Spoked wheel rebuilds? any recommendations - wheelbuidling is kind of a lots art.

[Morpheus]

So, as some of you may know I recently bought an R1150gs, and she has the spoked wheels, which for me is a huge plus.

However both the hubs are a bit tatty as there is some aluminium corrosion on the hubs/rims. Its not major, or structural, however:

Having built and repaired my own mountain bike wheels for years, I am intrigued about rebuilding these, and of course once I get a second set of wheels for knobblies, being able to repair a busted spoke on the trail would be a useful skill - So my question is:

1) does anyone still offer a refurbish and or rebuild service for spoked wheels components? (including powder coating hubs?)
2) does anyone know information about doing a course on motorcycle wheel building?

these seem like a questions for the GSer Hive mind ...

 

[Fireblade]

So, as some of you may know I recently bought an R1150gs, and she has the spoked wheels, which for me is a huge plus.

However both the hubs are a bit tatty as there is some aluminium corrosion on the hubs/rims. Its not major, or structural, however:

Having built and repaired my own mountain bike wheels for years, I am intrigued about rebuilding these, and of course once I get a second set of wheels for knobblies, being able to repair a busted spoke on the trail would be a useful skill - So my question is:

1) does anyone still offer a refurbish and or rebuild service for spoked wheels components? (including powder coating hubs?)
2) does anyone know information about doing a course on motorcycle wheel building?

these seem like a questions for the GSer Hive mind ...

Following to see what you find.
I used to buy hand built bicycle wheels from Merlin Cycles, but they seem to just sell factory built now.

 

[KMD]

Roy Thersby.

Motorcycle Wheel Repair | Thersby Group | England

Motorcycle wheel repair in Stockton on Tees

www.thersbywheelrepair.co.uk

 

[Steptoe]

Good luck at having a go yourself, many wheel building places won’t touch BMW spoked wheels due to the spoke location on the edge of the rim. The Devon rim company used to rebuild bmw spoked wheels, but not sure if they still do. Also the places that did rebuild them also used to charge extra for nightmare job of removing the original spokes due to the time spent removing the spoke nipples that get seized into the rims

 

[Udders]

Mikeyboy knows someone I’m sure. I keep promising to get my rims and hubs up to him to sort. I think someone else does the spokes though.

 

[The Other PaulG]

If you are looking for a course, I'd be communicating with the Classic bike crowd. Wheel building is a common thing in that community.

However... if you attend a course don't necessarily expect them to cover the odd BM wheels.

 

[Morpheus]

thanks all... `

I've been looking at the royal enfield Himalayan and thats also got the option of tubeless spoked wheels (thanks to Noraly's itchy boots you tube channel) so it seems it's not the BMW thing thats odd, but the spoked/tubeless combination.

I think as long as I can get the info on build process and tightening/ destressing of the spokes it theoretically should be pretty simple.

BUT - getting it wrong would be "a bad thing" at 70mph.. hence ... wanna learn do do it proper.

 

[Mad Hatter]

Central Wheel Components did my 1150GS wheels, powder coating the hubs and rims and relacing with stainless heavy duty spokes. Not cheap!

 

[Morpheus]

Mad hatter - what did it cost for a pair?

 

[Posh Pete]

Mikeyboy recently did the front wheel of my 100GS. I stripped the hub and supplied new spokes and bearings. Mike did the test - blasting, bearings and rebuild. Excellent work of course.

The price was comparable to the Central Wheel guys. Postage added a fair chunk to that! If you can drop off and pick up, that would be ideal.

 

[Bayman]

Try North East Wheel Building in Houghton le Spring. They maybe able to help.

 

[Teamin]

I just watched one of the Wheeler Dealers shows recently where there re-spoked the wheels on an E Type Jag
It was only £200 for four wheels which I bought was bloody cheap.

How much is it for bike wheels?

 

[LOLGEOFF]

I just watched one of the Wheeler Dealers shows recently where there re-spoked the wheels on an E Type Jag
It was only £200 for four wheels which I bought was bloody cheap.

How much is it for bike wheels?

That episode was first shown in 2011 and it was £3 a spoke so probably not many spokes replaced once you add in the labour.


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[KMD]

How much is it for bike wheels?

£500 per wheel to come back better than new.

 

[Mad Hatter]

Mad hatter - what did it cost for a pair?

Was 2-3 years back but I seem to recall it was around 700 for two wheels

 

[Grantiii]

To save yourself quite a bit of brass....
Would suggest you strip the wheel yourself.... takes alot longer than you'd think, saving you hours of the specialist's time...
Then send them to your preferred builder.
mikeyboy sorted mine

 

[Morpheus]

Yeah I was thinking the same Granitiii, and of course if im gonna strip them I'd probably paint/powder coat them myself too.

call me odd but I thought of dong the hubs a funky red. to match the GS stripe on the tank and a planned new seat which is black/red.

we will see.

 

[Neil W]

So, as some of you may know I recently bought an R1150gs, and she has the spoked wheels, which for me is a huge plus.

However both the hubs are a bit tatty as there is some aluminium corrosion on the hubs/rims. Its not major, or structural, however:

Having built and repaired my own mountain bike wheels for years, I am intrigued about rebuilding these, and of course once I get a second set of wheels for knobblies, being able to repair a busted spoke on the trail would be a useful skill - So my question is:

1) does anyone still offer a refurbish and or rebuild service for spoked wheels components? (including powder coating hubs?)
2) does anyone know information about doing a course on motorcycle wheel building?

these seem like a questions for the GSer Hive mind ...

This is the man you want https://www.drwheelbuilding.com/BMW-Wheels/

 

[Mad Hatter]

Sadly Doug is retiring and not taking new work on. Lovely bloke and a real craftsman

 

[Neil W]

When my 2011 gsa was about 12 months old the front wheel went out of true , no idea how as it was undamaged and all the spokes were in tension but he sorted it out and when it came back its tolerances were much better than a standard BMW rim and never had any further issues . Re building the BMW rims a mate of mine used to do motorcycle wheels as a side business (after he retired) and he reckoned on less than a hour to build a standard wheel to proper tolerances but the BMW rims were a totally different ball game . he said that to do them on any scale he would have had to have jigs made up to hold everything in true and speed up multiple builds . Not only that but removal of the old spokes from the rim was very time confusing as on older wheels (with chromed spokes) they did not just fall out after nipple removal requiring the spokes to be cut and drifted out individually at the rim.