How long to bed in the spokes??

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ballisticexchris

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This has to be the worst bike ever in regards to loose spokes. All my riding has been pavement.
68 miles 3 rear loose spokes
612 mile dealer service a few loose spokes front and rear
1163 mile service by me. Checked spokes. OK
Today 1752 miles 1 front loose spoke, 2 rear loose spokes

I have never had spokes come loose like this. In all my years riding dirt bikes they only require a once or twice tightening after the first few rides. My buddy has a Gen one ST and he has actually lost spokes. I'm hoping this is not going to an ongoing issue for the life of the bike. It's at the point now that I'm checking them before every ride.

Like all my wheels I ping them, use a torque wrench and tighten every third spoke to spec. I go around every wheel twice. It's just a minor annoyance at this point. I'm just concerned when I head into the dirt I'll start breaking or losing spokes. I would safety wire them but it wont help with the nipples falling out.
 

Dogdaze

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Nearly 40% of my front spokes were not torqued about two weeks ago, even did ping test that was good, so just checked them any way, and they were loose. This after 5000kms. I think depends on how much corrosion gets on the spokes, more corrosion the sooner they 'freeze' on..
 
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RonH

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I check mine every oil change, so checked at 600, 4000, 8000, 12000 miles. At 600 miles had 2 or 3 rears that needed a small nudge to torque to spec, no loose ones since. On my 2012 when I was using the ping test, I lost a nipple at 15,000 miles and at that time began relying on the torque wrence. It had the majority loose on the rear wheel, after that torqued them every 4000 miles and a couple would need nudging a bit on the rear. Neither bike ever had a loose front spoke.
 

Juan

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Torque tightening all spokes may not be a good idea. I will not open a debate on this but the topic is amply discussed in other threads. Before I go on a long tour I ping the spokes with a screwdriver and if they give a sharp note they're good to go. The only time I had a spoke problem was at around 500 miles (before the first service). The spoke nipple fell off during travel, the spoke came loose and hit against the pumpkin. As with the majority of problems reported, this was on the rear wheel on the final drive side.
 

Dogdaze

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Torque tightening all spokes may not be a good idea. I will not open a debate on this but the topic is amply discussed in other threads. Before I go on a long tour I ping the spokes with a screwdriver and if they give a sharp note they're good to go. The only time I had a spoke problem was at around 500 miles (before the first service). The spoke nipple fell off during travel, the spoke came loose and hit against the pumpkin. As with the majority of problems reported, this was on the rear wheel on the final drive side.
I agree, as over-torqueing will cause more strain on the spokes, but in my case I even set the torque wrench to 6ft/lbs and they still turned, some a full turn. My 2012 never had any that needed torqueing on the front so I was caught by surprise......
 
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ballisticexchris

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Torque tightening all spokes may not be a good idea. I will not open a debate on this but the topic is amply discussed in other threads. Before I go on a long tour I ping the spokes with a screwdriver and if they give a sharp note they're good to go. The only time I had a spoke problem was at around 500 miles (before the first service). The spoke nipple fell off during travel, the spoke came loose and hit against the pumpkin. As with the majority of problems reported, this was on the rear wheel on the final drive side.
I agree, as over-torqueing will cause more strain on the spokes, but in my case I even set the torque wrench to 6ft/lbs and they still turned, some a full turn. My 2012 never had any that needed torqueing on the front so I was caught by surprise......
I've been using a combination of pinging and proper torquing spokes for years with no issues. Mine are just turning about a quarter turn last few times. IMHO, 6ft/lbs is too much torque for our spokes. That's almost 1/3rd over factory spec of 4.3 ft/lbs. Only time I don't use the torque wrench is when truing a wheel. In that case I'm usually loosening spokes to get the wheel straight.

I will say these wheels are a whole different design than what I'm used to. I can see why there are a few different size spokes for each wheel due to the strange lacing pattern and offset hub design. Good news is I have a dishing tool so if I ever have to lace up a set of these.

I will continue to ping check and put the torque wrench to the spokes as needed. From these responses I'm getting this seems to be normal for this machine.
 

Longdog Cymru

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I agree, as over-torqueing will cause more strain on the spokes, but in my case I even set the torque wrench to 6ft/lbs and they still turned, some a full turn. My 2012 never had any that needed torqueing on the front so I was caught by surprise......
Hi Dogdaze, please correct me if I am wrong, but if you use a decent torque wrench on the correct torque setting, then surely it should not be possible to over-torque the spokes?

I fully understand the consequences of just using a conventional wrench and giving that final tweet, but a torque wrench is the tool that is designed to prevent that happening?
 

Dogdaze

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Hi Dogdaze, please correct me if I am wrong, but if you use a decent torque wrench on the correct torque setting, then surely it should not be possible to over-torque the spokes?

I fully understand the consequences of just using a conventional wrench and giving that final tweet, but a torque wrench is the tool that is designed to prevent that happening?
I have a very small torque wrench for just that purpose, the reason for going under the 6Nm spec was that there was an issue recorded on the site whereby someone went OTT with the torque wrench. I am just erring on the side of caution by going 5Nm I will not have a chance to check again until the spring as the weather is turning cold and wet (wet leaves are an issue where I am). i always relied on the 'ping' test, but after discovering so many spokes were loose (not finger loose, but enough for me to check them all and tighten them) I was not taking any chances.
I did the 'ping' test after and barely a difference in note.............
 

bimota

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my spokes were ok but rusted bad yamaha paid for replacements under warranty, i had the wheels rebuild with stainless 3 years ago now and were loctited never looked back

rob
 

Brick

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Yesterday I wen to change tires onmy 2014ES which has 67,431 miles on it. Previous 2012 Tenere sold with 80,800 miles no spoke problem. So since getting this 14 model I have been pinging the spokes and have found a few that were flat so I just snugged them up with a wrench to ping right. However yesterday on the front tire a nipple was missing. Crap... so I ordered some front spokes from Oldrider. So now I’m a believer and will torque.
However someone mentioned long allen drivers from Harbor Freight. Hmm... how long are these allen drivers?




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RIDEMYST

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I’m at 85K on my 2015 and yet to have a loose spoke. I read those posts here on the forum when I first got the bike so I checked them on a regular basis. Now just once in a great while with no necessary adjustments. -JEP-


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ballisticexchris

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my spokes were ok but rusted bad yamaha paid for replacements under warranty, i had the wheels rebuild with stainless 3 years ago now and were loctited never looked back

rob
Loc tightening spokes? I have never heard of that technique before?

When lacing wheels I use either grease or Never Seize on the spoke threads.
 

EricV

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My '12 took about 6k miles before I stopped regularly finding some minor loose spokes. Usually less than 1/4 turn, occasionally 1/2 to a full turn, more when the mileage was lower. At the start, I checked them every 'ride', but my rides are usually 200-1500 miles, so that's relative.

My '15 has not had nearly as many loose spokes over the 24k now on the bike. I'm planning on checking them today, actually, since I have a ride tomorrow.

Both bikes got the spokes loosely zip tied at cross over points, just in case. You don't want that zip tie under tension or it will be a stress point on the spokes. I've never lost a spoke or nipple, fwiw. 100k plus on the '12 when I sold it.
 

squarebore

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I've been using a combination of pinging and proper torquing spokes for years with no issues. Mine are just turning about a quarter turn last few times. IMHO, 6ft/lbs is too much torque for our spokes. That's almost 1/3rd over factory spec of 4.3 ft/lbs. Only time I don't use the torque wrench is when truing a wheel. In that case I'm usually loosening spokes to get the wheel straight.

I will say these wheels are a whole different design than what I'm used to. I can see why there are a few different size spokes for each wheel due to the strange lacing pattern and offset hub design. Good news is I have a dishing tool so if I ever have to lace up a set of these.

I will continue to ping check and put the torque wrench to the spokes as needed. From these responses I'm getting this seems to be normal for this machine.
I wouldn't say the responses you get are normal for this machine. They are the responses of a few people on the forum who are proactive on maintenance. I would suggest there are hundreds if not thousands of riders around the world who never check them and never have a problem. I pinged my 2010 once in 44k kms when I sold it but never had a problem.

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ballisticexchris

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I wouldn't say the responses you get are normal for this machine. They are the responses of a few people on the forum who are proactive on maintenance. I would suggest there are hundreds if not thousands of riders around the world who never check them and never have a problem. I pinged my 2010 once in 44k kms when I sold it but never had a problem.

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I will have to respectively disagree with you. Not only here on the forum but I have a friend that has this bike that's lost spokes. And the dealer I bought the bike strongly reminded me to keep an eye on the spokes. I might also add that every singe spoked bike I have ever owned or wheel I've laced has had to have the spokes tightened while they are bedding in. It's just this particular model that it's taking longer than usual for them to bed in.
 
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RonH

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I've found 5mm ball end hex bits in long length not easy to buy, and when you do find, they will be 3/8 or 1/2" drive which is stupid for spokes as you will likely use a 1/4" torque wrench. If you have old ball end allen wrenches or "T" drivers, just cut off a long length of the tool and drive it with a 1/4" drive 5mm socket. You can JB weld the two together or use adhesive transfer tape ect. Makes a lot nicer tool than you can buy off the shelf.
 

EricV

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@RonH You know you can just use an extension... I use a 5mm allen socket bit and a 6" extension on my 3/8 drive in/lb torque wrench.
 
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