Bikes with spoked wheels

[rob13]

Never really considered this before but having spoked wheels means having tubed tyres.

Has anyone had spoked wheels before? Did you find that there was more maintenance required than the standard cast wheels?

Is there a benefit or disadvantage to having tubed tyres?

[Woz]

I had a Virago with spoked wheels. Maintenance is what you make of it really (read never cleaned or polished, just rode the thing until it exploded).

[Pete_58]

Make sure the rim tape covers the spokes nipples on the inside of the rim, can puncture the tube otherwise. Keeps the spoke nipples tight. Other than that spoke wheels shouldnt be a problem.

Too much talk of *sniggers* nipples there, lol!

[northwind]

I'm sure I've seen sealed spoked wheels that don't need tubes.

[dizzyblonde]

spoked wheels...OCD polishing heaven! or a curse to thse who hate cleaning!

[Sid Squid]

Andy's right - there are wire wheels that can use tubeless tyres, some BMWs for example have the spokes fitted to the edges of the rim rather than the centre well as was traditionally the case.
As far as maintenance goes wire wheels should be checked regularly to ensure the spokes are still tensioned correctly, the way to do this is to raise the wheel off the floor and spin it, using a screwdriver or similar lightly touching the spokes as the wheel spins will result in a note being produced as each spoke pings off of the screwdriver - a bum note indicates a loose spoke.

[rob13]

Thanks for that, was a bit apprehensive of buying a bike with Spoked wheels but I guess if you get a puncture you could just change the tube?

Why dont all bike tyres use tubes then?

[punyXpress]

In theory, tubeless are lighter.

[rob13]

So does it matter if you're not bothered too much about racing a bike about?

[Biker_Billy]

Suppose the benefit is that they are cheaper to replace if you get a puncture? - tubes that is...

[punyXpress]

Probably not - tubeless cannot easily break the bead to remove them, so need outside ( expensive ) help.

[rob13]

aye but I assume fixing an inner tube is cheaper than replacing a tyre?

[northwind]

You can repair tyres too though.

[rob13]

aye only if theyre in the centre 1/3rd of the tread though. Is it still the same with a tube?

[Blue_SV650S]

I just so happen to have some spoked wheels for sale 8)

They fit a 120-17 front 160-17 rear ... they are from an abandoned supermoto project :oops:

[Pete_58]

This is toatlly a guess but would you have to replace a damaged tube because of the pressure. Or just patch it up like a cycle inner tube, lol?!

[Blue_SV650S]

This is toatlly a guess but would you have to replace a damaged tube because of the pressure. Or just patch it up like a cycle inner tube, lol?!


Pushbike tubes generally run at higher pressure than motorbike tubes ;)

[Pete_58]

My bad. Shows how often i checked the pressures in my tyres then, lol!

[northwind]

aye only if theyre in the centre 1/3rd of the tread though

Nah, not true... It's not automatically safe to patch a central puncture or unsafe to patch an edgier puncture. Not that it matters that much because most are in the middle anyway.

[arenalife]

Spoked wheels are more resistant to impact which is why off road bikes have them, they are a bitch to clean though, not just the spokes but you can't get to the hub itself to clean it on the inside. Tubes mean you can't stick a plug in the tyre to fix it but I had a puncture recently in a tubed bike and it only cost £7.50 to have replaced (not at the side of the road though!).

Even if the spokes are chromed, it flakes off because off the tension and compression movement of the spokes and they all end up dull sooner or later.

[northwind]

How does the weight compare, between say a quality SM 17" spokey rim and a decent forged wheel?

[STRAMASHER]

I have had more punctures with tubed spoked wheels. (BMW tubeless spoked are cool and work).

Go down FAST! too.

A KTM Adventure is nearly my perfect bike, but a 100mph blow-out? Nah, no thanks.:( (Wonder if the new one will have a mag option?)

On the road , tubeless therefore mag are defo less pain. At the mo I have a nail in the tread part of my rear tyre on the SV. Done 1000miles. No loss of pressure. (A waiting game!?[-o<:p )

Necessary for trailies. Look cool on SM's.

[Sid Squid]

In addition to the above tubeless have a number of advantages, such as more consistent temperature so wear rates and grip are improved. When punctured, tube tyres go down FAST, (and if that's ever happened to you you'll be pleased to reduce the chances of it occurring again), valve tearing isn't a problem, neither is tube chafing.
Tubeless tyres may be slightly fussier to fit, (but if you've ever pinched a tube when fitting you'll possibly reconsider that), but have advantages I wouldn't forego.
If you do have tubes replace then when punctured, they're not dear and I wouldn't run the - admittedly small - risk of failure, (see the rapid deflation comment above), unless we're talking about an extremely lightweight bike.