Custom 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 gauge spokes and Handbuilt Wheels

[johnrobholmes]

I have been building wheels for over half my life now, and have the time to offer my service to you. At Holmes Bikes, we can build anything you need from mini bike to moped to light motorcycle. We can source many spokes from 15 to 11ga, as well as hubs, rims, and many electric bike products as well. Whether you need a custom set of wheels or just some spokes, I would like to help your wheels come true.

For a full list of current product offerings and prices check us out at http://www.Holmesbikes.com

For custom spokes in any length 40mm to 310mm, the direct link is: http://holmeshobbies.com/product.php?pr ... =20&page=1 We cut and roll all 15 through 12ga in house.


See some of our wheel builds here http://www.holmeshobbies.com/blog/?page_id=212

Hop in line for a wheelbuild and check our spec/ prices through this link http://holmeshobbies.com/product.php?pr ... =20&page=1

Nipples sizes:
15 through 13ga standard:4.1mm body and 6.25mm head diameter
12ga standard: 4.6mm body 7.48mm head diameter
13ga large: 4.77 body 7.75mm head

Some attachments may be dead from previous issues we had on the forum, so just ignore em. I lost many of the photos when my other sale thread got auto pruned, so most of the odd-ball ones are gone. Hub motors with motorcycle rims are frequent builds for us, so don't hesitate to ask for something you may consider a "weird" combination.

[gestalt]

I need 36 266m 12 or 13ga spokes, So far all I've found has been extremely expensive. I'm starting to think about getting a spoke turner and doing it myself, sure it would cost a whole lot more but I would be able to make any spokes I want down the road.

[johnrobholmes]

The big issue is finding a spoke threader for 12 and 13ga. So far I have only found 14ga threaders. (edit: we now have 12 and 13ga threading in house)


What hub/rim is your spoke for?

[gestalt]

I have a 26" surly large marge 36 off set hole going with a choppers us extra wide freewheel hub with disk mount.





I'll go 14 ga if I have to, but I really wanted to go 12 as the torque with my motor is going to be rather severe.

[johnrobholmes]

I can get some 12ga in 265mm within a few days, or Dan's competition may have that size in stock.

[gestalt]

sounds good to me, I called dans yesterday and they only had my length in 14 ga. one mm short should still allow me to build the wheel with no problem. after finding I won't be able to use that sturmy archer single speed drum hub that I spent a bunch on I really want to get this wheel relaced with the burly wide hub with the 12's right away. It's a shame though, that drum brake looked real nice and clean on with the large marge. I just wasn't comfortable drilling it out for thicker spokes and I wanted to be able to use some wider tires if I wanted to, the sturmy was just not wide enough.

[johnrobholmes]

Well, looks like I will be a genuine spoke retailer/wholesaler for high quality spokes! Just got my first small batch in and they look very nice indeed. I am trying to avoid having tons of "dead" lengths in stock here, but if you want something custom made in any size we can talk. Looks like 90 cents per spoke/nipple will be pretty standard for easy to source sizes, while custom runs will be a bit more with a 6 week lead time.

[vanilla ice]

Awesome blossom!

[voicecoils]

Well, looks like I will be a genuine spoke retailer/wholesaler for high quality spokes! Just got my first small batch in and they look very nice indeed. I am trying to avoid having tons of "dead" lengths in stock here, but if you want something custom made in any size we can talk. Looks like 90 cents per spoke/nipple will be pretty standard for easy to source sizes, while custom runs will be a bit more with a 6 week lead time.

Very nice.

Will you be disclosing what the brand is?

Do they do 12/13ga or 13/14ga butted?

[johnrobholmes]

Sapim is the manufacturer, but they probably won't be "branded" sapim. We can do butted spokes. I was going to see if a 12/13/14 was possible, although it would probably be costly.

[AussieJester]

I would be extremely interested in 11ga if you can get them? I will have to get back to you on the size when the sun comes up too dark
in the workshop to find the spares i have to get length.. Can you get anodized nipples too? in blue or gold...to suit the 11ga spokes

KiM

[johnrobholmes]

I have a little stack of 11ga here, so indeed I can get them. I can only get black painted and chrome plated nipples right now. You won't want anodized anyway, that is aluminum stuff.

You could always paint the nipples or I could see about getting them powdercoated. Not sure how they would marr up when the wheel is built though.

[SpeedEBikes]

This sounds great. One of my to do projects was to build a tool to do J-bends and form spoke heads for 12 gauge spokes. But if I can order short spokes from you then I can do other projects instead. I mostly build 20 inch rear dished wheels with spoke lengths of 113 and 115 mm. Might be trying some other hubs and rims though so will likely need other sizes too.

[gestalt]

John, you waste no time and neither do I. The spokes came in yesterday and I laced the wheel today. You got me those spokes with the quickness, and cool stickers to boot! Those thick ass spokes look great on my large marge and with the four cross pattern should hold up quite well to the torture I'll be putting them through. You easily saved me at least fifty bucks, once I get set on what rim/hub setup for the front you'll be getting another order from me, you da man!

[johnrobholmes]

Sweet! Glad they worked out well for you

Looks like a nice stout wheel there. 155mm width hub?

[gestalt]

170mm on a 65mm wide rim. the goal of this wheel was to make the toughest rear wheel possible with bicycle parts. I think I've hit my mark of somewhere between bicycle and motorcycle.

[AussieJester]

John, you waste no time and neither do I. The spokes came in yesterday and I laced the wheel today.

Very nice, i like that "skinny" rim your using ...J/K

But i see your 2.5in 12ga extra wide chrome freewheel laced wheel and raise you a 4.25in 12ga extra wide chrome freewheel laced wheel

IMG_4668.jpg

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That is a nice rim you have there though mate will look schweeeet on your bike thats for sure, you have the
3in wide tires for it to correct? they should spread out nicely i have a set of them but never got them on a wide
3in rim to get them nice and wide ....

KiM

[gestalt]

the rim is about 2.15" and the tires I have are 2.3", just barely big enough to fit on the rim. unfortunately there are not that many options for street tires for the 26" large marge, most of the really wide tires are knobbies. To be honest if I had to do it all over again I would go for something like what you have, those tires really have that motorcycle look and I'm sure they are tough as well. It just didn't occur to me to use something other than the wheel size the frame was designed for.

/nice eno by the way

[12p3phPMDC]

JRH,

Great stuff!

Thanks for filling this need!

[eBikeStore]

Phil Wood makes a 13 gauge adapter for their spoke cutter for $65. Unfortunately, they are sold out and don't know when they will have more (as of last week)

All the best,

Wake
The Ebike Store
http://www.ebikestore.com

[gestalt]

What do you have for me in the way of 259mm? I just got my front rim in, time to start putting together that dual disk wheel.

[johnrobholmes]

Closest I have here is 265mm in 12ga. I will track down my spreadsheet and see if that is a length I can get fast.

Do you have gauge preference?

[gestalt]

I figgured going with 12 on the front and back would be the way to go. Plus the front rim is not as sturdy as the rear by a long shot.

[johnrobholmes]

Just got some 260mm in 12ga if you still need them.

[gestalt]

Better believe I still need those spokes Johnny! Just let me know how much and you'll have it tonight, I'm trying to get back to the shop today to do some more work on the front end and should be ready to get the wheels on by the end of the week.