Black spokes

bikeit65

Anyone here have black spokes on their wheels, if you have do you have any issues with them like the black finish wearing off or fading?

NWLondoner

Black spokes look cool when new.


Sadly they don't tend to stay like that for long.

Chip \'oyler

The black coating does 'wear' after a while

bikeit65

How long was it before your spokes started to wear / fade

EarlyGo

I have black spokes and they're nearly 18 months old and no sign of fading yet. They're Alex S500s, very budget but on the plus side appear to be fade proof!

Regards, EarlyGo

benpinnick

I've had dt & sapim spokes for a long time, some wheels 10 years old and still looking fine. What brand are the ones that have faded?

mossychops

Mavic Crossrides 18 months old no issues so far (more worried about the crossride stickers coming off the rims and leaving a mess). I can imagine they would scratch when meeting other metal though. I do like the look of them.

moonshine

my black sapim cx-rays are as good as the day they were bought (about 18 months ago)

mossychops

We have established they are fine for at least 18 months

ShutUpLegs

I haven't taken mine out of the wrapping yet, will they last longer than 18 months?

giant_man

As benpinnick says, it probably depends on the quality and make of spoke used. Decent quality ones such as Sapim are going to stand up to winter and a lot more use than the cheaper types.

will3

if you're wearing the finish on your spokes, you're not doing it right.

Black spokes are faster.

Gazzaputt

All the black Mavic spokes I have had have never faded.

Then again I usually only have the wheels a year!

moonshine

will3 wrote:

if you're wearing the finish on your spokes, you're not doing it right.

+1

racingcondor

I've put 10,000 miles into a couple of wheelsets with black spokes and not noticed fading. I don't cleam mine with sandpaper though...

Seriously, anoyone how has seen black spokes fade, what spokes are they? I'd like to know so I can avoid them on anything I build.

JRooke

year old fulcrum 1's with black spokes, every single one as black as the day i bought them.

giant_man

racingcondor wrote:

I've put 10,000 miles into a couple of wheelsets with black spokes and not noticed fading. I don't cleam mine with sandpaper though...

Seriously, anoyone how has seen black spokes fade, what spokes are they? I'd like to know so I can avoid them on anything I build.

+1 - yes please

Monty Dog

IME the black coating will wear-off as it's only a chemical treatment. If you don't clean your bike agressively or allow the spokes to rub against other 'hard' objects e.g. bike racks then there's no reason why the black shouldn't stay in place. For wheels like Ksyrium SLs and Fulcrum 1s with aluminium alloy spokes, the coating is an anodised fiinish which is a bit more durable. I've got wheels over 8 years old with black spokes that are still fine.

bikeit65

New wheels ordered with black DT Swiss competition spokes fitted.
Thanks for your comments.

alan_sherman

MontyDog - I think Kyserium aluminium spokes are painted rather than anodised. they chip and scratch pretty easily.

Stainless black spokes wear fine (e.g. on cosmic carbons) and if they do get scratched or chipped (e.g. by a stone flicking up and catching an edge) you can touch in with a black "write on all" CD marker pen or similar. Also works on tyres, stems, bars, frames and, well, all things you could want to write on I guess.