Can you use different hub spoke sizes on a bike?

[midibiker]

Hi,

This might be a silly question but can you use different hub spoke sizes on a bike? . The reason why I am asking is because I can't find a matching pair of hub spoke sizes for 26" wheels.

Could I use a 32F and a 36R together, or a 36F and 32R etc...

Are there any implications etc to what I am asking?

Thanks

midibiker

 

[RickTheUncivil]

Do what you like, more spokes is a bit heavier and techically stronger. As long as the rim and hub match it's easy.

That title confused me, spoke count is different to spoke size, that's a whole different conversation. There are different thicknesses and spoke length is a bit of a pit of dispair for some (And yes, different spoke counts will end up in slightly different spoke lengths.)

 

[jimo746]

Do you mean different numbers of spokes? On the front/rear wheels?
yes you can, as long as the hub & rim spoke holes match.
Eg 32 spoke rim & 32 spoke hub.
Some people used to use a 28 spoke front wheel, and a 32 or even 36 spoke rear wheel, for better strength in the rear wheel.

 

[midibiker]

Do you mean different numbers of spokes? On the front/rear wheels?
yes you can, as long as the hub & rim spoke holes match.
Eg 32 spoke rim & 32 spoke hub.
Some people used to use a 28 spoke front wheel, and a 32 or even 36 spoke rear wheel, for better strength in the rear wheel.

Hi Jimo746,

Yes that is what I mean as I am finding it difficult to find matching hubs spoke numbers, and I was wondering if you can use a 32HF and a 36HR together.

Thanks
midibiker

 

[midibiker]

Do what you like, more spokes is a bit heavier and techically stronger. As long as the rim and hub match it's easy.

That title confused me, spoke count is different to spoke size, that's a whole different conversation. There are different thicknesses and spoke length is a bit of a pit of dispair for some (And yes, different spoke counts will end up in slightly different spoke lengths.)

Hi Rick,

That will make things easier for me as trying to find a matching pair of retro hubs is not so easy.

Thanks
midibiker

 

[ishaw]

I remember a time when people deliberately ran different spoke counts on wheels, tended to be 32h front, 36r.

Modern wheel sets are often this way too, 24 on the front 28 on the rear for example (I think that's what my fulcrums are anyway).

 

[RickTheUncivil]

At one point I ended up with a 36 front and a 32 rear and my mates used to take the pi$$ because they could see no reason for a stronger front than rear.
(It was because I could only get a 36H front disc hub and didn't want to build a new rear wheel too)

 

[DrGooGoo]

A lot of modern BMX bikes are built more spokes in the rear wheel than the front.

 

[midibiker]

I remember a time when people deliberately ran different spoke counts on wheels, tended to be 32h front, 36r.

Modern wheel sets are often this way too, 24 on the front 28 on the rear for example (I think that's what my fulcrums are anyway).

I wouldn't mind a setup of 32/36 as I think that it would make sense to have more spokes on the back of the bike.

 

[midibiker]

At one point I ended up with a 36 front and a 32 rear and my mates used to take the pi$$ because they could see no reason for a stronger front than rear.
(It was because I could only get a 36H front disc hub and didn't want to build a new rear wheel too)

That's the dilemma that I keep finding. Most of the front hubs appear to have more holes than the rear.

Could this be due to the fact that more manufacturers were beefing up their front hubs because of the dawning of front suspension?