Wheels..

[Kingfisher91]

Does anybody know if the spoked wheels of a 2015 650 strom will fit my 2005 one? Cheers

[greywolf]

It won't. Pre 2007 Wees have smaller hubs and the new wheels probably won't drive the speedo sensor.

[Fat Rat]

I have just spent an hour cleaning the spokes on my Africa Twin, I would never choose spokes .

[Stonec0ld]

Here's a question I've always wanted to ask. Why are spokes generally on off road bikes? You see bike reviews and it mentions things like "the spoked wheels are a nod to the bikes off road capabilities "

From people's experiences (Josh) all they seem to do is break and take forever to clean. So what's the point in them?

[user650]

Have a watch of this 


Mine have never broke just corroded as Suzuki use cheap cheese metal

[Kingfisher91]

OK thanks, that's a shame :( there's a nice set for sale ATM with Tyres an thought they'd look great on my bike. Oh well. And spoke look great I think.

[TLPower]

+1 on a pain to keep clean. It's the tubes that scared me to death.

The new ones never look dirty.

Whoops, spoke too soon.

I'll get my own coat.

[Mr Nick]

Why are spokes generally on off road bikes?

Because spoked wheels can be straightened far more easily than alloys when they get bent off road, and you just replace the rim if it gets too bad.

[old git]

I find it fairly incomprehensible that anyone would choose to pay a premium for spoked wheels if a bike is never going off road. Spokes corrode, require adjustment, adjusters seize and many spoked wheels still require to be fitted with inner tubes. More suited to a horse drawn cart than a modern motorcycle. I am from the generation where spoked wheels were the norm and at best they were just a PITA. I foolishly bought a new T120 Bonneville that had no option for anything other than spoked wheels. Spokes were corroding within weeks, I suffered 2 punctures, one of which left stranded at the roadside with no means of repair. A tubeless tyre could have easily have been plugged on the spot and at least have got me home. Traded in the Triumph for the V-Stom - the bike I should have bought in the first place.

[Brockett]

Style  Style is what makes ladies buy shoes that cripple their feet. Real men go for useful practicality.  Although ...... that does not explain my Harley with spoked wheels even with tubeless tyres and the two hours a week I waste cleaning and polishing just the wheels.

[Kingfisher91]

The main reason I want spokes is because I will be taking it off road eventually, an I suppose I like the style of them on an 'adventure' type bike a bit more than the alloy 3 spoke things. I don't really mind if they don't stay shiny never had a prob cleaning them on any of my mx bikes before. And what's wrong with carrying a spare tube? Or puncture repair kit?

[Loz]

Or running tubliss, which is what I use on my CRF, gives the benefit of lower pressures and you can plug the tyre or run slime like you would on a cast wheel.

[old git]

And what's wrong with carrying a spare tube? Or puncture repair kit?

......and tools to get the wheel off which don't come with the pathetic tool kit under the seat on my 2016 bike. Also tyre levers. If you are planning on some off road stuff then fair enough. I do ALL my own tyre changing and maintenance on my bikes, but I prefer not to spend riding time wrestling with tyres at the side of the road - did it in the 1970's and it's just no fun.