Modern Vespa

Anyone want spoked wheels? Available for both GTS and Primavera/Sprint

Freck Yes!! I'll get 2 sets, but only if they are cheap.

Those most certainly will not be cheap

no, not really.

https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Custom-Motorcycle-12inch-Aluminum-Wheels-And_1600914870660.html

Should we start the tube / tubeless discussion like on the ADV forums?

Neat. It looks like the spoke doesn't penetrate the rim so tubeless tires are still in play.

Because most people would buy these because of the bling factor, they will also have to keep in mind how much time it would take to keep the wheels looking that good. Spoke wheels are fine and all, but are a b!tch to clean.

That's true. I gave the wheels on my old Harley a good cleaning today. Detailing spokes is hard on the fingers. But I'll always have spoke wheels on my PTW. I just love the classic look.

And with the benefit of the ability to straighten the wheel if it goes wonky. Downside is having to run tubes, but a true spoked wheel is a beautiful thing.

Not even if they were free.

Not because of tube vs. tubeless (good catch on that not being an issue here caschnd1), but because I'm not a fairweather rider.

Riding rain or shine means often coming home with a dirty bike. On my Moto Guzzi V7 Stone and my Triumph Bonneville Black I have cast wheels. I can the wheels on both bikes combined in less time than it takes to clean the spoked wheels on my Royal Enfield Interceptor.

I just, wouldn't allow myself to fit rims that I knew were going to make more work for me. It just wouldn't feel like an upgrade to be doing myself that disservice. I'm too impatient.

how often does a non spoked wheel go wonky?

Aren't spokes easier to clean with a quick going over with a soapy brush? No tight corners to get into.

It depends on how much rough riding you do and whether you keep up with the tension on the spokes.

Will try it in the spring and report back.

Spoked rims on Vespas are "fugly" in my opinion

There just isn't enough.. well, spoke. The proportions are all off.

Agreed. The 2" long spokes look odd. But if you're dealing with 10-12" wheels I guess that's all you need.

I like the way spoke wheels feel almost like art. I built these wheels in 2013. The hubs are mid 1940s Harley-Davidson. The spokes are Buchanan (made in California) double butted stainless steel (unpolished). The rims are Akront high shoulder aluminum (made in Spain), 21"x2.00" front, 18"x3.00" rear.

Awesome.

I've built bicycle wheels. I wonder how similar the finite details in the process are. I assume there is some truing that is required, but with balancing and disk brakes it's less temperamental? Did you cut and thread the spokes yourself or were they pre-cut? Did you use a dedicated truing stand that the wheel sits in so you could adjust the spokes?

It's basically the same process as building bicycle wheels. That's how I learned. With motorcycle wheels, the holes in the rim are directional. That is they are drilled at an angle so you have to make sure you connect each spoke to the correct hole in the rim. Once you get the first couple spokes started, the pattern falls into place.

I ordered the spokes from Buchanan made to my specifications. No need to cut and thread.

I do have a dedicated truing stand. Much like those used for bicycles, but heavier duty. Truing is done the same as it is for bicycle wheels. It just takes more torque on the spoke nipples to get the rim to move.