Topic: Buchanan Spokes: Test them immediately!

[FunJimmy]

I think some folks forget that doing the work yourself.. includes "WORK".. What some folks consider a "PROBLEM", is just considered "Part of The Job" by those who they would have paid to do it had they not gone the DIY route..

Buchanan built both of my Akront rimmed wheels and there has never been an issue with them.
Perfectly straight and true with excellent SS spokes.
I don't know and I don't care if they had to work the spokes and hub to do such a great job.
One of the hubs was anodized and the other was powdercoated clear.
No scratches and no dings.

Next time, send them your wheels and get the job done right!

Just sayin
FJ

[luap]

I have the same problem with them also for the last build I did, they sent me 6guage to 8 guage when I asked for straight 8 guage which would have worked, even if they would have sent the stock size 8guage to 10 guage, I had to machine down the rear hub to get the ones they sent to work,

[stueveone]

Well, you bet I will be calling them first thing Monday. But from the horror stories that I've just read, I'm less than enthusiastic to get the "correct replacement" spokes if they are just going to be incorrect. Any other spoke shops out there? Not to put the cart before the horse here, I truly am hoping Buchanan will remedy this situation, but just in case... How do they make truly custom spokes if they can't get our ubiquitous CB's nailed down?

[Retro Rocket]

Considering the size of the US market i would find it very surprising if Buchanans is the only place that has spokes, i am in Australia and i have 2 different shops that stock spokes within 10 minutes drive from my house....

Try CycleX for spokes, i am sure Ken can point you in the right direction..

[seanbarney41]

RR I don't know if this surprises you are not...but, in this country, if it doesn't say HD on it, parts and specialists can be scarce...and I am not talking about Heavy Duty

[Retro Rocket]

RR I don't know if this surprises you are not...but, in this country, if it doesn't say HD on it, parts and specialists can be scarce...and I am not talking about Heavy Duty

No surprises there Sean.....

[tomkimberly]

Just make sure you post back in a few days all the other suppliers (actual manufactures) of spokes for these bikes. I'm certain all your searching is going to lead you back to Buchanan and maybe one or two off-brand names from India and Asia with listings on Ebay.   

Tom

[Retro Rocket]

Just make sure you post back in a few days all the other suppliers (actual manufactures) of spokes for these bikes. I'm certain all your searching is going to lead you back to Buchanan and maybe one or two off-brand names from India and Asia with listings on Ebay.   

Tom

Instead of being a douche, why don't you do a search and try and be helpful, there are literally 100's of spoke manufacturers in China, India, Pakistan, Italy, The UK , Taiwan, Australia and more.  I know of 2 local shops here   that will respoke anything that needs spokes,{both make spokes} any reputable wheel repairer can do the job.

In Australia   http://www.jtr.com.au/jtr/  Make spokes  {near me}

                     http://www.spokesrus.com/  Make spokes



In USA           http://www.radmfg.com/RAD-Motorcycle-Spokes-and-Nipple-Sets-s/59.htm 
       
                     http://www.radmfg.com/aboutus.asp  Made in the USA



5 minute search.... Alibaba lists hundreds of spoke makers...

[bert96]

that's really good information RR,after reading all this about Buchanan,i think i will give a try with JTR.



Bert

[LesterPiglet]

And of course DavidSilvers does spokes.

[grcamna2]

RR I don't know if this surprises you are not...but, in this country, if it doesn't say HD on it, parts and specialists can be scarce...and I am not talking about Heavy Duty

+1 , there's got to be better choices than just "China Only"...I hope 

[754]

 A lot of wheelsmiths dont "make spokes"..they stock long blanks, thecut to length, roll-thread them and bend the ends....just saying

[tomkimberly]

RR, all I can say is good luck and please report back here how things went.

BTW, are you going to be the one replacing and adjusting the spokes or are you going to let someone else do it? If you are doing the work, a few pictures would be nice.

Tom

[andrewk]

Does anyone here know you can buy OEM honda spokes for about the same money as a set of buchanans?

[754]

 If Honda spoke came shinyer, and in CHOICE of Lengths, bends, and Thicknesses... we  would be Flocking there to buy them..

 And even if you have the same rim size, but it is dropcenter or undimpled, spoke length changes. Not to mention changing lacing pattern, or running 15, 16, 19, 21, or23 inch rims.. and that is just on the rear wheel with a stock hub...

[andrewk]

All valid points, 754.  I was just talking in terms of where the discussion was headed about parts availability for these bikes.  If you're running stock rims, and don't want to mess around fitting heavier gauge spokes, you have the option for OEM.

I've just finished lacing a 16 drop center to a spare rear hub I had using spokes from buchanans.  No fitment issues for me, but these spokes were purchased long ago.

[Cqyqte]

Okay I admit that sometimes circumstances can make a vendor look sketchy, but when it comes to Buchanan's they are straight up A#1.  I bought front and rear rims and spoke set for my 71CB450K4.  I received the shipment 4 days later and I live in Canada, that in itself is damn near unheard of.  A week later I had both rims spoked and stored for a later date when I would true them when I had money to buy tires and tubes.  They sat for 4 months in my basement, when I got my tires I decided to throw the rims on the truing jig and get them read for their new rubber.

When I looked at the front wheel and noticed that after it had been sitting for a couple of months the spokes appeared to have a bow to them and the holes in the rim seemed to be angled too steep and casing the bend.  Now this was with the spokes loosely set with no torque.  I looked at the rim inside and revealed that someone had made a mistake and selected a rim drilled for a drum instead of a disc and therefore the angle of the holes were off causing the spokes to bend.

I emailed Buchanan's that afternoon (a Sunday) and sent pics and explained the perdicament.  The next day, Monday at 2:30 pm I got a call from customer service from Buchanan's and they pulled up my packing slip from their records and informed me that there had been an error.  They asked me to return the rim and they would send me a correctly drilled rim for a disc set up.  I asked if they would send me the new one today and I would return the defective one in the new package when it arrived as I had disposed of the box sometime back.  They said no problem, if I would allow them to charge my credit card for the new one, and that they would credit the funds when they received my return.

I said no problem as it would expedite the fix to my problem.  Four days later I received a new rim and invoice showing a charge of less money for the rim then was listed on their website.  I packaged up the old rim and took it to the Post Office the very day and sent it back to Buchanan's expedited at my cost of $35.  I watched my bankcard and 4 days later I received a refund for not only the cost of the rim they charged but my cost for shipping the old rim to them.

Buchanan's is a stand up company and will be the first and only company I deal with in the future for rims and spokes.

[grcamna2]

Hi Cqyqte,
    It seems to me like Buchanans went out of their way to help make things right for you & even admitted they had made a mistake..;how long ago did that occur ?
That does sound to me like they are reputable.

[Cqyqte]

March of this year and I had purchased the rims back in November of 2011, they didn't give me any grief.  They jumped up admitted their mistake and corrected it.  They didn't even make an excuse, they apologized for the inconvenience.

[thrutheframe]

  Buchanan is a reputable comapny.  I called them to buy spokes for a 360 wheel and my question was simply will the 450 spokes you have listed fit my 360 wheel?  The guy literally walked me through all of the reasons why he couldn't answer that over the phone.  He told me that the only way they can guarantee that they are sending out the correct spokes is if the buyer sends in a sample.  He also made sure to tell me that there were two different size and shape spokes for my wheel.

[stueveone]

Update: ended up having to mail them a spoke. Meanwhile, sent them an email and JTR does not make spokes for our rigs.

[grcamna2]

That sounds like it could be encouraging news Stueve,at least they will try.

[stueveone]

Ok. So, upon calling Buchanan last friday to check the status of the spokes I returned, the nice gentleman on the other line opened the package while I was on the phone and said "yeah, the neck is too long and the bend is off. We'll get new spokes out to you probably on Monday". I told him I would really appreciate any efforts they could make to expedite the turn around time and he said they would try and get them done that same day.
Well, it was Tuesday when I got the spokes. Installed them. Trued the wheel. The wheel is at the tire shop as we speak. . .
So everything worked out in the end. However, the take away from all this is: If you are having Buchanan make you spokes, for the love of christ send them a sample!!!

[grcamna2]

Thanks for the "Heads Up" on Buchannans Stueve...lesson learned.

[bjatwood]

Does anyone here know you can buy OEM honda spokes for about the same money as a set of buchanans?

I bought a rear wheel set of new Honda spokes for my K3 off eBay for 80 bucks still in the bags from Honda... figured if the first set was good for 39 years the second set will last till I'm in the ground!  8)LOL