OzVMX Forum
Clubroom => Tech Talk => Topic started by: gage on February 20, 2008, 07:37:28 pm
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Hello, Restoring a 74 CR125M Elsinore back to it's former glory. Looking for someone to supply me with a set of stainless steel spokes and nipples front and rear. I have laced and rebuilt wheels before using the original spokes but these spokes are past repairing. I am in Perth and have had no luck ringing around. Does anyone have a positive experience with a spoke supplier in Perth or Interstate.
Any advice greatly appreciated.
Regards, Ron
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John Titman in Queensland from Titman Racing. Pricey but no hassles.
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Lots of people rave about Mike Warner in Qld. Certainly seemed to know his stuff when I've spoken to him on the phone.
I also spoke to a Vic based guy today, who sounded like a good, no nonsense bloke. Best prices I've been given on stainless spokes, worst on zinc (although it did sound like he was selling top quality zinc spokes for the anal-retentive restorers, rather than just "this'll get ya outta trouble mate"). Advertises in the classifieds section of Just Bikes.
The best prices I've had on Zinc spokes was from a mob in Sydeny (Granville?) who's name completely escapes me.
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and the prices would be ?
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Try Chivos at Unit 3-4 20 Crescent St, Granville, NSW 2142. p: (02) 9682 5950 ...He's the only whell builder I'll trust these days.
If you keep an eye out on USA eBay, NOS spoke sets often come up. I recently bought NOS zinc spoke sets for an MX125 Yamaha for $20 or so for the front and around $35 for the rear. Honda stuff often appears.
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I was avoiding that because I can't remember well enough to put them to print....
So the rest of this post is on the disclaimer that I might have ballsed any or all of it up.
Mr Victoria was $3.45 each for zinc, $4.50/4.70 for stainless straight gauge (price difference is 10G vs 9G), and ~$1 each dearer for butted.
MWM was ~$180/set of 36 for stainless, although its now occurred to me that they may have been butted spokes, which makes them cheaper/line ball.
Mr Granville was less than $100 for 36 zincs, IIRC. This was ages ago, so I really reserve the right to have forked this up.
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Thanks for the input guys. I did some more ringing around yesterday and managed to get two quotes over the phone:
Mike Warner Wheels in Qld - $220 per wheel - that is supply of 36 stainless spokes and nipples, around $6.10 per spoke.
GC Motorcycles in S.A. - $140 per wheel - supply of 36 stainless spokes and nipples, around $3.90 per spoke.
It obviously pays to shop around. Doesn't appear to be anyone in Perth who makes spokes - if anyone knows someone in Perth, please let us know.
Cheers Ron
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Ash's spoked wheelz in Sunny Qld of Briz-vegas 07-32626447 prices are fair ;)
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Chivo
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Ron, Almost everyone in Perth including the bike shops use "Spoked Wheel Services' in Midvale. I would give him a call about supplying your spokes. Or if you want him to do the re-lacing he does top quality work. He did the wheels (spokes and rims) on my 75 Elsinore and my YZ 360. ;D
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There a shop in Malaga...it used to be in Maddington...called Spoke Wheel Services that make / supply stainless spokes or will rebuild your wheels. He also has a supply of rims if required.
Last time I had some made up he charged $160. per wheel (for the spokes). I rang him about a month ago enquiring about spokes for 74 cr125 and he has samples to make them up. He supplies "thicker" spokes if required. Last phone number I had was 94592035. Will check and let you know.
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There is a wealth of knowledge in the VMX community - thanks for all the input guys. I'll try the two Perth guys and see what they can do for me.
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I was speaking to a guy the other day that said he had trouble with his stainless spokes breaking as they had work hardened. Stainless does behave in this way. I think he had done quite a lot of riding on them.
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thats not surprising, ive known about that with SS spokes for ages and thats why i am against them for offroad bikes, especially in hard use and road race bikes.
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Montesa used stainless steel spokes on the 74' VR.
I have original wheels here, with original spokes and
they are still in perfect condition.
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All my sidecars have stainless spokes . Sidecars raced in MX have huge sideforces when you drift them at speed over ruts . I never have a problem . But I have seen people collapsing wheels again and again....
it looks like collapsing wheels has nothing to do with the material , but more so how good you build the wheel. It is correct stainless can get bridle by bending , but then think closely , if a wheel moves and flexes that much to cause that , it was not built correct in the first place . ;)
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my point is that they are hard and dont have as much 'give' in them as plain steel ones. i think if they were that good then all the japanese bikes would of come out from the factory with them
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YSS also manufactures spokes (manly for scooters OEM ) and I have a little insight . The cost of the raw material is 4 times higher than steel , the tools and maschinery to make them last only 1/3 of the time , so its pretty clear , Honda or Yamaha will not and can not pay that extra for little or no gain in the main market. Just to compare our OEM spokes cost 12 cents each and stainless would cost about 50 cents each. 72 x 32cents difference is $23.00 difference on a 1000$ 110cc scooter . 99% of customers will not pay extra for that . ;)