Spokes & Nipples

Experience the highest quality and performance with our DT Swiss spokes. Precisely manufactured and durable, they offer optimal stability and resilience for every riding experience. Discover our range now and give your bike that extra touch of reliability.

The right spoke for every wheel

Spokes are an integral part of the wheel. They connect the hub and rim, transmit drive and braking forces, and also influence the weight and handling of your bike. That's why you shouldn't compromise on quality when building your dream wheel – whether it's an upgrade for your road bike, mountain bike, gravel bike, trekking bike, or e-bike. Here's everything you need to know.

What types of spokes are there?

Different types of spokes are used depending on the intended use and wheel type. You can distinguish them by their cross-sectional shape and the processing of their ends.

Round spokes

Classic round spokes are cylindrically shaped, meaning they have a round cross-section, as the name suggests. They are also called plain gauge spokes if they have a consistent diameter throughout. This is usually 2 mm, but you can also find thinner (1.8 mm) or – for heavier loads – thicker variants (2.3 mm). Robust and durable, they are installed on city bikes and e-bikes as well as mountain bikes or road bikes.

Butted spokes

This is a special form of round spoke: it is slightly tapered, meaning it is a bit thinner in the middle than at both ends. This saves weight and at the same time increases durability through better load distribution. Therefore, butted spokes are popular for sporty applications and are installed in higher-quality wheels. Other terms for butted spokes, which also refer to the characteristic shape, are double-butted spokes.

Bladed spokes

They are the spoke of choice if you want maximum aerodynamics. Bladed spokes have a flattened cross-section, which reduces their air resistance. They are therefore particularly popular on road bikes and triathlon wheels, where they cut through the air like knives.

Considered from the end: The difference between J-Bend and Straight-Pull

Most spokes have in common that they are threaded on one side to attach them to the rim (more on that below). The other end makes the difference. Which type you need depends on your hub, because it has to fit. Here are the two common variants:

J-Bend spokes

The name already describes what matters: J-Bend spokes have a bent end with which they are hooked into the hub. For this, the hub only needs to have a flange with a hole circle.

J-Bend spokes are classic, proven for many decades, and compatible with a large number of hubs. Because the bend occasionally proved to be somewhat more susceptible to material fatigue than the rest of the spoke in the past, it is sometimes reinforced. If this is the case, they are also called single-butted spokes. But even without this extra, J-Bend spokes are generally very robust and durable.

For people who like to do things themselves, perhaps not unimportant: J-Bend spokes are considered particularly easy to true, as they cannot rotate with the spoke nipple. So if one is damaged, it can be replaced quickly.

Straight-Pull spokes

The second common type comes without the characteristic bend: the Straight-Pull spoke. The matching hubs therefore do not have a classic flange, but must be equipped with special mounts into which the spoke is inserted directly (hence the name). Straight-Pull spokes are considered particularly durable because the critical point at the spoke bend is missing. Therefore, they can be used with more tension, which is all the more relevant the fewer spokes are to be installed on your wheel.

Material: Stainless steel spokes for maximum durability

Most high-quality bicycle spokes are made of stainless steel. They are cold-drawn to the appropriate size, which leads to hardening of the material. This is called work hardening or cold-forged spokes. Stainless steel offers:

• high tensile strength
• corrosion resistance
• long lifespan

Aero spokes are sometimes also made of carbon or aluminum. Both materials are particularly light; carbon spokes also offer even higher tensile strength than their metal counterparts. However, they usually have to be glued (laminated) because they cannot be threaded. In addition, the material is more brittle, so it can break more easily.

Spokes are often black coated or sometimes even available in color – ideal for individual wheel designs.

How many spokes does a wheel need?

The number of spokes depends on the bicycle type, rider weight, and intended use. Tendencially, more spokes promise more stability, while fewer spokes, on the other hand, lead to weight reduction and better aerodynamics. However, this always depends on other factors such as the lacing pattern and the interaction of the various components in the "wheel" system. Important: The number of spokes is determined by your rim and hub, whose drilling must be coordinated. Here is an overview of the common spoke counts:

• Road bike: Since weight optimization is often a priority here, the aim is to get by with as few spokes as possible. Savings are often made, especially on the front wheel, as it carries less load than the rear wheel. Typically, there are 20–24 spokes at the front (but fewer depending on the tension) and 24–28 spokes at the rear.
• Gravel bike / Cyclocross: Usually 24–32 spokes are installed. How many exactly depends on the intended use. For example, if you race with your gravel bike, your focus will probably be more on aerodynamics and weight optimization, so you'll opt for a solution with fewer spokes. If you need a robust companion for long bikepacking tours, it certainly doesn't hurt to use 28 or 32 spokes.
• Mountain bike: Here the number of spokes varies between 28 and 36, depending on how rough the terrain is you want to ride in. The crux of the selection is often to find a particularly good balance between stability and elasticity of the spokes.
• Trekking & City bike: Since they are primarily intended to be robust, usually 32–36 spokes are installed. On e-bikes and cargo bikes, you often find 36 spokes or even more for maximum stability.

Determining the correct spoke length

The spoke length is crucial for a stable wheel. You can best determine it with spoke calculators, which major manufacturers often offer online. You need the following parameters for this:

• Effective Rim Diameter (ERD). This is the distance from rim bed to rim bed at two exactly opposite points.
• Hub type and possibly further details on the hub flange.
• Number of spokes and lacing pattern (e.g., 2-cross or 3-cross).

For wheel building, the spoke length should always be calculated precisely to ensure optimal tension and durability.

Spoke nipples

But how are the spokes attached to the rim? The simple answer: with spoke nipples. These are small sleeves that are equipped with a thread inside. This must exactly match the thread at the end of your spoke. Spoke nipples often have a square shape on the outside that protrudes through the drill hole in the rim. The nipple can be turned on this, thus adjusting the tension of the spoke. In addition, they often have a slot for a screwdriver in the nipple head, which simplifies quick tightening of the nipple onto the spoke during lacing. However, there are also other nipple shapes, e.g., hex and square or Torx and square. The principle is always the same: the nipples can be turned from two sides.

Material and other properties

Nipples made of aluminum are particularly light. They can reduce the weight of the wheel by up to 0.5 grams per nipple. Brass nipples, on the other hand, are more robust and corrosion-resistant. Spoke nipples are offered by various manufacturers such as Sapim or DT Swiss. For a special eye-catcher, you can also opt for colored nipples.