Svartpilen Spoke Torque

Vintage Veloce

Vintage Veloce

pro rider
Joined
Oct 7, 2020
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Location
San Diego
1613266716073.jpgI wanted to check the spoke torque.
The manual suggests checking them by sound, and I have done it that way... but I decided to buy a spoke toque wrench.
I bought the RK Excel wrench, but found the Svart uses an unusual spoke nipple size, about 6.8mm.
So I took the next smaller size and carefully filed it to fit perfectly.

Next... what is the spec for the spoke torque? I couldn't find it anywhere.
As the bike is fairly new, I decided to go around, slowly raising the wrench's torque setting until I hit on a number that seemed to be where most of the spokes were set already. I didn't loosen any spokes, I just kept raising the torque until the looser spokes tightened a bit and the already tight spokes clicked the wrench without moving.
I then checked that the wheels were still true by spinning them with a pointer on the rim edge.

Here is what I came up with, on my particular wrench (wrenches my not be calibrated the same).

Note this is with the wheel off the ground and unloaded! Having weight on the wheel will put tension on the spokes unevenly, don't do that.

This is on my 2020 Svartpilen 401:
Front, both sides: 4 Nm
Rear, right side (disc) 4 Nm
Rear, left side (sprocket) 3 Nm

I'm assuming the Rear left side is lower torque because those spokes are shorter.
But note, I just found these number empirically.
Has anyone found an actual spec anywhere for the spoke torques?
 
I found it buried in the technical data section of the owners manual. Page 268. 4nm or 3 ftlb.

I do prefer the audible method though.
 
ryanjorunner said:
I found it buried in the technical data section of the owners manual. Page 268. 4nm or 3 ftlb.

I do prefer the audible method though.
Click to expand...
You had better eye's than I... Look at that, there it is in the USA manual!
1613275005002.jpg

Interesting, the left side of the rear wheel was not this tight, and as I said; those spokes are shorter. I'll have the think about that.

Going by sound is a tried and true method that I have used in the past. But I've always wondered about "how high pitch" I wanted. The torque wrench solves that for me.
 
Rear wheels esp are usually different spoke lengths, hub is offset to make room for the sprocket cush drive on one side, brake on the other. The hub flanges are asymmetric. Hence the need for different length spokes to center up the rim over the hub..

And here’s the deal - the tension will be lower on one side vs. the other.

I’ve laced up dozens of bicycle wheels (worked in shops and the greater biz) , but only one motorcycle rim. I laced up and rebuilt a Honda GB500 front wheel from 18” to 19”. It turned out great after we realized Buchanan’s initially sent the wrong spokes..

I’d have to say that using a torque wrench and trying to make everything equal is not best practice. If the wheel is side to side true, on center over the hub, and within round, don’t stress if your torque values are off 10%..

And be careful not to over tension the wheel, it’s easily done. Sometimes you need to loosen spokes vs. tightening. Working in 1/4 turn increments is a good rule, and use the air valve as a reference point, then work your way around.
 
Last edited:
All good advice!
On my bike, I only had a few spokes that tightened much: only 2 or 3 randomly placed ones that took more than a 1/4 turn. I actually looked for a low pitched one on each side to find the low torque setting and compared that to the higher pitched ones. Basically, they were all probably fine, but it definitely brought those 2 or 3 looser ones up to the range of the others. I'd say 50% clicked at the torque without turning at all and most of the rest with about an 1/8 turn. Those 2 or 3 outliers were a little surprise, but again, they weren't very loose either.
 
Hmm, I know this topic is about 2 years old, haha, but do people who do their own wheels/tire changes just buy the KTM/Husq spoke tool?

Odd question here, the manual states 4 Nm (okay...), but it also says in their M5 -- is this the actual spoke diameter? I don't believe it's the spoke nipple because I believe it's what you said, 6.8 mm spoke wrench...as KTM/Husq has this 77212991100, which is 6 mm and 6.8 mm, which would match what you say above.

@BISavage is 77212991100 the one you got? I got that part number from the husky technical parts site.


Rob
 
RobWCanada said:
Hmm, I know this topic is about 2 years old, haha, but do people who do their own wheels/tire changes just buy the KTM/Husq spoke tool?

Odd question here, the manual states 4 Nm (okay...), but it also says in their M5 -- is this the actual spoke diameter? I don't believe it's the spoke nipple because I believe it's what you said, 6.8 mm spoke wrench...as KTM/Husq has this 77212991100, which is 6 mm and 6.8 mm, which would match what you say above.

@BISavage is 77212991100 the one you got? I got that part number from the husky technical parts site.


Rob
Click to expand...
I don't think it matters who makes the spoke tool, just that it fits properly.
"Nm" are the torque measurements. "mm" are the nipple sizes.
 
Vintage Veloce said:
I don't think it matters who makes the spoke tool, just that it fits properly.
"Nm" are the torque measurements. "mm" are the nipple sizes.
Click to expand...
Ya, but that’s my point. The tool that Husqvarna website says is for my bike has a 6.8mm and a 6.0mm, yet the service manual is saying 5mm nipple size.

So how is that 5mm nipple size translating to 6.8mm spoke wrench? Sorry, but I’m just confused.
 
JJCool said:
www.warp9racing.com

Spoke Torque Wrench Kit

A professional Adjustable Spoke Torque Wrench kit With the Rubber wrapped Handle your rim is protected from scratches. Includes Tips 5.1, 5.6, 5.8, 6.1, 6.3, 6.5, 6.7, 6.8, 6.9 and Spline drive Additional tip sizes available separately Includes a standard handle for those tough disassembly jobs...
www.warp9racing.com www.warp9racing.com
Click to expand...
Lol, nice set but I’m not anticipating opening up a repair shop :)
 
Did the spokes on my '22 Vitpilen today with a regular 7mm wrench. I measured the spoke nipples with a caliper and they were between 6.88-6.97mm so a regular 7mm wrench seems fine. Used the tap method and tightened 1/8 turn at a time. All with the bike on the sidestand.
M5in the manual is the thread size, not the size of wrench you need. The manual is full of M thread sizes but not the wrench size - sort of a nuisance!
 
Vintage Veloce said:
View attachment 806I wanted to check the spoke torque.
The manual suggests checking them by sound, and I have done it that way... but I decided to buy a spoke toque wrench.
I bought the RK Excel wrench, but found the Svart uses an unusual spoke nipple size, about 6.8mm.
So I took the next smaller size and carefully filed it to fit perfectly.

Next... what is the spec for the spoke torque? I couldn't find it anywhere.
As the bike is fairly new, I decided to go around, slowly raising the wrench's torque setting until I hit on a number that seemed to be where most of the spokes were set already. I didn't loosen any spokes, I just kept raising the torque until the looser spokes tightened a bit and the already tight spokes clicked the wrench without moving.
I then checked that the wheels were still true by spinning them with a pointer on the rim edge.

Here is what I came up with, on my particular wrench (wrenches my not be calibrated the same).

Note this is with the wheel off the ground and unloaded! Having weight on the wheel will put tension on the spokes unevenly, don't do that.

This is on my 2020 Svartpilen 401:
Front, both sides: 4 Nm
Rear, right side (disc) 4 Nm
Rear, left side (sprocket) 3 Nm

I'm assuming the Rear left side is lower torque because those spokes are shorter.
But note, I just found these number empirically.
Has anyone found an actual spec anywhere for the spoke torques?
Click to expand...
Well done, common sense methodology
 
Vintage Veloce said:
View attachment 806I wanted to check the spoke torque.
The manual suggests checking them by sound, and I have done it that way... but I decided to buy a spoke toque wrench.
I bought the RK Excel wrench, but found the Svart uses an unusual spoke nipple size, about 6.8mm.
So I took the next smaller size and carefully filed it to fit perfectly.

Next... what is the spec for the spoke torque? I couldn't find it anywhere.
As the bike is fairly new, I decided to go around, slowly raising the wrench's torque setting until I hit on a number that seemed to be where most of the spokes were set already. I didn't loosen any spokes, I just kept raising the torque until the looser spokes tightened a bit and the already tight spokes clicked the wrench without moving.
I then checked that the wheels were still true by spinning them with a pointer on the rim edge.

Here is what I came up with, on my particular wrench (wrenches my not be calibrated the same).

Note this is with the wheel off the ground and unloaded! Having weight on the wheel will put tension on the spokes unevenly, don't do that.

This is on my 2020 Svartpilen 401:
Front, both sides: 4 Nm
Rear, right side (disc) 4 Nm
Rear, left side (sprocket) 3 Nm

I'm assuming the Rear left side is lower torque because those spokes are shorter.
But note, I just found these number empirically.
Has anyone found an actual spec anywhere for the spoke torques?
Click to expand...

9pc Motorcycle Spoke Wrench Set 5.4 - 6.8mm (Genuine Neilsen CT5156)
£11.93Unit price £11.93

Item number:165314846151 Also, I've ordered a 4Nm 1/4" drive torque wrench, common torque setting on road bicycles so easy to find, intend adapting the 6.8mm head to suit a 1/4" square drive, when the bits arrive. Thanks for the info.
 
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