How-to Stop Spoke & Wheel Damage

This video is about How-to Stop Spoke & Wheel Damage
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[@gorongo4202]

Great tips on a neglected part of every bike! Also awesome is bringing extra attention to how we can can help with trails and support our sport is a great thing. Be an ambassador for all the positive aspects of riding!

[@jasondodd6525]

Thanks for the great videos Jeff..I'll be placing another order soon from you guys because the videos, quality products, and great customer service. Fargo, ND

[@MikeRay1978]

Thank you. While I’ve been riding for decades none of it has been the kind of bike that requires the maintenance my 300xcw does. Thank you for sharing your experience in a respectful and helpful way.

[@slaverace1]

Glad to help!

[@taylorbeams2929]

Thanks Jeff! Love your videos straight to the point no BS

[@carlatamanczyk3891]

I never have much of an issue with my spokes to speak of.... I don't abuse my equipment but I do use it and maintain it.... Appreciate your tech tips, Jeff.

[@MackB2023]

Jeff has taught me alot after I thought I knew lol. I still use the zylophone technique to check for the loose spoke. It has its purpose.

[@mattsutube]

Best tutorial I've seen to date on spoke tightening. Being roughly your age, retired automotive mechanic, this is an invaluable lesson! Thanks

[@justinporetta1803]

Thanks for the tips.. I just got new wheels and was wondering how to keep them up to spec !!

[@omarelfawal5654]

i got my first ever bike a week ago and never realised how bad my front wheel was, got a puncture and when i took the wheel off it represented a banana more than a wheel, thanks for the advice, will be handy in the future!!

[@mhilde7744]

Great post, Jeff. Thanks a million!👍

[@1MarkBevans]

Great tips! Thanks Jeff

[@orwellhuxley6301]

Thank you Jeff.

[@slaverace1]

You're welcome.

[@adambatchelder4121]

Thanks for pushing the trail work Jeff, there are only a hand full of guys clearing hear where I live but hundreds of freeloaders.

[@motoblok_2901]

Thanks for the tips!

[@slaverace1]

Happy to help!

[@NirHason]

+Jeff Slavens Tnx Jeff! What tire combination will you choose for rocks, hard-pack and fast sections that are good in cornering and overall stability (KTM 300XCW 17)?

[@slaverace1]

Guys, all of the spoke wrenches on our site correctly fit KTM, HQV, Beta, Sherco, Gas Gas and most other brands.

[@chrisoffersen]

“Thank you!” - My new KTM

[@rbjoseph25]

Well then. When i was a kid, i had an xr100. i got to where i was poppin 8 or 9 rear spokes every ride. I knew nothing about spokes, so my friend's dad would replace them. After the 4th time, i was told i was too heavy for the bike and needed to upgrade. Im now 40, 5'5 and 130lbs, i doubt even now im to heavy for an xr100. But hey, it got me to an xr250. And now im on a ktm 250 xcw. Point is, i knew i was right.

[@581turbovw]

Dealers don’t check spoke tension. I’ve see so many bikes from dealers not getting re-oiled air filters. They don’t do the PDI.

[@wadoktm5316]

jeff, I always seem to have issues with the spoke nipple breaking inside the rim. When I look at the broken nipple it looks corroded. What's the best way to prevent this?

[@chasehoneycutt4045]

On a new set of wheels that's being laced up, put a bit of anti seize on nipple threads. On an older set of wheels I would put a bit of penetrating oil on each one and let soak over night. If it's still being stubborn you can apply some heat as well

[@64bruceb]

Probably worth mentioning that the Warp 9 torque wrench set doesn't come with a 6.8mm end. You have to buy it separately. Has 6.7 and 6.9 but not the one that KTM uses.

[@slaverace1]

The Warp 9 6.9 fits very well. I checked it on my bike today.

[@TrentHafen]

With the Tubliss system installed do you drop the high pressure tube down before tuning to allow the spoke nipples to spin freely without risk of damaging the tubliss rim tape or whichever tape you use to ensure the seal stays and doesn’t puncture after each service?

[@slaverace1]

Trent: You can lower the pressure if it makes you feel good but it is not necessary. The only purpose of the tape is to keep the nipples from rubbing on the bladder and causing damage. The tape DOES NOT seal the system. The TUbliss red liner seals the bead of the tire, therefore the rim does not need sealed. You could drill 100 holes in the rim and through the tape and it would still seal correctly.

[@TrentHafen]

@@slaverace1 Thanks Jeff

[@scottdrew6403]

I have a 2024 ktm xcw. Brand new. I went to check my spokes for the first time. All went well but I did notice 2-3 spokes on the rear wheel wouldn’t tighten to spec. They felt a little loose, so I tightened them with the spoke torq wrench. But the nipple wouldn’t get to the spec torq, it just continued to spin counterclockwise. It will get snug but if you go too far it gets loose again and will just continuously spin forever. This doesn’t seem possible if the threads are grabbing the nipple.. it almost seems like the spoke nipple is stripped. But it’s a brand new bike.

[@slaverace1]

Hello Scott: You mentioned tightening counter-clockwise, BUT clockwise is the direction to tighten the spokes.

[@scottdrew6403]

@@slaverace1 that was a typo. I was def tightening them the right direction because the torque wrench was clicking. But I came to 2-3 nipples where the wrench wouldn’t click or hit the spec torq it would just keep going from loose to tight, continuing to spin. My bikes a 24 300 xcw with the special orange nipples.

[@jamesdenton3692]

How things change ! Back in the late 60's and early 70's you would be looked at as an idiot if you didn't safety wire your spokes and carry spare control cables. In the last 20 years I've ridden two KTMs well over 15000 Km's each and not had a single break and after initial check never had a spoke give any reason for concern , but then I'm old and slow.

[@pierrensn]

how do you 'prevent' the nipples from seizing over time? I'm about to build a new set of wheels for my 501 and would like them to last well :)

[@Eddiep80]

Anti seize my dude!

[@hoosierdaddy2468]

What do you torque them to?

[@slaverace1]

48 in. lb. for KTM/HQV/Beta/Sherco/Gas Gas

[@hoosierdaddy2468]

Thank you sir

[@rajkirannatarajan9276]

Why not just tighten each one in sequence? Why skip over some spokes as you go around? I understand that this way you’re tightening all spokes on one side of the hub at a time, but why this restriction?

[@plkracer]

You will pull the wheel out of round, and have the potential to overtighten spokes on the opposite side.

[@gabrielkopp2036]

Great tips but.dont matter how long you have been doing it ALWAYS use a torque wrench that they are all the dame torque

[@slaverace1]

Torque wrenches lie when dirt migrates in to the threads. Only a well tuned/experienced hand can feel that. You do it your way, I'll do it my way.

[@bellyacre1]

@@slaverace1 What is a good torque setting for a 2012 xt250?

[@MOTOTREK]

Makes a Spoke Maintenance video. Doesn't adjust any spokes. ??

[@slaverace1]

I keep my wheels maintained. They don't need adjusted. Maybe you should be in the garage maintaining your wheels instead of being so judgemental while hiding behind your computer screen.

[@enduro-parts-aus]

@@slaverace1 haha

[@Eddiep80]

I don’t know man I’ve been riding motorcycles for 35 years. Dirt for most of it. There just comes a time when your good enough to just start breaking spokes all the time 😂 from either going to big and landing on flat or not “maintaining” your spokes. Or just riding real aggressive and shit breaks sometimes. I’ve broken upwards of 4 spokes at one time before from overshooting a jump. Usually it’s one every other track day. And more so the rear rim. I’ve gotten really good at taking a tire on and off the rim at the track when I notice another damn broken spoke. I’ll yank the tire off real quick and change the spoke out if I don’t have my other rims with me ready to go.