Hi all
Just thought I would let you know about rear wheel spokes breaking and their various lengths. My 2005 Baghira, 8500 kilometres of town/highway riding/commuting to work etc, always solo (I weigh about 101 kilos), broke two spokes on the drive side of the rear wheel. The spokes broke at the corner where they turn into the hub end. I called Phil at BSA and he sent me a selection by return - great service, highly recommended - and the spokes are as follows:
Drive side, half are about 80 mm long with 84 degree bend at hub end, half are about 80 mm long with 107 degree (more than right angle) bend at hub end.
Brake side are all longer - about 110 mm with all the same bend at the hub end.
BSA Regal only stock plated steel spokes as they have not sold all those and thus have not moved on to stainless spokes (as are fitted front and rear to my 2005 bike).
I simply let the tyre down flat and clamped it over to one side, lifted the rim tape to stop the nipple end from dragging it round and tearing it, and after a bit of bending and swearing, actually a lot of swearing, I got the new ones in and tightened them with a good quality 6 mm spanner. I would advise getting a proper spoke key though as one or two of the stainless existing spokes would not turn with my spanner. The broken spokes did not affect the truth of the rim at all so tightening carefully was all that was required. I imagine stainless spokes are more brittle than plated steel - anyone else had this happen?