Technique: tightening spokes is a must
Will you leave next season with a new engine or new wheels? Then it is best to keep your spoke wrench at hand. The spokes of your new wheels need time to settle and therefore lose their tension during the first rides.
It is therefore important to check the tension of your spokes before every ride. Be sure to do this during the first five rides. Every motocross dealer sells spoke wrenches, but if you do not have the finesse to tighten the nipples with the correct tension, it is best to use a spoke torque wrench. You set the tightening torque on the wrench, so you are always right. If you are checking older wheels, it is best to spray penetrating oil on the nipples and let it work for 48 hours. Otherwise you will not measure the correct value because the nipples can become stuck due to dirt and moisture.
When tightening spokes, the aim is not to straighten crooked wheels. You do this on a wheel straightener and with a removed tire. Here you just want each spoke to have the correct tension. Adjust the tension of the spokes by tightening every fourth spoke. This way you create an even tension on the hub.
Photos: archive
Also to read
Team HRC Honda to Portugal with Tim Gajser as the only rider
The 2024 MXGP World Championship kicks off the first of three straight races this weekend in Agueda, Portugal for the fifth round in this exciting battle. The next weekend it will…VIDEO: Roger De Coster about communication with the riders
In a video interview with Roger De Coster, the difficult start of the KTM boys in the US is discussed. It's about the set-up of the engines and how everyone...An update on Tyla van de Poel's injury
Tyla van de Poel crashed during the EMX125 in Arco di Trento and broke his tibia and fibula. Another pilot hit his front wheel on a ski jump, causing him to...Jago Geerts: “I want to come back to Lommel”
Jago Geerts is working hard to bounce back from an injury he sustained in early March during the opening race of the 2024 MXGP World Championship in Argentina. The Belgian, who at…
Your reactions