Re-lacing front/rear spoked wheels?

[Bladerunner]

Anyone know of someplace respectable and qualified to re-spoke a set of wheels for my GS? Thanks.....

[Baatfam]

Anyone know of someplace respectable and qualified to re-spoke a set of wheels for my GS? Thanks.....

Have you considered doing it yourself? It really isn't that difficult.

[Agemax]

lacing a wheel from scratch, and getting it perfect is one of the hardest and most difficult jobs in the bike building world. it takes a pro to do it properly

[Baatfam]

lacing a wheel from scratch, and getting it perfect is one of the hardest and most difficult jobs in the bike building world. it takes a pro to do it properly

Huh....Done a couple of them, never seemed that difficult to me.

Kind of fun, really...

[bobthebiker88]

last time I had that issue I broke a bunch of spokes, and said $^@^% it! I'm paying the guy!

[steve murdoch]

The Holy Grail, imho.
Bring your chequebook.

http://www.buchananspokes.net/

[Nessism]

The Holy Grail, imho.
Bring your chequebook.
http://www.buchananspokes.net/

Spendy to be sure. Rims seem particularly expensive.

[Buffalo Bill]

How's it done?

Huh....Done a couple of them, never seemed that difficult to me.

Kind of fun, really...

Kinda like puttin' new strings in a piano? Or is it easier than that?
But for real, can you sum up the FAQs for us please. I'm just curious how it's done.
Bill

[850 Combat]

I'm having some done for my '73 Commando at Wheel Works in Garden Grove California. I'm going to take off the Morris Mags that have been on it for more than 30 years, and put on stock hubs with alloy rims and stainless spokes.

Wheel Works
12787 Nutwood Ave
Garden Grove, CA 92840
714.530.6681
714.537.2317 fax

[Nessism]

There is lots of info on the internet on how to lace bicycle wheels. Seems to me a motorcycle would be similar.

[Baatfam]

The Holy Grail, imho.
Bring your chequebook.
http://www.buchananspokes.net/

They say they have spoke kits for Suzuki GSes...and they have a lacing video...(although it appears to be VHS)

Kinda like puttin' new strings in a piano? Or is it easier than that?
But for real, can you sum up the FAQs for us please. I'm just curious how it's done.
Bill

Short version? OK.
If you're just replacing stock parts, (because the spokes are rusty or you want SS or the rim is damaged), it's just a matter of removing the old and replacing with new in the same pattern. (These days you can do pictures...back when, I made drawings of the pattern)
Once you have it loosely assembled, evenly take up the slack in the spokes.
Now for the fun part. You need to tighten them evenly while maintaining your runout, (both vertical and horizontal), and your offset. A dial indicator is very handy, (if not essential)
It is really not much different than doing an annual spoke tune, except they start out really loose
Obviously, if your changing to a different size rim or a different hub, you need to a little up front work to get the right spokes and pattern.

I did bicycle wheels when I was a kid...motorcycles are just bigger.

Bill...I'm sure if you googled it, you would find plenty of instructional pages and information.

[hampshirehog]

Easy job, even if it's your first time, though it can be daunting. There's no offset to worry about (same both sides) and that helps (on old Brit stuff I still find that a pain). I'm an amateur but still get a better job than I would if I took it to a wheelwright (unmeasurable run-out whereas they'll be happy with a few thou - just takes me longer).

Take a photo of the wheel before you strip it and just do a 'paint-by-numbers' to put the spokes back in. Don't be tempted to force or bend the spokes to get them in - you only need to do that on some old Brit stuff (spot a theme here? - wonder why BSA / Norton etc went bust).

Tighten your spokes very slowly to start off with and use either your forks or swinging arm as a jig if you haven't got a proper one - cable ties make great pointers if you haven't got a dial gauge. If the thing goes off centre once you start tightening spokes, start again - you won't pull it back by over-tightening elsewhere. Take your time and get a big grin when you're done.

[duaneage]

I respoked the wheels on my Yamaha. I had cross 2 on the rear and did cross 3 instead, for a stronger wheel. There are specific wrenchs for motorcycle nipples, I found a number 10 bicycle spoke wrench to be about the same.

When you lace the wheels you move in groups of 4. It's important to start at the valve hole and take care to start the 3rd and 4th (final) series in a way that allows a gap where the air valve is. If you look at a spoked wheel you'll notice a gap in the spokes where the valve is. This allows you to get an airchuck in to fill the tire.

Do one wheel at a time so you will have an example of the pattern. the best pattern is inside pulling asymetrical layout. This means the left is opposite of the right and the inside spokes are pulling the wheel while the outside is pushing.

Spoked wheels actually suspend the bike. The top spokes carry the weight. The spokes are under tension so when weight is applied the top spokes get tighter and the bottom loosen. This helps to dampen the ride and contribute to comfort, although flex in the corners is a problem.

Since spoked wheels function on a right angle theory of load at any given time 2 spokes share the peak load at right angles to the hub. The steeper the angle the stronger the wheel, cross 3 being the highest practical limit on motorcycles. Cross 3 means a spoke crosses 3 other spokes on it's way from the hub to the rim. Some wheels are interlaced but not commonly.

I prestress the spokes as I am building the wheel so as to bend the spoke in the direction of the hub. This improves break in. Spokes should be restressed after a few miles and checked periodically. A loose spoke indicates a number of problems including a bad nipple, damaged rim, out of tension wheel, or pulled hole on the rim. If just one spoke is loose the rim is compromised and does not have the preload tension required.

Front wheels are different in that they have little torque applied, only braking force. The rear does double duty for braking and torque. It's important to check the spoke tension. The most important thing is that it's even. plucking the spokes should give an equal sound all around. The actual tightness can be measured with a tensionometer ( I have one of these goodies) and readings vary greatly based on length, spoke diameter, cross number, and rim material.

While it is certainly possible for a novice to rebuild wheels, I would have the wheel inspected by a reputable shop and have the tension checked and the wheel inspected. A wheel failure due to faulty work would be catastrophic.

If anyone in the Philly area needs a wheel trued or rebuild contact me and I can help them.

[Ranger]

Its pretty easy man, go to a bike shop and watch someone true a wheel and you'll get the idea.

This is the one thing I have hundreds of hours of experience with along with suspension.

You'll need to check the radial runout after 100 miles or so. Where are you at anyways?

[Ranger]

There is lots of info on the internet on how to lace bicycle wheels. Seems to me a motorcycle would be similar.

Almost true. If he was closer I would offer to do it and create a build up for it.

Motorcycle wheels you start when the inner spokes measuring the runout to within .30 in, either direction measuring with a dial gauge indicator. Then you move to the outside and counter the lateral runout and adjust both accordingly.

Bike wheels, depends a lot of the wheel type and spoke type/ count.