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Any RKC spokes problems?

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Old Jun 20, 2012 | 07:41 AM
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Default Any RKC spokes problems?

I'm looking at a 2010 Road King Classic and a 2012 Heritage.
Reading up on the Heritage I notice a lot of posts about guys who are having problems with the spokes on the rear wheel repeatedly going loose after just a few hundred miles.
Most seem to be blaming the wheels mfg recently being done in China and reporting dealers and MoCo giving them a hard time about warrantying the problem other than tightening the spokes..

MY question is are any of you RKC owners having any similar issues with the spokes on their bikes?
 
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Old Jun 20, 2012 | 07:47 AM
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Not sure if you are spacifically looking for input on 2010 and above bikes. I have my spokes checked each time I have the tires replaced. I bought a spoke tool and do the ping test every once in a while but have never needed to use the tool. My bike is a 2005 model year.
 
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Old Jun 20, 2012 | 07:53 AM
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More than 10,000 miles on my '11 RKC and no problems. I take it to the dealer for maintenance (shhhh, don't tell anyone) and I think they check the spokes as part of the scheduled maintenance. I give them no thought at all.
 
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Old Jun 20, 2012 | 08:01 AM
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I went with cast Roadking wheels over the spokes to avoid any issues with the spokes,
and so i could run tubeless tires.
A guy can use a puncture repair kit with tubeless on the road.
 
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Old Jun 20, 2012 | 08:01 AM
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5500 miles on my 2012 and no problems with the spokes. FYI: I have the tubeless aluminum profile laced wheels.
 
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Old Jun 20, 2012 | 08:39 AM
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No problems here because I pro-actively replaced mine with cast Ultra wheels. I'll be on the road a lot this year, and I want to eliminate as many failure points as possible. Dont know if they would have given me trouble but now I dont have to worry
 
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Old Jun 20, 2012 | 08:40 AM
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No spoke problems here. Don't forget Harley has used spokes on their bikes for many years.
 
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Old Jun 20, 2012 | 08:43 AM
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Had mine for 8 years and never had a problem. According to the service manual they are checked at 1K, 5K, 15K and then every 15K after that.
 
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Old Jun 20, 2012 | 08:51 AM
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Originally Posted by Scarz
Had mine for 8 years and never had a problem. According to the service manual they are checked at 1K, 5K, 15K and then every 15K after that.
They are checked by who?
 
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Old Jun 20, 2012 | 09:11 AM
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for what it's worth, I replaced my spoke wheels on my 06 RKC proactively as well so that I could also run tubeless and plug if needed on the road as I take long trips and many times in remote areas.
 
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