How to replace a motorcycle wheel spoke?

Simple and economical, the spoke wheel has remained the "queen of wheels" for motorcycles for a very long time. The spoked wheel is composed of a hub, a rim and a variable number of rays. Providing the connection between the hub and the rim, the spokes prevent deformation of the rim and keep the hub central.

The spokes are usually made of steel, while the rim and hub are made of steel or aluminum.

Omnipresent in all-terrain, in supermotard but also on classic motorcycles, spoked rims require particular know-how for their assembly but also their maintenance.

What is a wheel spoke?

It is important to understand that there are two types of spokes: "tractors" and "pushers". The former will work (when the wheel turns clockwise) in tension while the latter in compression. Physics and forces in presence are not your strong point? To make life easier, know that generally speaking, the "pushers" have their head on the outside while the others have it on the inside

Good spoke condition is essential to keeping wheels in top condition. Poor spokes that cannot maintain wheel tension or are seized up can causear corrosion will prevent the wheels from being centered and in perfect condition.

Regularly checking the tension of your spokes is essential to keep your rim and wheel in good condition. In fact, incorrect wheel tension can cause the rim to deform and eventually make it unusable. The spokes allow the wheel to be stiffened by maintaining tension between the rim and the hub.

The more relaxed the spokes are, the less rigidity there is and the higher the risk of breakage or deformation. This is why, as part of regular maintenance of your two-wheeler, remember to check and control the rigidity of your spokes.

Tighten or tighten the spokes

To tighten the spokes on your motorcycle, you will need a spoke wrench.

To check spoke tension, you can pinch the spokes together to determine the stiffness. Just like a spoke that is not tight enough, a spoke that is too tight is not very good for your rim. Be sure to find the right balance for your safety.

To tighten the spokes, you must use the spoke wrench and position it on the spoke head. To tighten, simply turn the spoke wrench clockwise. Be careful not to overtighten, however, to avoid breakage.

Giving rigidity to the whole, the 32 or 36 spokes making up the entire spoke assembly have a very specific role, allowing the wheel to turn smoothly.

If the wheel is warped, adjusting the spoke tension can help reduce the problem. The spoke wrench will tighten or loosen the spokes, the spoke works in tension and not in support. Spokes in poor condition cannot maintain wheel tension. Spokes that are seized par corrosion prevents the wheel from being perfectly centered.

Stainless steel spokes are used par their resistance to corrosion. These steel rods are as strong as they are flexible and can therefore break. A quick change is therefore necessary so as not to damage the rim.

One spoke less on a wheel will cause other spokes to break in the short or medium term. The tension is no longer balanced! If you do nothing, there will soon be 2, 3, 4 or 5 broken spokes! The wheel will be unusable and you will have to replace it.

If you are changing your spokes, we advise you to take a good look at how your old spokes are positioned before removing them.

Why did the spoke break?

In addition to changing the spoke of a wheel, it is important to know the cause of the broken spoke. Indeed, if the problem comes from a bad assembly or a bad adjustment, you will have to take the necessary steps to prevent the breakage from happening again.

Here is a non-exhaustive list of causes of broken spokes:

- shock, impact or fall.

- branch in a radius.

- poor shelving.

- if your wheel is of poor quality or if the wheel is not suitable for your use.

- on an old wheel or a weakened wheel par other broken spokes.

Choosing the right department

According to the characteristics of the ray:

- Length: the new spoke must be the same length as the original spoke. If it is too short, it will not join the rim to the hub. If it is too long, it could stick out of the rim and cause a puncture.

- Diameter: the diameter influences the resistance, but also the weight of the wheel. We find spokes from 2,3 mm to 4 mm.

- Material: stainless steel is most commonly used for spokes (long life, rigidity). However, there are also aluminum spokes (limited life, economical), or titanium or carbon spokes, for use in competition.

- Spoke shape: the classic for a spoke is a circular section. There are also flat or oval spokes that are more aerodynamic for use in competition.

All wheel spokes ➜

1. Remove the tire, the inner tube and the rim tape. Before removing a broken spoke, it is necessary to remove the tire, as well as the inner tube and the rim tape.

2. Now remove the broken spoke. If it is broken in two, one part normally comes off from the rim, the other from the hub hole.

3. Measure your spoke and choose an identical spoke. Now you need to choose a spoke that is identical to your broken spoke! It's hard to measure the length when a spoke is broken, right? We recommend that you remove another spoke (from the same side of the rim) and measure it to know exactly the spoke length you need.

Measure the length of the spoke, from the inside of the elbow to the threaded end. Measure the spoke diameter, using a vernier caliper.

4. Fit the new spoke:

- Thread the spoke into the hub (in the right direction). Take your new spoke and slide it into the hole in the hub flange. Be careful, look at your wheel carefully! One spoke is mounted from the outside to the inside (stop towards the outside), and the next from the inside to the outside (stop towards the inside). It is very important to respect the mounting direction!

- Cross the spoke and position the spoke head. You must now respect the type of crossing of your wheel spokes. A spoke generally crosses 2 or 3 other spokes, passing above or below the other spokes. Observe the next spoke carefully, on the same side of the hub and reproduce the same type of crossing! It is necessary to slightly twist the spoke to make the correct crossing. An example to better understand? A spoke crossing 3 other spokes (crossing par 4) which passes under the first and second crossed spoke, and over the last one. Finally, position the spoke head in the rim and screw it onto the spoke.

- Tighten the spoke. Take a spoke wrench and tighten your new spoke until you get a tension identical to the tensions of the other spokes.

Some practical tips for changing the spoke of a wheel

Tip #1: Which way do you tighten a wheel spoke ? A spoke is tightened in a clockwise direction. It is not easy to visualize when tightening a wheel spoke… Our tip: look from above the rim. You will clearly see the direction of rotation (clockwise) of the spoke head.

Tip #2: How to check the spoke tension? A simple method: simply pinch two spokes with your thumb and index finger, approximately in the middle of the spokes, and continue around the wheel.

Tip #3: Don't insist if spoke heads are seized. Put a little penetrating on the spoke head then leave to act for 5 minutes.

Remember that a regularly maintained vehicle generates less costs and offers greater comfort of use! This also applies to your wheels and spokes, especially now that you know how to change a wheel spoke.

The spokes on your rim can loosen as you ride. So remember to check them from time to time by making them ring. Using a screwdriver or other metal object, tap on each spoke that should ring. If it sounds hollow, remember to tighten it.

Conclusion

All crossed wheel spokes form a structure composed of triangles.

The advantage of this principle is that the "triangle" is a non-deformable shape while being "elastic". This gives the rim a very interesting deformation coefficient with regard to off-road machines, which undergo frontal impacts.

The disadvantage is that this type of rim does not resist twisting and lateral bending well, and at high speeds. It therefore found its limits quite quickly in competition, where it was exceeded byar the one-piece alloy wheels. The spoked rim, in intensive use, requires very regular maintenance and adjustment of the spoke tension.

Spoked rims require a inner tube, if it wasn't there, the air would leak par the spoke mounting holes.

To prevent the spokes of a rim from tearing the inner tube, it is essential to have a rim tape, a rubber surround that protects the inner tube from direct contact with the rim.