoke wheels really have to worry about wire wheels breaking. Guess I'm just kinda old fashion but spoke wheels are still cool on motorcycles. Thank you guys for being here, I enjoy reading your stuff. Gary
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Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,750
Likes: 2
From: Bucks County PA
RE: Another spoke question....I know
Well it seems that the "tinging" method just doesn't work well enough for you, so why not get a feel for what the torque should be-- and feel your way through the sequence. My guess is that once you do that a couple of times you'll get it. I love the look of the spokes, too, but did not like cleaning them and thought it best to get a plug kit and not a spare tube in case I ran flat... so off went the spokes. I don't miss them as much as I thought.
Anyway, you are right about the new wheels costing some money, so for now, just get the feel and ride, ride, ride....
Spokeless in Pipersville...
Anyway, you are right about the new wheels costing some money, so for now, just get the feel and ride, ride, ride....
Spokeless in Pipersville...
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Thread Starter
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Club Member
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: Missouri
RE: Another spoke question....I know
Thanks boys. You're right. I'm too **** about it and you have eased my mind and I'm gonna quit worrying about it so much. I will check them from time to time but RedNeck I'm following your advice. I need to know what a loose one sounds like. I know when I tap the ones with the weights on them they make a dull thud. Is that similar to what a loose one would sound like?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,049
Likes: 6
From: Oregon City, OR
RE: Another spoke question....I know
I need to know what a loose one sounds like
If one is loose it will make a duller sound similar to what the spokes with the weights will make. If it's loose enough to be a big problem then the sound will not be subtle. Another thing to do is just grab a spoke wrench whenever you clean the wheels and just give each spoke a quick tighten. Don't reef on them, just make sure they are tight.
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