Age Old Question

[Graeme]

Hi,
After being off the road for nearly 3 years due to a badly broken leg, I am plucking up the courage to ride the GS again.
Getting it out of Storage I have found only 2 things have badly deteriorated on it which are the rubber collars on the top of the fork sliders have split and dropped off and the spokes have badly rusted.
The rubber collars should be easy enough to replace (if I bother at all) but having studied the forum regarding spokes I wonder if I should try to get them respoked with stainless or go for the cast wheel option?
Any advice or tips and names of builders or suppliers for either would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers.
Graeme.

 

[(RIP) maverick]

Hi Graeme,

Welcome back to the biking faternity and hope you have many happy miles ahead.

What model is your bike i.e. 100gs, 1100gs or 1150?

The GS wheels is truly a mess when it comes to keeping them clean and shiny. I have given up on mine and just wash the worst off from time to time. There is a few guys who have opted for replacing the spokes and then buffing up the rims again. In my opinion worth while if you keep your hand on it else just ride it.

The rubber collars I have no idea how diffucult it is to replace and will look in the manual for interest sake.

Cheers and good luck

 

[Hew]

Good to hear you are getting back on a bike again after having a broken leg for 3 years.
Have the spokes corroded that bad that they need replacing or do you just want to make it tidy again. I know I got a wire brush on a pair of wheels that had been standing for 10 years they don't look tidy but are OK to use.
I don't know which GS model you have ie. airhead or oilhead
If it is a airhead then there are several wheel builders in the midlands who can do the job. I used Central Wheelhouse some years ago and they did a good job.
The tubeless wheels on the Oilhead are more difficult to get rebuilt but it is possible to get them from a breakers.

 

[DanBkk]

Got my bike out of storage a few weeks ago after 18 months abroad.

The only deterioration I had was a knackered battery and a mice colony living under the seat - they had chewed through the insulation on some of the wiring.

Changed the battery and it started first press with 18 months old petrol

 

[Graeme]

What model is your bike i.e. 100gs, 1100gs or 1150?

Thanks Maverick, Eddie,
It's an 02 R1150GS with only 2500 miles on the clock.

The rims are perfect and I guess I could put up with the rusted spokes but on a virtualy mint bike its a bit annoying, and dont want or have the time to clean and de rust each spoke individualy every other week.

Have read in the forum that some have had theirs respoked, has anyone had any success, got any recommendations etc ?
Or is cast wheels the way to go

Regards,
Graeme.

 

[Hew]

It's an 02 R1150GS with only 2500 miles on the clock.


I guess the wire brush in drill is out then!
Here is a link to 2 old threads
Cleaning the spokes:
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5678&highlight=respoke

and one about rebuilding the wheels:
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1398&highlight=respoke

 

[boxer]

FYI

Russ

 

[Graeme]

Thanks Russ n Eddie!

 

[Wraithwrider]

Hagon do a wheel building service by return of post.

http://www.hagon-shocks.co.uk/main1st.htm

 

[Graeme]

Hagon do a wheel building service by return of post.

http://www.hagon-shocks.co.uk/main1st.htm

Thanks