I guess I need to buy a spoke wrench for my 2009 KLX250sf. I've done 4.5k miles on it, and have NEVER checked the spokes.

I can get a universal one for about $15, and a torque ver for about $80.

Do you reckon i can get away with the universal non-torque version? The manual says 4.0 N.m, how tight is that ?

Not sure what size the spokes are on our bikes? Most of the wrenches online, say they include 6 of the popular sized heads. Is the KLX250sf spokes of a popular size?

 

Not sure about the head size but 4.0 N.m is equal to 35.4 Inch pounds

 

This very topical for me! A mate of mine had his Harley wheels re-spoked a few weeks ago & was showing me how similar the note/tone was when tapping his new spokes with a small spanner!! I know what a pair of sad b@stards but at least we were drinking lots beer while listening to spoke noises!

Now in two years i've not never bothered checking my spokes, because the bike was new when I bought it & it's pretty low powered etc etc.

They all sounded good except for 3 really loose spokes on the back wheel.....really loose & dead sounding with the spanner test.

I tightened the 3 offending spokes up to sound the same as the others spokes with a small adjustable spanner & then followed this youtube video, to give both my wheels a service & they seem to be good for some more fast curb hopping again!!

 

I was always told never do the spokes yourself, because with certain wheels dull spokes are tight and ringing spokes can be loose. there is no way to see without a trueing machine.

 

The nipple on my '12 takes a 6mm wrench-I would suspect that it's the same on yours. I also use the tapping method-make sure that the spoke doesn't contact its adjacent partner as that will make it sound dead.

 

The foam damper on the front rotor messes up the tap method for that one side
I've haven't built a MC wheel yet but I have built lots of bicycle wheels, same thing just different.

 

This video doesn't explain how tight you should go, just quarter or half turns and keep repeating... till when though? . How do you know when its tight enough? Wouldn't this job want a torque wrench as a REQUIREMENT ? As to not risk putting your wheel out of true?

I like the balancing out, by missing spokes and so on. Surely, if i followed that, using a torque spoke wrench set on the 4.0 N.m that would ensure every spoke is tightened to factory spec and that all were the same.