Spoked Wheels

[DOG]

I have a V Strom 1050 XT with spoked wheels. The bike is about 18 months old and now has approx. 2000 miles. I'm the second owner and It's been well cared for. It's been laid up over winter and was lavishly covered with ACF 50. Sadly the spokes are blemished and are refusing to respond to any and all treatment. Is there a recognised problem with these spokes or am I simply unlucky?

[Barbel Mick]

Type spokes into the search box at the top of the page, there will be plenty of reading for a wet evening.   

[DOG]

You're so right - lots of reading and very little  of it encouraging. Suzuki have agreed to replace spokes ( both wheels). As an aside, my wife has a '99 XV1100 since almost new and all spokes are like new with minimum TLC.

[kwackboy]

Shoddy parts to save money... 

However, better quality parts in the first place would be cheaper for them and less hassle for the consumer in the long run.

Doesn't make any sense ... 

[Sea-Strom]

In 2010 I bought a Suzuki Intruder C800 with chrome wheels, brand new. After a harsh winter the spoke rust was bad. I put in a warranty claim and Suzuki said they would have the rims re spoked locally if I returned the bike to the dealer but not replace the whole wheels. I sold the bike! My current Harley is now 10 years old and the spokes are pretty good. Suppose you get what you pay for!! My Suzuki 1050 has cast wheels - after my experience with the VL I shied away from the XT but others may have had OK experience with spokes on newer Suzukis. 

[SteveH]

The tubeless spoked wheels are the same design as the Yamaha Tenere 1200, their spokes suffer just the same, look terrible and there is no known cure.
Fortunately they don't break unless you start throwing a quarter ton bike around offroad, and even then you have to work at it.

[Rusty Nuts]

So that's how Josh managed to snap his.