Who'd use spoked wheels?

[Greg Masters]

OK, this is my Suzuki DR-Z, not the GS, but I was let down last night when my wheel failed.

The wheel in question is a Talon hub with an Excel rim built by Talon using stainless steel spokes. The rim is just 6 weeks old (bought new by me from Talon) and has never been used for anything than road use (I use the OE wheels for green laning).

As you can see, a spoke has broken, and this in turn punctured the tube. The bike and I came home in a van!

I'll be on the dog to Talon asap - let's see what they say.



Greg

 

[Steve]

I'll be on the dog to Talon asap - let's see what they say.

"They all do that Sir...."?

 

[Geezer]

Talon & Exel are about the best you can get I'd say you had a bit of bad luck, I'm sure they will repair it & you'll get a big apology

 

[Mzokk]

Spoked wheels tend to bed in and need the spokes tensioned after a few weeks use (even bicycles) after that they need to be checked periodically. (think howmany times they heat up and cool down let alone the physical forces on them in use! Noticed that the BM Manual recons you should check spoke tension fairly frequently by playing percussion on them. I've no experience of talon hubs but I use their alloy sprockets on my GSXR600 and they are quality.

 

[Spout]

"I'll be on the dog to Talon asap - let's see what they say."

What was the outcome after you SPOKE to them?


sorry about that........

 

[Greg Masters]

What was the outcome after you SPOKE to them?

They have asked me to send them the wheel - which is a right PITA as it means that I'll be without a wheel for at least a few days!

Greg

 

[Spout]

Solution:

 

[phil adams]

drz spokes

I have a new DRZ, I took it back to the dealer recently to complain about the way the spokes have corroded, it's only done 500 miles and no off road use. Result. They have offered to re spoke the wheels.

 

[Badger]

Greg, I've got a DRZ supermoto (S); the original spokes when the 17inchers were first built were stainless and lo and behold, I broke two (while running the bike in so I wasn't taking liberties at the time). Similar result: Flat tyre, wrecked tube, wheel with less than 150miles on it requiring a respoke.

After the second one went I got it relaced using normal steel instead of stainless steel spokes on the recommendation of the guy doing the job (couldn't face the hassle of sending the wheel back to it's supplier and waiting for weeks so I paid for it myself)

After a further 2k with some pretty aggressive riding, not one has broken and I confess to never having tightened them - just play them when I clean the bike to check none have gone ping again.

Not as shiney shiney as the stainless but with a bit of care they don't look too shabby - and they don't leave me stranded!