SON OF A BISCUIT! Two spokes gone in one go!

[greg the pole]

That helps, I'll be truing both my wheels in the off season

 

[Toyboy]

Been posting on a separate thread on this forum about loosing a rear nipple, multiple loose ones, the one spoke bending, gouging swingarm and scuffing the rear rim bare. I think it was up to five people experiencing similar problems and damage. Yamaha does have an issue that the spokes are stretching, nipple comes "loose' and nothing to retain it, falls off and the spoke flops out causing damage. Yamaha to date has "good-willed" parts in most of the cases reported here but you pay for install etc. They claim it is a "maintenance issue" and all of us are not following the recommended service intervals. When you give them the proof that you did, who ever did it, did a poor job. I talked with Yamaha rep in CA and directed him to this forum to see for himself how many members are reporting spoke issues. According to the posts, all have checked and over checked and still lose nipples.
In regards to front wheels, a guy I know lost several front nipples too. No off-roading on his part but did put 30k on it.
My front spokes are also loose and need re tightening. I ordered Woody's heavy duty spoke set in stainless at 160.00 a wheel and going to re-lace them over the winter. Was going to wait for the recall...but want to ride the thing. Great bike other wise.
Not trying to be an alarmist but I think this spoke issue is bigger than maybe Yamaha realizes......I personally think it should be a recall. A wheel with loose spokes is still a wheel....a wheel without spokes is not.

 

[greg the pole]

Well my dealer did come through with a
Complete rear set, but someone has to install
Them, and it's very labor intensive.
After torquing my rear wheel down to
Spec my rear wheel is out of round.
So I'll give myself a crash course on wheel
Truing with the help of the links above.
I think Yamaha would have to hear
A lot more from all of us before they did
Anything about it.
Like you, I love the bike, and are willing
To work through the problem myself, with
Help of the
Forum members.

 

[AndyCBR]

I switched to the Buchanan spokes sold by woodys. Went back and forth several times trying to get the stock lengths matched to change out 2 at a time. I never did get the right lengths from them on all spokes so I gave up and 16 still have a few threads showing past the nipple.

Not knocking woodys but I was told they originally specified the spokes as though you are rebuilding the entire wheel from scratch. To change out 2 at a time you need all 4 stock lengths duplicated.

I sent some samples to Buchanan to get the specs right for a turn key replacement set. I am hoping they will make that available as a pre packaged kit.

I am glad I changed all of mine out before the cdr. Although I recently rode my bike and found a broken ss spoke laying in the driveway. It broke at the radius. Not sure if it was fatigue or what.

Best,
Andy

 

[greg the pole]

im wondering if we should really start a petition here about the issue with the spokes ::009::
Of the guys that have had issues, and the ones that applied home made remedies (lock tite etc..)
This really should be adressed.

just my $0.02

 

[pluric]

If I had to choose my battles this one would be low on the list.
It's not too much of a hassle to check them and it seems once
well seated the spokes are staying tight.

The rest of the bike requires so little attention that having to do
anything seems like a hassle when it's not considering the scope of
the bike.

I did ask the dealer to go to bat for me on the continual bent wheels.
Ha, that went over well with Yamaha. : Since my bike appears to
be a minority they are not about to start handing out wheels.

Given how well it has held up overall I'm going to accept it and try
the aftermarket for an answer.

 

[greg the pole]

Fair enOugh.
I would have a real hard time getting anywhere
US bike imported to Canada,
Mind you my dealer in Montana is a great
Guy to deal with

 

[viewdvb]

For UK members - Hagons (London) have fitted a set of stainless spokes to a S Tenere so have the correct lengths on file and can supply. The good thing about changing the spokes is that you can order a set + 2 or 3 for spares and never have to buy a full set again (from Yamaha). You can even get additional replacements as needed. Nevertheless, I'm getting a skilled wheelbuilder to fit them. A point about loosening all the spokes to true a wheel - don't forget, before doing it, to take a measurement of exactly where the rim is located side to side versus the hub as you will loose the accuracy of that measurement when you slacken the spokes and could end up with a perfectly true wheel offset somewhat from the correct in-line position.

 

[roy]

Spoke gremlin got me finally. Spent a week in the smokies this past week. Rode a couple of forest service roads two up. Rode some paved curves very hard. Went to check my rear wheel spokes today after cleanup. Damn no less than 8 spokes loose all on the shaft side. No nipples lost but I just got lucky. The ones loose were finger loose. It wasnt going to be long and all the nipples would have been gone. I do have all my rear wheel spokes zip tied. Removed the wheel took the tire off and taking it to a local guy who can true a wheel. He does good work so I should be in good hands.

Really disappointed in this spoke wheel setup on this bike. To put it in perspective I rode this piss out of my DR off road up there same week, dented a skidplate, ripped a few knobs off but it doesn't have any loose spokes.

 

[greg the pole]

Spoke gremlin got me finally. Spent a week in the smokies this past week. Rode a couple of forest service roads two up. Rode some paved curves very hard. Went to check my rear wheel spokes today after cleanup. Damn no less than 8 spokes loose all on the shaft side. No nipples lost but I just got lucky. The ones loose were finger loose. It wasnt going to be long and all the nipples would have been gone. I do have all my rear wheel spokes zip tied. Removed the wheel took the tire off and taking it to a local guy who can true a wheel. He does good work so I should be in good hands.

Really disappointed in this spoke wheel setup on this bike. To put it in perspective I rode this piss out of my DR off road up there same week, dented a skidplate, ripped a few knobs off but it doesn't have any loose spokes.

1
yeah, but we're not comparing apples to apples, the DR carries a lot less weight, and more importantly a lot less power. But the spoke set up does suck big time on the ST ::002::

 

[roy]

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.

 

[Siseneg]

So, I've not run into this yet, but am wondering if somehow we could gather the statistics to make a case to the factory about this issue. Would there be a way to do an extensive survey/poll with details of when and where the spokes are breaking/loosening. Left side/right side, heavy loading, hard riding days or styles, how many miles, is it a particular series of VINs, and whatever else we could collectively come up with. Any thoughts?

 

[roy]

So, I've not run into this yet, but am wondering if somehow we could gather the statistics to make a case to the factory about this issue. Would there be a way to do an extensive survey/poll with details of when and where the spokes are breaking/loosening. Left side/right side, heavy loading, hard riding days or styles, how many miles, is it a particular series of VINs, and whatever else we could collectively come up with. Any thoughts?

That would be good info to have. I was asked what type rear tire and size, what type side bags, typical load in them, two up or solo percentage, off road percentage to paved, high speed usage. All of which I answered straight up no bending the truth. The fact that they even called me back is a start in the right direction. My bike is out of warranty, I called becasue I am fed up having to check my spokes before a ride and after. And yes I almost always find one loose on the rear. The straw that broke this boy's back was when darn near the whole left side was loose after only a 600+ mile trip all paved except for two gravel forest service roads which were smooth as a driveway. My only load was two up which I have done before with only one or two loose. No my wife is not big and neither am I. I did buy this thing to ride her though so it does get used that way from time to time. I stick to my belief we should not have spokes loose after every ride and that was my case.

My wheel is ready to be picked up after having it re-trued today. The repair guy said I caught it all in time before it got out bad and no lost nipples. They were not even hand tight so it was a matter of a few more miles and I would have had a much worse ordeal. Irony of this is I checked them before (like always, really tired of this) I left on the trip and they were tight.

 

[pluric]

So, I've not run into this yet, but am wondering if somehow we could gather the statistics to make a case to the factory about this issue. Would there be a way to do an extensive survey/poll with details of when and where the spokes are breaking/loosening. Left side/right side, heavy loading, hard riding days or styles, how many miles, is it a particular series of VINs, and whatever else we could collectively come up with. Any thoughts?

if you have that mush time you could spend it checking the spokes once in a while.

 

[Toyboy]

FYI, I went through the whole thing with Yamaha on the phone too, where do you ride, how do you ride percentage off road etc. I even told them on how BMW designed the rear spokes with a set allen in the middle of the nipple. Did get a rear rim, spokes and a swing arm good-willed by them but i had to eat the labor costs. I have their extended warranty for some silly reason to boot. Been saying all along it is a safety issue and that someone called the NTSB was the right thing to do. I always said I will wait for the recall. Matter of time. Hopefully no one gets hurt to make that happen.

I bought the stainless spokes from Woody's and plan on installing over the winter. It is total bull that I had to resort to this but was trying to do this and move on. The reality is I am still very unhappy with Yamaha's attitude.
In the mean time I do not even ride the bike. Been riding my Husky TR650... Thinking of getting rid of the Yamaha actually.

 

[thfraser]

I've checked my spokes several times, they seem to be holding up rather well. 12.7k on the odometer. I will continue to check them, but it seems like this is indicative to some, but not all S10's.

 

[roy]

FWIW I mounted a members tires this past weekend on his Tenere. His bike is a lightly used 6700 mile unit over a year old. Rear wheel had one spoke completely loose and several out of spec. I encouraged him to call Yamaha but whether he did or not I don't know at this time. Point is if you have spokes finger tight you need to call Yamaha as this issue will not get resolved by being silent about it and passing it off as normal. It is not normal!! I have rode the crap out of dirtbikes for years and never had this type issue with them and they were used a lot harder. Broke one spoke in 30 years total. This bikes wheels are simply under designed for the weight they are asked to tote.

 

[greg the pole]

FWIW I mounted a members tires this past weekend on his Tenere. His bike is a lightly used 6700 mile unit over a year old. Rear wheel had one spoke completely loose and several out of spec. I encouraged him to call Yamaha but whether he did or not I don't know at this time. Point is if you have spokes finger tight you need to call Yamaha as this issue will not get resolved by being silent about it and passing it off as normal. It is not normal!! I have rode the crap out of dirtbikes for years and never had this type issue with them and they were used a lot harder. Broke one spoke in 30 years total. This bikes wheels are simply under designed for the weight they are asked to tote.

where do we sign up for the rabble rabble list? Seriously we should start a petition. not sure if i'm ::002::

 

[autoteach]

where do we sign up for the rabble rabble list? Seriously we should start a petition. not sure if i'm ::002::

Yeah, I am with this guy...you all are on your own O0

 

[Obrianmcc]

Vibra-tite appears to be a non-hardnening thread locker that allows adjustment of the fastener.... does anybody have any experience with this product? It might qualify as a short term solution to secure the nipple?

My guess is that the issues is a product of the spokes and/or nipples... maybe not so much the wheels.