You destroy bashplates I prefer wheels.JaimeV said:Hi Pluric, I'm sure you are the best wheel tester. :
Keep us informed ::008::
Check your spokes!
- Thread starter Kidder
- Start date
viewdvb
New Member
Just had my rear wheel trued by a very experienced professional wheelbuilder. I talked to him about alternative spokes and/or rims. He wasn't keen on replacing with a tubed rim and sealing it (too risky in his view) and he wasn't aware of any replacement rims in the Yamaha style. He could rebuild it with stainless spokes but, as the problem is not spokes BREAKING but LOOSENING, he couldn't see why stronger spokes would be an improvement (remember I don't ride off road) though he did admit that maybe the Yam spokes were so poor they were stretching - not something he had come across before. His take on the loosening in road use was that it was be down to wear on the rim at the point where the spokes fit through or wear on the hub where the nipples sit. He thought the former most likely. Off road he included the rims distorting too readily. Probable cause in both cases - inadequate material and/or construction. He found the whole issue of constantly checking and tightening spokes quite puzzling as, when he rebuilds wheels, he advises owners to check after a few hundred miles (though he doesn't expect much change) but doesn't expect any further checks until high mileages or rough use - certainly not every 1000 miles. In fact, he positively discouraged regular "adjustment" as most likely to cause distortion. He and I agreed that there must be millions of wheels out there that have never seen any checks from day one and are still running true and strong. So what is it about S10 wheels? Is it a rim/spoke quality issue that deserves a recall? I'm beginning to think so as the Yam seems to be the only bike with this level of problems. Anybody out there with other makes that can offer contradictory evidence? How often do BMW, KTM and Triumph owners check their spokes and what does their service advice say?
Thoughtful post and I mostly agree.viewdvb said:
Other bikes have also had wheel problems, a couple KTM models come immediately to mind. But I agree with you that the vast majority of spoked wheels on motorcycle require little or no maintenance. It is not normal to have to be adjusting them frequently to maintain tension.
All the mfgs say that wheels should be checked for spoke tightness periodically, but as you suggest, I don't think this means it is acceptable to have to tighten/adjust spoked wheels as a routine sort of thing. Mfgs also say to check tire pressure before every ride but that doesn't excuse a tire which looses several PSI overnight and requires re-airing before every ride. It's a matter of degrees.
Yamaha's wheel design with the flanges is relatively unusual and new. I think Yamaha is suffering the usual teething pains with a new design which needs to be beefed up in the next iteration. (I'm skeptical this problem will rise to the threshold to be considered a significant safety issue which is what typically triggers a recall.) The wide variation between user experiences with the wheels is probably somewhat due to variations in the quality of the initial wheel builds on the assembly lines but probably mostly due to the wide variation between riding styles and loading - I've ridden with riders before who will absolutely pound a heavily-accessorized and heavily-loaded bike over rough terrain at speeds I would consider ludicrous. They think it is completely normal. On a very heavy adventure bike like the S10, that extra 5-mph of speed in the rough stuff might double the stresses the wheels see.
- Mark
I have not read this thread to the end so my info could be old hat but Many many threads on this topic, The one I started is "missing spoke safe to ride" The spokes suck and become loose for no reason. I did not have one loose spoke for 15k. I am now at 21k and I have a loose spoke at any givin time. Lock tight 290 green and the problem seems to be solved. Yamaha will put up a fight but you should get some help.
Kidder said:
If you have had a problem with loose spokes now is the time to call Yamaha. Contact Yamaha customer service.
I have them listening. They just called me back and are going to investigate the issue.
Funny how a little complaint to the NHSTA can get things done in less than 48 hours.
CALL now don't miss this opportunity to grab their ears.
I have them listening. They just called me back and are going to investigate the issue.
Funny how a little complaint to the NHSTA can get things done in less than 48 hours.
CALL now don't miss this opportunity to grab their ears.
I just called customer service and initiated contact with a hispanic women who answered the phone and I recall her name was Erica. She was the one who called me back yesterday as well. She is a middle person I suspect since she had a question list for me to answer yesterday. Either way I do think if people called right now it wouldn't matter who you talked with they would all get on the same page eventually.Kidder said:
I find it interesting that when I had the headlight harness issue under warranty they didn't care and wouldn't do anything but blame me for the failure. I get a third party involved on the next issue (spokes coming loose) and bam they are calling me back to discuss and the bike is out of warranty.
BTW I got my wheel back on and it is tight, straight and true. Probably won't stay that way for long but I am used to the spoke checking ritual so I will continue to soldier on.
EDIT: Ok had to edit her name. I got it right now since I just hung up the phone talking again with her. Yamaha has requested now that my wheel is true and all spokes tight to log when/if I find a spoke loose starting today. My mileage on the bike has been documented with them. So the clock starts now. I told her if I find ONE spoke remorely loose I was calling her back ASAP. She still said no one has reported a spoke issue to Yamaha about the Super Tenere. So if your dealer fixed your bike under warranty you need to follow up and make sure it was reported correctly if at all to Yamaha. They can't fix this if they don't hear about it. It's that simple.
gaditanum
New Member
Yamaha has changed the spokes of the wheel back and front on my bike, with 3 months showed stains of rust and I haven't used the bike in circumstances which justify this. Is that it is not the same problem which is discussed in this post, but I assure you only comment on dealer began the process to make the warranty work and so to been.
I am sorry for the translation
I am sorry for the translation