Wheels and spokes

[halfmedley]

Cleaning my electric bike yesterday and I noticed a few splits at the spoke holes on the rear wheel rim. So, I've been researching replacement rims and have come up with a few (Rigida Sputnik, Rigida Chrina, Exal ML21, Exal EX21, Mavic A119, Mavic A319) and wondered whether anyone had any thoughts/experience regarding this subject. This leads me onto my next question: are 13g spokes necessary on a 36 hole rim? There seem to be some interesting alternatives out there such as DT Alpine Swiss III spokes which are triple butted, strong and yet light. Again, anyone with any thoughts? My budget is not unlimited, so no exotic suggestions please! Thanks in advance for your replies.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

I've done thousands of miles on the cheapest Chinese rims with cheap Chinese spokes without any problems. It could be that your spokes were over-tightened or that the alloy in the rim was too hard.

I always use 14g spokes now. They give a more even tension and don't break. These are the rims I use:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/26-MTB-Mountain-Bike-Bicycle-Disc-V-Brake-Rigida-Alloy-Double-Wall-Rims-Wheels-/191205901012?var=&hash=item2c84c282d4

and these spokes:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231103012030?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

What bike or motor have you got and what are the rims?

 

[Nealh]

I use Exal 19's and have had not too many problems, off road I have had 1 bad bent rim which I had to replace and a rear that I had to retrue. They are light and cheap for a pair and have eyelets, a 2x pattern is ok but a 3x doesn't sit well due to the eyelets. On road not had any issues.
The rim that bent badly was when I hit a rabbit warren entrance and put my bars at 90 degrees and me planted on the ground over the bars.