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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Any of yous savages know anything about spokes?
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Message started by jbrough7 on 10/22/05 at 15:45:29

Title: Any of yous savages know anything about spokes?
Post by jbrough7 on 10/22/05 at 15:45:29

I need a new back tire - that's given. the old one is original so that makes it 17 years on the bike!! (That's 68 in human years!) I'm going to go all out and get nothing but the best - a Kenda, for $42 large.

Seriously, though, my problem is the spokes. The bike was left OUT IN THE CANADIAN WINTER, uncovered, for three years!! Lots of pitting everywhere and tons of rust but I just about have everything cleaned up - except for the spokes. Nothing I do seems to work - I even painted them with chrome from a rattle can and that looked good for about 8 hours. Should I just trash them when I get the tire off and put on new ones? I hear that's a bugger of a job! Are new ones expensive?? Thanks, guys and gals...

Title: Re: Any of yous savages know anything about spokes
Post by sluggo on 10/22/05 at 16:13:53

since your spending the big bucks on the tyre, it's hard to speak of options. all will include big big big bucks.

a. buy new spokes, have stealer lace. ouch..

b. buy new spokes, try to lace yourself, then have stealer lace. ouch.

c. remove old spokes have them powder coated, maybe then you could relace yourself maybe.

d. find new wheel on e-bay.

e. let it go, make a ratt byke out of it.

Title: Re: Any of yous savages know anything about spokes
Post by jbrough7 on 10/22/05 at 16:17:08

thanks for the input!

Powder coating - what is that, exactly?

Title: Re: Any of yous savages know anything about spokes
Post by Reelthing on 10/22/05 at 16:56:32

Watch ebay - recently watched a rear and front wheel off and '02 sell for not much - under $50 per each - with an ok tire

Title: Re: Any of yous savages know anything about spokes
Post by Reelthing on 10/22/05 at 16:58:34

jbrough7 wrote:

thanks for the input!

Powder coating - what is that, exactly?

get it real hot and dip it powder coating/paint that melts and sticks to it very well.

Title: Re: Any of yous savages know anything about spokes
Post by threezukes on 10/23/05 at 04:46:25

I tried to lace a bicycle wheel once and it took me forever to figure it out. I can imagine that a motorcycle wheel would be very similar, but I wouldn't try it unless there is someone who knows what they are doing and can help out.

Title: Re: Any of yous savages know anything about spokes
Post by PerrydaSavage on 10/23/05 at 06:13:14

Lacing spoked wheels is an "art-form" ... not exactly for those lacking in patience and/or experience. sadly, the spokes on the LS650 don't keep up appearances anyway ... my Bike is only a couple of years old, has never been left outside and the spokes are now dull and lifeless looking ... in fact they were that way after the 1st Riding season ... whatever the OEM spokes are coated with, appears to oxidize very quickly ... e-bay LS wheels are unlikely to be much better ...
So, a Savage/S40 owner learns to live with dull spokes, or decides to paint or replace 'em ... both of which are, as have been already pointed out likely to involve a substantial investment of time and/or money.

Title: Re: Any of yous savages know anything about spokes
Post by Ed_L. on 10/23/05 at 07:11:20

The spokes on my '02 look dull since I got it used. I've been thinking about paintig them but it seems the only way to do it right is to take them off the wheel. If I'm going through all that I'll go for some stainless spokes. I think that Bucanan makes stainless steel spoke sets for around 80 dollars per wheel which is more than my budget can swing right now. Relacing a wheel isn't that hard, it just takes a lot of time to do it right. Maybe when it is time for new rubber I'll do something with the spokes, till then it is too much trouble to mess with.

Title: Re: Any of yous savages know anything about spokes
Post by Greg_650 on 10/23/05 at 07:16:45

PerrydaSavage wrote:

I believe that the stock spokes are zinc plated...as in galvanized.

Some things can't be rushed and though we live is such a ridiculously fast paced world where our minds get frustrated without that feeling of instant gratification, a motorcycle is one of those things that may require patience and time....

About once a year I saturate my wheels in a combination of liquid spray and paste wax. Just part of a spring time detailing (and a 6 pack) and I make a mess. I just coat them thoroughly and then take the time to run a rag in and around each spoke. I usually do this with the wheel off since I usually have it apart anyway....

I know that some of the wax gets into the threads and crevasses on the spoke ends and can't be wiped off. This I figure is as good a rust preventative as it gets...and I am rewarded with generally clean spokes....

For those that don't have any patience, they invented solid or cast wheels ....

Title: Re: Any of yous savages know anything about spokes
Post by lancer on 10/23/05 at 08:40:20

For those that don't have any patience, they invented solid or cast wheels

One of my goals is to replace the stock wheels with a set of cast units from a Sportster...they can be found on ebay for as low as $100/set...with discs and pulley included sometimes.

Title: Re: Any of yous savages know anything about spokes
Post by PerrydaSavage on 10/23/05 at 10:13:42

Quote:

One of my goals is to replace the stock wheels with a set of cast units from a Sportster...they can be found on ebay for as low as $100/set...with discs and pulley included sometimes

This is a mod I would absolutely love to see pics of!

BTW Greg ... the ass-end of your Savage looks super in your signature photo!

Title: Re: Any of yous savages know anything about spokes
Post by Savage_Rob on 10/23/05 at 10:32:39

jbrough7 wrote:

thanks for the input!

Powder coating - what is that, exactly?

The powdercoating I've seen uses an electrostatic charge to make the powder stick to the item as it's sprayed on, then it's baked/melted onto it. Most of the time these days when you find things like metal lawn chairs, etc. they are powdercoated and I've read they now have low heat versions for non-metallic items too. A friend of mine has a local powdercoating business that has some decent explanations on his new site's FAQ page (http://contractpowder.com/faq.html).

Title: Re: Any of yous savages know anything about spokes
Post by Greg_650 on 10/23/05 at 10:43:39

PerrydaSavage wrote:

This is a mod I would absolutely love to see pics of!

BTW Greg ... the ass-end of your Savage looks super in your signature photo!

Thanks Perry. At the moment I'm trying to find front signals of the same style for the bike....but maybe I need to get a new handlbar first, 'cause I'd like them bar mounted.

Title: Re: Any of yous savages know anything about spokes
Post by jbrough7 on 10/23/05 at 11:44:31

You mean the ones that go in the ends?

Title: Re: Any of yous savages know anything about spokes
Post by PerrydaSavage on 10/23/05 at 13:55:28

Or Harley-style directionals that hang off the underside of the bars?
Greg I've entered "Suzuki Savage" into e-bays search engine and from time-to-time I've seen a set of rectangular directionals, similar to those on the rear of your Savage, 'cept a bit smaller and these have clear lenses with amber bulbs ... they look pretty good actually.

Title: Re: Any of yous savages know anything about spokes
Post by Greg_650 on 10/23/05 at 13:59:46

PerrydaSavage wrote:

That's it. The ones that hang on the bars....

Title: Re: Any of yous savages know anything about spokes
Post by PerrydaSavage on 10/23/05 at 14:05:35

8)Ha Greg ... you and I seem to be on-line at the same time! It's 6:30pm here in Nfld.
Speaking of wheels ... I know most here at suzukisavage.com prefer the laced look (I know I do), but it's too bad that aftermarket alloys and/or chromies aren't readily available for the LS ... I'd love to see what a set would look like ... plus, cast wheels would allow one to run tubeless tires ...
Greg I'll bet that those Harley bar-mount directionals would fit the Savage's 1" tiller.

Title: Re: Any of yous savages know anything about spokes
Post by jbrough7 on 10/23/05 at 15:23:01

I've never seen these bar mounts - i'm glad you aren't going for the ones in the ends of the bars - they look very strange.

Title: Re: Any of yous savages know anything about spokes
Post by Greg_650 on 10/24/05 at 05:37:14

I like the directionals in the mirrors (like on some cars). The aftermarket mirrors are pricey, though, and most say they aren't DOT approved. Bummer....

Title: Re: Any of yous savages know anything about spokes
Post by jbrough7 on 10/24/05 at 07:14:54

Yeah, they do look neat. Remember just a few years ago when LED was the stuff in your pencil?

Title: Re: Any of yous savages know anything about spokes
Post by PerrydaSavage on 10/24/05 at 08:26:39

;)Yeah, if ya still got LED in yer pencil when you're in your mid-40's, you're doin' OK!! 8)

Title: Re: Any of yous savages know anything about spokes
Post by jbrough7 on 10/24/05 at 11:13:13

I knew that was coming, I swear, but I just didn't know where it was coming from! You owe me P. as how many times in life do you get a setup like that??!!?? >:(

Title: Re: Any of yous savages know anything about spokes
Post by DavidV on 10/24/05 at 11:52:54

Relacing a wheel isn't too bad. Just replace the spokes one at a time. Check for true when you're done.

Title: Re: Any of yous savages know anything about spokes
Post by jbrough7 on 10/24/05 at 14:11:11

That's what my gut is telling me - how hard can it be? Are they worth much?

Title: Re: Any of yous savages know anything about spokes
Post by PerrydaSavage on 10/24/05 at 16:22:19

Sorry jbrough ... the set-up was just too perfect NOT to take advantage of it ... you know us "Newfies" and our famous sense of humour! ;)

Title: Re: Any of yous savages know anything about spokes
Post by jbrough7 on 10/24/05 at 16:37:46

Don't worry - I'll get even - one day I'll push you off the 'rock' when ya ain't lookin'! :P

Title: Re: Any of yous savages know anything about spokes
Post by WD on 10/24/05 at 21:09:19

Good spokes (diamond twisted stainless) are pricey. Normal stainless or chromed spokes are 80-100 bucks. And relacing one spoke at a time is a piece of cake. Just takes forever.
-WD

Title: Re: Any of yous savages know anything about spokes
Post by PerrydaSavage on 10/25/05 at 00:40:44

WD, a guy up the street from me wears those twisted stainless spokes on his Softtail ... looks really good!
The coolest Spokes I've ever seen, I saw on either Corbin's Ride On or American Thunder last weekend ... looked like chrome bamboo shoots ... really wild!
Betcha that laces that looked like barbed wire would be cool too 8)!

Title: Re: Any of yous savages know anything about spokes
Post by jbrough7 on 10/25/05 at 02:48:30

I live on a farm and I've got tons of barbed wire around. How about lacing that stuff through and around the spokes. Wouldn't that look deadly?

My nephew has a cbr 600 and one of the supports for the exhaust broke so he WELDS a big chain onto the bike from the front of his exhaust to the back! Looks different, that's for sure!