Spokes - what length?

butcher of bakersfield

Are spokes generally a set length, or am I asking how long is a piece of string?

I know front and back can be different, and drive side and non-drive side are different lengths. But are the four variations generally the same?

I've popped a rear non-drive side spoke and need a new one. I will measure the old one, but it's seen better days, as I just bent it around the disc rotor to get it out, so it does look much more like a piece of string now. That and a bit of it appears to be still stuck in the nipple.

Hub is Shimano M475. Connected to a Sunn DS-2 XC rim.

Edit: I need a nutty type jobby to remove the disc rotor too, and I've no idea what size these are or even what they're called...

cooldad

Probably a torx wrench - T25 most likely if it's not a standard allen key. Just take a spoke out from the same side and take it in to a bike shop.

DodgeT

This may help if your looking to buy online http://www.dtswiss.com/SpokesCalc/Calculator.aspx and IF you know all the info for the selections.

Prob easier to take out and measure as cooldad said.

ride_whenever

Generally as long as a piece of string, but at a random guess 264mm given most shimano hubs with sensible rims seem to work with those.

mrmonkfinger

Why not get the LBS to size & fit, if you're buying it there.

butcher of bakersfield

Sorted. Took a spoke out of an old wheel and it fit perfectly. Though being the brain of Britain that I am, I forgot to measure that one, even though that wheel's still to go on another bike so it still needs replaced.

But I get to ride mine in the meantime.

Was a T25 Torx needed for the rotor. Cheers Cooldad.

The Rookie

Easy, measure the sopke to end of nipple, measure length of nipple, add them and deduct 2-3mm to get an even number, sorted.