Spoke offset for a 78 special.

[staf0s]

I purchased some complete wheels from a guy on eBay. They were on a 1978 xs650 special. Like a fool I didn’t do any research and took them apart to get the hubs/drum polished. I called a local guy to true and lace for me and he wanted to know what the offset was for the spokes on both wheels.

Just got my hubs polished and purchased new stainless spokes. My fault for not researching this prior. Calling a few people to get my wheels laced and true’d. They all want to know the offset of the spokes. I have no clue and I’ve read mixed answers online.

1978 XS650 Special
Factory Takasago 19x1.85 and 16x2.75
36 spoke front and rear
rear drum

I can’t find much tbh. Any help is appreciated

 

[jpdevol]

Hmm...I've seen this reference to "offset" mentioned before. IME, once the spokes are made, the offset is pre-determined. Also, I'm unaware of a '78 SE having spoke wheels - maybe a '79 - '81 Special II .

I'm guessing the 16" could be a 36-hole and likely laced in a "cross one" pattern and the 19" a 36-hole laced "cross two"

See Tech section for model ID

 

[staf0s]

Hmm...I've seen this reference to "offset" mentioned before. IME, once the spokes are made, the offset is pre-determined. Also, I'm unaware of a '78 SE having spoke wheels - maybe a '79 - '81 Special II .

I'm guessing the 16" could be a 36-hole and likely laced in a "cross one" pattern and the 19" a 36-hole laced "cross two"

See Tech section for model ID

Yeah im really not sure. The listing said 78 special. I reached out to the seller.

Here are some close ups of before I took them apart

 

[jpdevol]

"Offset" = Zero

 

[toglhot]

If you don't want to lace the wheels yourself, take the swinging arm into the lacer and he can lace the wheel with the correct off set according to the swingarm.
Alternatively if you have the correct spokes, just get the lacer to lace the wheel so the thread on each spoke just disappears inside the nipple, that'll get it pretty darn close, if not perfect, then you can mount the wheel on the bike and finish with any minor adjustments to get the rim in the centre of the swingarm.

 

[650Skull]

There isn't anything in the Tech menu on lacing wheel. A couple of threads. Need to read through them all and gleem the info for respoking. It's all there. Links in the links should be looked at a well

https://www.xs650.com/threads/wheel-lacing-101-it-looks-so-easy.27731/
https://www.xs650.com/threads/how-to-wheel-lacing.52594/
https://www.xs650.com/threads/spokes-do-not-look-right.47200/

This is more for realigning the rim holes
https://www.xs650.com/threads/lacing-mikes-2-5x18-rims-to-stock-hubs-w-ss-spokes.44710/

 

[jpdevol]

There isn't anything in the Tech menu on lacing wheel. s-w-ss-spokes.44710/

I was directing him there to identify the model only

 

[5twins]

Steel 36 spoke rims would make the wheels '80 or '81. '79 had alloy rims and '82 saw the introduction of those mega-spoke Heritage wheels.

All you really need to know is that the rim is centered over the spoke flanges. On the front, that would be centered on the hub as well, but not on the rear. On the rear, the sprocket side of the hub sticks out more.

 

[staf0s]

I also should have added that the wheel is going on a rigid frame. Not sure if that’s important or not.

 

[650Skull]

I was directing him there to identify the model only

Nothing personal or directed at yurself............Noticed there were no links in the tech menu Have a few bookmarked so made the point. Maybe the powers to be will remedy it.

 

[jpdevol]

So my understanding of the term "offset" regarding motorcycle wheels is the difference in the centerline of the spoke flanges and the centerline of the rim - that's dictated by spoke lengths. If you have 18 identical inside spokes and 18 identical outside spokes the offset (in this case) is zero. The sprocket or brake mount flanges are what they are.

The rigid frame doesn't require a different offset given a particular hub; it may require different spacers to align the sprockets, etc.

 

[gggGary]

Yes in my experience the rim is centered on the flange on all XS650 spoke wherls.

 

[staf0s]

Yes in my experience the rim is centered on the flange on all XS650 spoke wherls.

Excuse my ignorance but is centered on the flange the same as “zero offset”? I just wanna make sure I tell the guy the right thing

 

[gggGary]

Excuse my ignorance but is centered on the flange the same as “zero offset”? I just wanna make sure I tell the guy the right thing

Yes

 

[gggGary]

To be clear the rim center is exactly half way between the two spoke flanges on the hub. AKA Zero offset

 

[gggGary]

On some other motorcycles the wheel is offset to one side with one set of spokes being straighter the other at more of an angle. Several brit bikes have that offset.

 

[staf0s]

On some other motorcycles the wheel is offset to one side with one set of spokes being straighter the other at more of an angle. Several brit bikes have that offset.

That makes sense! I’ve been trying to follow along with all the comments and I think I’m sort of understanding lol. Thanks for the help

 

[Jim]

On some other motorcycles the wheel is offset to one side with one set of spokes being straighter the other at more of an angle. Several brit bikes have that offset.

BSA 441.