I was doing some research on converting my 98 FLHR to the later style lowers, swing arm, calipers etc., and switching out the old wagon wheels for some spokes. I came upon a site that said something about serious problems with spoked wheels for long distances.

The link was broken and would not load, so I'm wondering, has anyone out there heard of this? Any explanations why spokes could be a problem vs. a cast or other type wheel?

I asked around with a few friends. The guys I do longer trips with are on BMWs and tell me that a superior designed bike doesn't have such problems.
The few Harley & metric cruisers I asked think 50 miles is a long ride.

Thanks!

 

As long as your wheels are in good condition and the spokes are not loose you are fine. I just put fat spokes on my bike and almost always ride farther than 50 miles. No problems here. Beemer riders always feel their machines are better, as do us Harley riders. You should be fine with spokes if they are in good shape and as I stated above, there are no loose spokes.

 

Most spoked (laced) wheels require a tube and tubed tires are not ideal for long distance due to the fact that you must take the entire wheel & tire off to fix a puncture. Laced wheels that are sealed or non-laced wheels can be plugged a high percentage of the time & re-inflated without removing from the bike. Tubed tires are also more prone to blowouts than tubeless tires. BMW has a spoked wheel design whereby the spokes do not run through the rim, thus allowing for a solid wheel with no spoke holes that do not require a tube.

 

Take care of your spokes and have a nice ride.

 

Roadside repairs would be the only real negative with spokes. As mentioned BMWs run the spokes on the outside of the sealing area, but run spokes none the less.
Ron

 

How many bikes for how many years have used spokes for the wheels and we're just now finding out they don't work? Give me a break! Your BMW friends have a loose spoke or two.

 

I road my 05 Ultra from Mexico to Alaska (11000 miles) and back on spoked wheels. I picked up a nail in the back tire about 125 miles East of Whitehorse in the Yukon. Pulled out the nail, Filled the tube with Slime and it held air till we got back to Whitehorse for another tube. If you want spoked wheels, go for it.

 

Harley to Davidson
"Man I'd really like to build a Motorcycle but if we have to use spoke wheels? We might as well forget it."