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Spokes failed in Spain
The I'm broken down at the 38km marker of the NA-128 in Spain. Does anybody know of a good bike shop that could rebuild my wheel in Zaragoza, or anywhere in Spain really. I have Green flag, but no eta yet.
I should add, I'm on a Royal Enfield Classic 500. Any help appreciated. Fox. |
Post it in a Spanish forum....Hope to find a solution to your problem!:thumbup1:
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If you have to, a welder can weld them.
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I can't make a personal recommendation but a guy who had a breakdown at one of my HISS rallies got excellent service from KTM Zaragoza (Dermotor) - OK he had a Katoom!
I spoke with them to arrange this from Teruel and we ordered the part, clutch mastercylinder, to be sent from KTM Spain in Barcelona on a 'just-in-case' basis, which was pretty good of them. Here's what he said, "Above pics From that HISS return journey, the clutch pressure kept up for about 30mls then it was gone, lucky the journey to Zaragoza was straight forward till the city centre, then a few suicide runs through junctions and red lights got me to the KTM dealer. They were very good appeared to drop everything to do my bike, whilst I fell asleep on the showroom floor." So, I imagine they would do a wheel rebuild/repair or know someone in Zaz who can, it's a very big city - they used to mane Sanglas's there! The workshop will probably be closed now until Monday but you may get some info from the showroom. Contact me via my blog* with your phone number if you need help with Spanish. Regs Simon * this isn't me looking for work - travellers and all that! PS thanks zandesiro fro posting this up on ADVRider :) |
Thank you for all of your replies. It really means a lot.
The bike has been picked up by Green Flags rep in Spain, and dropped at a depot near Pamplona. I contacted Royal Enfield in Barcelona, nice guy called Alex, who speaks good English, and they have the parts, and could do the job, but Green Flag would not take the bike there, so I am stuck with the local garages effort at finding spokes locally on Monday. We do now however have a hire car, and we are going to drive to Barcelona today, so that we can get the parts there on Monday if needs be. Welding was a good suggestion, butt we are heavily loaded, and each spoke has lost its hub nipple, so I don't think this is an option, but thank you for suggesting it. If anyone is interested, our blog is Foxy Boxy - Home https://www.dropbox.com/s/6id8vcrldf...%20pm.jpg?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/6id8vcrldf...%20pm.jpg?dl=0 Thanks again for the help. Fox |
Hey, You've landed on your feet - there's a Royal Enfield dealer/workshop right there in Pamplona!
It migh even be in the same 'poligono' - an industrial or commercial estate - where your bike has been dropped: Polígono Industrial Plazaola, 4 31195 50701 (Navarra) So, if you've got a car you can get your wheels to them easy-peasy :) Have fun in Pamplona - nice place, good food and er, . . . beer Regs Simon |
Thanks a million Simon. I will pass that info to the recovery garage :)
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Regs Simon |
If you're loaded and 2 up consider heavy duty (motocross) spokes, assuming you can get the right lengths. Poxy Indian spokes might be half of your problem. And avoid hitting potholes.
Good luck. |
You could contact Devon rim company or central wheel company in the UK who would send them out to you a set of British made spokes they are far superior quality to a lot of the the rubbish available from some other countries. They will probably send them next day - They will have the spec you need - supply them the details of your bike / year and wheel sizes providing you do not have different rims or hubs to standard - then at least you are starting with a quality spoke set. I would suggest while you are on get both wheels rebuilt with quality spokes and nipples. Save this problem happening again. Do not dismantle your wheels until you have a wheel builder check the offset measurements etc otherwise there is a little head scratching to do to work out your original offsets unless they have the info to hand.
Simplest is to stick with Galavanised steel spokes and plated brass nipples - As the classic has options of 18, 19 and sometimes a 21 inch wheel Its difficult to advise you on the spokes you require and to be honest without seeing your wheel i would not take a guess. You may be able to use 7/9 guage butted spokes - stronger these are the simplest and most suited for the riding you are doing and the 7 guage end fits the drilled sections of your hub better than the original spoke. Get some extra spokes just in case. (there are two different sizes of spoke in your front and two different sizes in the rear wheel). The wheel uses differing head angles on the spokes a little less and a little more than 90 degree - 85 /95 degree but straight 90 degree will suffice as a compromise. The only stainless spokes really suitable for off road and heavy duty use are called bulldog spokes - these are designed for enduro bikes and are a Heavy duty High tensile stainless steel however they are not available for your bike due to the head angles being to high so i would avoid stainless spokes heavy duty or not they are not the best choice for the enfield for this application. Good luck - Jake (Northumbria Wheelworks - Wheel builder) |
Thank you both. I rather expected that the stainless spokes may be a bit brittle, especially after loosing so many at once. The bolt on the bike also demonstrate a similar lack of strength with a few failures in the last few thousand miles.
The problem I have right now is the time it takes to comunicate with the garage that is holding the bike. I have to go through green flag UK, and they talk to the Spanish recovery service and in turn to the depot where the bike is. I'm currently sat in Barcellona, 20 minutes from a shop that has the spares on the shelf. I've only just got the message that the bike was moved this morning, and it's 16:10 here. I defiantly will be getting the wheels rebuilt with British spokes when I get home. Thank you very much for the advice. Fox |
I've just been informed that the Enfield is at Iruña Kustom in Berrioplano, and they want €970 to replace the wheel and tyre.
I'm inclined to just ship it back to the UK, and sort it there. This is clearly a rip off. |
Most definitely a rip off. I've had 2 wheels respoked for £100 including parts and labour.
Try to get yourself and the wheel to a proper dirt bike shop or wheel builder. With your hub and your rim, it's easy to fit new spokes (assuming they have the right size). As an interim measure, do consider the welding option too. Good luck! |
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Meanwhile - have they got a Facebook page, etc. - i'll blast 'em! Simon |
Thanks for the morale support.
I can get a wheel in the UK for £90+VAT! Trouble is, my bike is in thier shop right this minute. I'm heading back to there overnight tonight, abandoning the idea of getting the parts in Barcelona myself as I think this is going to be a long game. They tell me that the hub and rim are unserviceable, so they won't just rebuild the wheel. I want to see that for myself. I'm not convinced. I asked them if they could do the job for €800, and they came back and said they would, but they would have to refit the existing tyre. The existing tyre has a nasty 10mm wide groove over 1/3 of its circumference where it made contact with the swingarm due to the buckle. I would never ride solo on that tyre let alone 2 up with luggage. They do have a Facebook page, it's: https://m.facebook.com/iruna.kustom?...xpanded=living Don't rattle thier cage yet though, I have tons of gear with my bike, which also limits my options for returning home as a foot passenger. Wish me luck! |
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