Question: How To Replace Spokes On A Bike

Is it hard to replace spokes?

A broken spoke is annoying, but not terribly hard to fix Here’s how Spokes beak for three main reasons: a manufacturing fault, damage, or metal fatigue In the latter two cases, the spoke usually breaks at the the bend just before the spoke passes through the hub flange

How do you put new spokes on a bike?

Can you ride a bike with a broken spoke?

Yes, you can ride with a broken spoke without harming yourself or the bike The immediate step should be to remove the spoke from the nipple so that it does not damage the other parts of the bike However, if you have multiple broken spokes, it’s best not to ride the bike

How much does it cost to replace bike spokes?

Spokes are usually $100 – $200 each Any shop will sell individual spokes Labor to replace a spoke is $10 – $20 depending on your location

How do you buy spokes?

In general terms, the more spokes a wheel has, the more the load is spread and the stronger the wheel should be Conversely, less spokes means a lighter wheel, so a wheelbuilder must strike a balance between desired strength and light weight

What causes broken spokes on a bicycle?

Bike spokes break most commonly due to wear and tear A high-frequent cause for spoke breaks is that the rider has hit a curb or pothole, doesn’t maintain the bike well, or the passenger is too heavy for that model Rougher terrain will also deteriorate the rims faster, which in turn deteriorates the spokes faster

How do you replace a rear bike spoke?

For a rear wheel spoke, first remove the cassette Remove the cassette Jonathan Ashelford / Immediate Media Remove the brake rotor You’ll need a T25 Torx key Jonathan Ashelford / Immediate Media Unwind the spoke Check the nipple Remove the old spoke Thread in the new spoke Tighten the nipple onto the spoke

How long can you ride a bike with a broken spoke?

Exactly How Long Can I Ride My Mountain Bike with a Broken Spoke? If you’ve only broken one spoke, you should be fine to ride it for an average ride or two However, you shouldn’t take it on any particularly rough trails or on long rides It will be wobblier, so be cautious, and get it replaced as soon as possible

Can you mountain bike with a missing spoke?

You can technically ride with a broken/missing spoke, but it is not ideal The missing spoke is going to put pressure on the others, and it will cause bigger problems if you don’t replace it

How long can I ride with a missing spoke?

Most wheels are pretty sturdy, and they will maintain their integrity even with a missing spoke As long as your wheel is still straight and is not rubbing up against your brake pads at any point in a full turn of the wheel, you are fine to ride your bike with a broken or loose spoke

Can you replace a bike spoke without taking wheel off?

Yes, you can just reuse the existing nipple but don’t do it Once the second spoke breaks, rebuild the wheel with new spokes All of the remaining original spokes aren’t trustworthy otherwise

How do I know what size spokes I need?

The measurements and information you need to determine spoke length are: The number of spoke holes in the hub and rim The effective rim diameter, called the “ERD” Hub flange diameter at the spoke holes, also known as the Spoke Pitch Diameter Left and right hub flange spacing relative to the hub center

Are all bike spokes the same?

When it comes time to ordering your hubs, rims, and spokes, you want to be sure that both the hubs and the rims use the same number of spokes A majority of mountain bike wheels use either 24, 28, or 32 spokes per wheel depending on their intended use

Are all spoke nipples the same size?

The most common spoke nipple sizes are 323mm, 330mm, and 345mm Though not as common, some wheels come with spoke nipples in two different sizes; one size is used on the rim, while a different size is used on the other end of the spoke at the hub

Are all spokes the same size?

You may need as many as three different spoke lengths One length for the front wheel, one for the rear drive side, and one for the rear non-drive side

Can you replace all the spokes on a bicycle wheel?

However, all the spokes on any given side of each wheel will be the same If you have both ends of the broken spoke, take those If not, remove another spoke from the from the same side of the wheel but 180 degrees from it around the rim Take that to the bike shop and ask for one just like it

How long should spokes last?

In my experience, spokes last virtually forever And I’ve got 30lbs on you Of course there’s too many variables to say “how long do spokes last” A low spoke count poorly built wheel with a heavy rider is going to go through spokes much quicker than a high spoke count quality built wheel with a regular sized rider

Where do spokes normally break?

Most decent spokes break, when they break, at the bend where they go into the hub A less obvious bend, only now and then but often enough to mention, is where it exits the spoke nipple Sometimes the nipple doesn’t seat well, and you get a bend there

Is it safe to ride a bike with a wobbly wheel?

It depends on the reason for them not being true A lack of equal tension in the spokes could mean weakness in one (or more) of them – and broken spokes are not a good thing to ignore You can survive one or maybe two for a short while, but eventually the rim could be in danger of collapsing