Are Bike Spoke Tension Chart?

No, bike spoke tension charts do not exist.

There are many factors to consider when building or truing a wheel, such as the type of bicycle, the purpose the wheel will be used for, the terrain, the rider’s weight, and riding style. However, one of the most important factors is spoken tension. Spoke tension is the amount of force exerted on the spoke by the wheel’s rim, and it is measured in pounds per square inch or newtons per millimeter.

The most important thing to remember when spoke tension is that too little tension will cause the wheel to go out of true, while too much tension will cause the spoke to break. The ideal spoke tension will vary depending on the application, but a good starting point is usually between 80 and 120 pounds per square inch (550-830 newtons per millimeter).

When truing a wheel, it is important to check spoke tension with a spoke tension meter. This will help ensure that the wheel is within the ideal range for the application. If the tension is too low, the wheel will need to be rebuilt with new spokes. If the tension is too high, the wheel will need to be trued with a spoke wrench.

A bike spoke tension chart can be a helpful guide when truing a wheel, but it is important to remember that the ideal tension will vary depending on the application. Always check spoke tension with a tension meter to ensure that the wheel is within the ideal range.

What Are Bike Spoke Tension Charts?

Bike spoke tension charts help you determine how much tension to put on your bike spokes.


If you are a regular rider, you know that maintaining your bike is very important. One key component to check regularly is the tension of your spokes. Too much tension and your spokes can break, too little tension and your wheel can go out of true. You can check the tension of your spokes with a spoke tension chart.

To use a bike spoke tension chart, you will need to know the weight of your wheel and the number of spokes in your wheel. Once you have this information, you can find the recommended tension range for your wheel. To check the tension of your spokes, you will need a spoke tension meter. To use the meter, you will need to attach it to the spoke and then pull on the spoke. The meter will give you a reading in pounds of tension. You will want to check a few different spokes to get an average reading.

If you find that your spokes are outside of the recommended tension range, you will need to adjust them. To do this, you will need to loosen or tighten the spoke nipple. To loosen the nipple, you will need to turn it counterclockwise. To tighten the nipple, you will need to turn it clockwise. You will want to make small adjustments until you get the tension within the recommended range.

It is important to check the tension of your spokes regularly. This will help to ensure that your wheel stays true and that your spokes do not break.

How Can I Use A Bike Spoke Tension Chart?

To use a bike spoke tension chart, find the spoke size and length for your bike, then match it to the corresponding tension range.

If you’re new to trying your own wheels, or even if you’ve been doing it for a while, you may have come across references to using a bike spoke tension chart. But what is a bike spoke tension chart? And how can you use one?

In this article, we’ll explain what a bike spoke tension chart is and how you can use one to help you truly your wheels.

What is a Bike Spoke Tension Chart?

A bike spoke tension chart is simply a chart that shows the ideal tension for your spokes. The tension of your spokes is important because it affects how true your wheel is. Too little tension and your wheel will be wobbly, too much tension and your spokes could break.

So, how do you use a bike spoke tension chart?

Using a Bike Spoke Tension Chart

To use a bike spoke tension chart, you’ll need to know the width of your rims and the size of your spokes. Once you have that information, you can find the ideal tension for your spokes on the chart.

For example, let’s say you have a 26″ wheel with 14 gauge spokes. According to the chart, the ideal tension for those spokes is 115-130 Kgf.

Now, how do you actually measure spoke tension? The best way is to use a spoke tension meter. Simply attach the meter to your spoke and it will give you a reading in Kgf.

If your spoke tension is too low, you’ll need to add tension. To do this, you can use a spoke wrench to turn the spoke nipple. For each full turn of the nipple, you’ll add about 2-3 Kgf of tension (depending on the size of your nipple).

If your spoke tension is too high, you’ll need to remove tension. To do this, you can use a spoke wrench to hold the spoke while you turn the spoke nipple in the opposite direction. For each full turn of the nipple, you’ll remove about 2-3 Kgf of tension.

Once you’ve adjusted the tension of your spokes, you can recheck the tension with your spoke tension meter to ensure they’re at the ideal tension.

A bike spoke tension chart is a helpful tool to ensure your spokes are at the ideal tension. By using a spoke tension meter, you can easily adjust the tension of your spokes until they’re perfect.

When Should I Use A Bike Spoke Tension Chart?

When you are trying to determine the correct spoke tension for your wheel.

If you’re new to truing your own wheels, or even if you’ve been doing it for a while, you may be wondering when you should use a bike spoke tension chart. The answer is: it depends.

If you’re building a wheel from scratch, you’ll definitely need to use a tension chart to make sure all your spokes are the correct tension. But if you’re just truing a wheel that’s already been built, you may be able to get by without one.

If you’re not sure whether you need a tension chart or not, here are a few things to consider:

How many spokes does the wheel have? The more spokes a wheel has, the more important it is to get the tension exactly right. With a 32-spoke wheel, for example, you can usually get away with slightly mismatched spoke tensions. But with a wheel that has only 16 spokes, it’s much more important to get the tension exactly right.

What type of spokes does the wheel have? Some spokes, such as butted spokes, are more forgiving of mismatched tensions than others. So if you’re not sure whether you need a tension chart, it’s a good idea to err on the side of caution and use one.

What type of wheel are you truing? A wheel with aero spokes, for example, is much more sensitive to spoke tension than a wheel with standard spokes. So if you’re not sure whether you need a tension chart, it’s a good idea to use one.

In general, if you’re not sure whether you need a tension chart, it’s a good idea to use one. Better to be safe than sorry!

Now that we’ve answered the question of when to use a bike spoke tension chart, let’s take a look at how to use one.

Using a bike spoke tension chart is actually pretty simple. First, you’ll need to determine the spoke length for your wheel. You can do this by measuring the distance from the center of the hub to the center of the rim.

Next, you’ll need to find the spoke tension that’s appropriate for your wheel. This will be listed in kilograms per square millimeter (kgf/mm).

Once you have the spoke length and tension, simply find the point on the chart where they intersect and that’s your target tension.

For example, let’s say you’re truing a 32-spoke wheel with butted spokes and a spoke tension of 1.8 kgf/mm. The spoke length is 120mm.

Looking at the chart, we can see that the target tension for a 120mm butted spoke at 1.8kgf/mm is 2.1 kgf/mm.

So that’s all there is to using a bike spoke tension chart! Just remember, if you’re not sure whether you need a tension chart, it’s always better to use one just to be safe.

Why Is Spoke Tension Important For A Bike?

Spoke tension is important for a bike because it helps to keep the wheel from going out of true.

Spoke tension is important for a bike because it affects the wheel’s strength and stiffness. If the tension is too low, the wheel will be more likely to deform under load, which can cause the spokes to loosen and eventually break.

If the tension is too high, the wheel will be more difficult to turn and may not be as comfortable to ride. The ideal tension for a wheel depends on its size, intended use, and build quality. For most riders, a general-purpose wheel with medium spoke tension is a good choice.

Example:

If you’re a casual rider who mostly sticks to paved roads, you probably don’t need to worry too much about spoke tension. A wheel with medium spoke tension will be strong enough for your purposes and won’t be too difficult to turn.

owever, if you’re a competitive racer or an adventurous rider who likes to go off-road, you’ll want to choose a wheel with higher spoke tension. This will make your wheel stronger and more resistant to deformities, helping you avoid broken spokes and other issues.

How Can I Tell If My Bike’s Spokes Are Too Loose Or Too Tight?

If you can hear the spokes rattling when you ride, they are too loose.

If your bike’s spokes are too loose, the wheel will have a tendency to wobble. You can check this by holding the bike up and giving the wheel a spin. If the wheel wobbles, then your spokes are too loose.

If your bike’s spokes are too tight, the wheel will be harder to turn. You can check this by trying to turn the wheel while the bike is on the ground. If it’s hard to turn, then your spokes are probably too tight.

A good rule of thumb is to keep your bike’s spokes nice and tight, but not so tight that they’re difficult to turn.

FAQ

What Are The Consequences Of Having Loose Or Tight Spokes On A Bike?

If a spoke is too loose, it can fall out of the wheel entirely and cause the wheel to collapse. If a spoke is too tight, it can put too much tension on the wheel and cause it to buckle.

How Do I Adjust Spoke Tension On A Bike?

Spoke tension is the amount of force that is applied to a spoke in order to keep it tight in the wheel. The spoke tension of a wheel is important because it affects how the wheel will perform. A wheel with too much spoke tension will be very stiff and will not be able to absorb bumps in the road. A wheel with too little spoke tension will be very flexible and will be more likely to get out of true. The spoke tension of a wheel can be adjusted by tightening or loosening the spokes.

Is There A Standard Tension That All Bike Spokes Should Be At?

There is no standard tension that all bike spokes should be at. Different bikes and different riding styles require different spoke tensions. For example, a road bike will typically have higher spoke tensions than a mountain bike.

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