I have just noticed I have rust marks around the ends of the spokes going into the hubs and spindles on my ebike. I ride in the wet as its my only transport at the moment (campervan sorned and in back garden). I have never seen this before on any other bike.

Is this normal these days or could this be an indication of problems on the horizon (cheep metal, likely to snap). Seem to remember someone having problems with spokes snapping too.

Anyone have a theory on this?

Should I be worried about it?

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Spokes can get very rusty and survive well, so I doubt if it's a situation needing very urgent attention. If you get a rust conversion fluid like Jenolite, sometimes stocked by Halfords, then brush that on and allow it to dry in place, it converts the rust into a hardened coating which resists further rusting. It's completely clear like water and won't harm rubber.

 

Jenolite is actually phosphoric acid, the main flavouring ingredient in Coca Cola and other colas, believe it or not.

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Most bikes these days have stainless steel spokes which will not rust, obviously yours does not. However this does not necessarily indicate weakness, bikes and other vehicles managed for 100 years before stainless spokes were widely used.

Thanks, I thought I would ask, just in case.

 

.... bikes and other vehicles managed for 100 years before stainless spokes were widely used.

 

Yeh - if only the battery did the same

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