Maintenance & Technical > KX500 Original

Spokes

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Timbowe:
Same here. But in the shed. Not watching the telly. :shock:

Kawadougie:
Over the years I've replaced many rims on many different bikes.  Like Rick, I replaced the stock 19" rear rim with an 18".  It was the easiest one I've ever done.  Kawasaki drills the hubs so it holds the spokes in the proper position to insert into the rim.  On other bikes you have to tape the spokes in the proper position.  You can replace individual spokes but you need to loosen all of them in order to remove them.  Trueing a rim isn't that hard either, particularly when all of the spokes have a simple cross-two pattern and are the same length.  Try an old Husky drum brake cross-four pattern and you'll understand what I mean.  Rick is also right about using the swingarm as a trueing stand.  Check your runout for side to side as well as up and down.  Hold a pencil on the swingarm and rotate the wheel.  Move the pencil in until it touches the side of the rim.  Tighten up three or four spokes opposite of where the marks are, clean off the rim and check it again.  Once you get it close, you can tap the spokes with the spoke wrench and hear the tone.  It should be a nice clear "ping!" tone.  If you hear a dull thunk, you need to tighten up that one.  Once all the spokes have the same tone, the wheel should be true.  :D

Unless the rim is bent... :(

ebers17:
Whats the advantage of you guys putting a 18" rim on vs. a 19"?

hughes:
With the 18 wheel you get more shoulder area with the tire. Might be able to run lower air psi and not pinch the tube or dent the rim in rocky area's.

KXcam22:
Lacing up wheels is failrly easy, just take your time. When I lace wheel If find it is nice to draw a diagram or take a couple of pics so you can easily get the spoke pattern correct.  I also like to put twist ties or small tywraps at the spoke crossing to keep things lined up while you are getting the rim ready to lace up.  With my 19" I have to run a higher air pressure to preserve the rim.  On past bikes with 18", I could typically run lower air pressure.  I believe the 19" was intended for MX and supercross racing where the shorter sidewall of the 19" tire makes the tire lighter and flex less, like performance car tires.  On orange bikes, the MX models have 19" rears and the off-road models come with 18".  Cam.

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