Author Topic: Those of you with non-stainless spokes - How are they holding up? (Read 2636 times)

Juan1 · « **on:** March 12, 2014, 08:40:05 AM »

cb750supply/vintagecb750 spokes, as well PartsNMore spokes are pretty popular around here, so I wanted to see how well they are holding up over time. Please list:

1. Where you purchased your spokes.
2. When you purchased your spokes.
3. The weather your bike is exposed to.
4. Whether you park inside or outside.
5. How the spokes are holding up.

Bru-tom · « **Reply #1 on:** March 12, 2014, 10:46:51 AM »

1. David Silver
2.8 months ago
3.i live 100m from the beach
4. inside
5. I use a ACF50 anti corrosion, they get dirty, but are 100% after a wash.then more anti corrosion.

Bootlegger56 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 12, 2014, 06:04:56 PM »

I like this post. I have been wondering about the CB750 Supply, PartsNMore and Z1 spokes. I cant handle the 200 buck plus price on the stainless but I need better spokes on my K1.

bjatwood · « **Reply #3 on:** March 13, 2014, 09:37:28 AM »

I put stock Honda spokes on my rear wheel 2 season's ago. The original ones lasted 39 years. I'm 53, figured I would be able to ride the rest of my life with OEM replacement spokes..

Bootlegger56 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 13, 2014, 11:38:28 AM »

OEM is great but for the price you might as well do the stainless. I am more interested in the performance of the aftermarket 60-80 buck a set front n rear. And yes I understand you get what you pay for in most cases.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 13, 2014, 11:59:00 AM »

Have any members here tried having your used spokes anodized,corrosion resistant plating,powder coated,etc. after having polished them on a wire wheel ?
I'd like to know if those are good options.
Bill

Bootlegger56 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 13, 2014, 01:32:50 PM »

I even thought about sandblasting some of my old crusty ones and coating them with some Duracoat epoxy to see how they would hold up. I comes in 4200 colors too!!! Rainbow spokes anybody? LOL

grcamna2 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 13, 2014, 02:02:41 PM »

Quote from: Bootlegger56 on March 13, 2014, 01:32:50 PM

I even thought about sandblasting some of my old crusty ones and coating them with some Duracoat epoxy to see how they would hold up. I comes in 4200 colors too!!! Rainbow spokes anybody? LOL

They may also have different types or colors of anodizing,that stuff goes on real thin and actually bonds to the steel.I need to learn more about the process.

Bootlegger56 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 13, 2014, 02:39:19 PM »

Duracoat is as thin as water and offers very little buildup. I think that would be a benefit in avoiding a buildup and subsequent problems with the threaded ends. The downside is the full cure time of about three weeks which can be reduced somewhat by oven curing. I believe that Cerakote might be another similar option but I don't have any experience with it.

74750k4 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 13, 2014, 02:47:09 PM »

What about cleaning up rusty spokes? Anyone find a way that doesn't ruin your whole friggin' day???

Juan1 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 13, 2014, 02:52:32 PM »

Quote from: Bootlegger56 on March 12, 2014, 06:04:56 PM

I have been wondering about the CB750 Supply, PartsNMore and Z1 spokes. I cant handle the 200 buck plus price on the stainless...

That's where I'm at too.

Stev-o · « **Reply #11 on:** March 13, 2014, 04:57:52 PM »

Quote from: Bootlegger56 on March 13, 2014, 11:38:28 AM

OEM is great but for the price you might as well do the stainless.

+1. No chinese parts on my bike!

Hasenkopf · « **Reply #12 on:** March 13, 2014, 05:24:06 PM »

partsnmore lasted about a year before the nipples started to rust. went with o.e spokes and three years later still look nice.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #13 on:** March 13, 2014, 06:17:29 PM »

I remember reading a post a couple years back about a similar plating as stock,I think it was cadmium plating..,but the member said they sent them to a small shop and they came out looking similar to O.E. He sent them his rusty O.E. spokes.

Bootlegger56 · « **Reply #14 on:** March 13, 2014, 08:46:01 PM »

Quote from: 74750k4 on March 13, 2014, 02:47:09 PM

What about cleaning up rusty spokes? Anyone find a way that doesn't ruin your whole friggin' day???

I am sure there are a lot of ways to clean em up. I use beer (not for the spokes) fine steel or bronze wool and good tunes all complemented with elbow grease. Its therapeutic. If they are just corroded that is all I do. If the plating has broken down and rust has started to form I scrub them all then paint them with a small artist brush and Krylon Stainless appliance paint from Lowes. It sort of has that aged cadmium look and holds up great.

But I digress as my real curiosity goes back to the original post and as to whether any of the aftermarket spokes are any good. The ones that Z1 sells are touted as being Made In Japan.

I agree with Stev-o and would be concerned about some of the quality out there especially from China. After all the spokes are one of the main components that keeps our butt off the asphalt. When you think about it like that the 200 buck price for Buchanan stainless is cheap compared to curing a bad case of road rash or worse.

Don R · « **Reply #15 on:** March 14, 2014, 08:38:50 AM »

I'm curious now too, I have a new set from Z1 in the bag waiting for assembly. I'd like to think mine will get waxed and polished regularly but why tempt fate?

Bru-tom · « **Reply #16 on:** March 14, 2014, 01:39:20 PM »

I trust david silver spares. Iv done 185km/h on mine and im still here to type...

Nic · « **Reply #17 on:** March 14, 2014, 03:43:08 PM »

I have CB750 Supply spokes, I got em chromed so no finish problems. I while ago while riding 2 up at about 100kph I hit a bump that felt worse than being bucked by a horse, if you haven't ever been bucked by a horse it's akin to having your arsehole shoved up through your head, I got home and inspected the rim and spokes and would not have been surprised to see a bent rim and or the odd spoke flapping around loose. To my joy, no damage at all. I think that says enough about the cheap but good spokes.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #18 on:** March 14, 2014, 05:35:43 PM »

Quote from: Nic on March 14, 2014, 03:43:08 PM

I have CB750 Supply spokes, I got em chromed so no finish problems. I while ago while riding 2 up at about 100kph I hit a bump that felt worse than being bucked by a horse, if you haven't ever been bucked by a horse it's akin to having your arsehole shoved up through your head, I got home and inspected the rim and spokes and would not have been surprised to see a bent rim and or the odd spoke flapping around loose. To my joy, no damage at all. I think that says enough about the cheap but good spokes.

It always helps when you build'em tight and right Nic. That's a nice looking wheel on a great bike,the chrome spokes give it a very custom look.

Nic · « **Reply #19 on:** March 14, 2014, 05:58:50 PM »

Quote from: grcamna2 on March 14, 2014, 05:35:43 PM

Quote from: Nic on March 14, 2014, 03:43:08 PM
I have CB750 Supply spokes, I got em chromed so no finish problems. I while ago while riding 2 up at about 100kph I hit a bump that felt worse than being bucked by a horse, if you haven't ever been bucked by a horse it's akin to having your arsehole shoved up through your head, I got home and inspected the rim and spokes and would not have been surprised to see a bent rim and or the odd spoke flapping around loose. To my joy, no damage at all. I think that says enough about the cheap but good spokes.

It always helps when you build'em tight and right Nic. That's a nice looking wheel on a great bike,the chrome spokes give it a very custom look.

Thanks mate, seein as you like the rear wheel I might as well give you a look at the whole thing. Cheers, Nic.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #20 on:** March 14, 2014, 06:28:37 PM »

That paint job w/ it's metallic nice.,Yeah Nice.

Nic · « **Reply #21 on:** March 14, 2014, 06:49:34 PM »

Quote from: grcamna2 on March 14, 2014, 06:28:37 PM

That paint job w/ it's metallic nice.,Yeah Nice.

Thanks, it's actually a micro flake but I just can't capture it with the camera. You just have to see it in the sun, same for the whole bike too, these pics are pretty crap, in the sun the bike just glows. Back to OT now, sorry.

Dave Voss · « **Reply #22 on:** March 14, 2014, 08:46:33 PM »

Quote from: Juan1 on March 12, 2014, 08:40:05 AM

cb750supply/vintagecb750 spokes, as well PartsNMore spokes are pretty popular around here, so I wanted to see how well they are holding up over time. Please list:

1. Where you purchased your spokes.

CB750Supply.com (Part # 19-7590)
$60 for both front and rear spokes and nipples (bright cadmium plated)

Quote from: Juan1 on March 12, 2014, 08:40:05 AM

2. When you purchased your spokes.

May 2013, installed at the same time.

Quote from: Juan1 on March 12, 2014, 08:40:05 AM

3. The weather your bike is exposed to.

Mostly dry, but I do wash it using a hose with sprayer attachment.

Quote from: Juan1 on March 12, 2014, 08:40:05 AM

4. Whether you park inside or outside.

Inside at home/night, outside during the day or away from home.

Quote from: Juan1 on March 12, 2014, 08:40:05 AM

5. How the spokes are holding up.

They still look like new, almost a year later, no signs of corrosion or dulling at all. I hesitated to purchase them given the low price, thinking the quality might be poor, but they are actually pretty nice, while lacing and truing the wheels, none of the nipples rounded or stripped, even with some needing to be fairly tight to get the rim running straight.

Bootlegger56 · « **Reply #23 on:** March 14, 2014, 09:29:29 PM »

Thanks Dave. That was a good report. I was concerned about the CB750 version because they were the least expensive option I had found for aftermarket spokes. That might just be the answer for my low buck 550 wheel rebuild. I will admit that I have not been disappointed with other items I have bought from them in the past. The quality for the most part has been pretty decent especially on things like grips, gators, electrical components and other items.

Juan1 · « **Reply #24 on:** March 19, 2014, 06:17:35 PM »

Can anyone else give us a spoke report?

News:

Author Topic: Those of you with non-stainless spokes - How are they holding up? (Read 2636 times)

Nic

Nic

Nic