How to Lace BMX Rims

With a little patience and practice, you can learn how to build, or lace, BMX rims and save money while customizing your bike. You must be able to lace the rims to build custom wheels, but it allows you to decide which rims, spokes and hubs you would like to use. Lacing the rims is a task that takes time to complete, but it is less expensive than buying pre-built wheels.

Things You'll Need

  • 2 hubs
  • 2 rims
  • Spokes
  • Spoke nipples
  • 2 tire tubes
  • 2 tires
  • Axle bolts
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Instructions

    • 1

      Purchase the desired hubs and rims. Determine the size and amount of spokes needed for the selected rim and hub combination and purchase the correct size and number of spokes and nipples.

    • 2

      Insert a spoke into the first spoke hole on the right side of the valve hole. Push the other end of the spoke into a hole on the rim. Screw a nipple onto the end of the spoke to hold it in place. Leave the next hole on the hub empty, and insert a second spoke into the next hole. Skip the next three holes on the rim and insert the end of the spoke. Screw on the nipple. Continue inserting spokes in this manner until you reach the first spoke on the hub. These are the right-side spokes. Twist the hub clockwise to tighten the spokes.

    • 3

      Turn the wheel over and insert a spoke into the first empty spoke hole on the right side of the valve hole. Push the other end of the spoke into a hole on the rim right beside the first spoke. Screw a nipple onto the end of the spoke to hold it in place. Insert a spoke into the next empty hole on the hub and insert it beside the second spoke on the rim, leaving two empty holes between the spokes. Screw on the nipple. Continue inserting spokes in this manner until you reach the first spoke on the hub. These are the left-side spokes.

    • 4

      Flip the wheel over and turn the hub clockwise to tighten the spokes. Insert a spoke into an empty hole on the inside of the hub. Cross the spokes over the top of a right side spoke and under a right side spoke. Insert it in the spoke hole next to the last set of spokes inserted in the rim and secure it with a nipple. Put a spoke into each hole on the inside of the hub and insert it in the rim in a similar manner to form a criss-cross pattern. Turn the wheel over and repeat to insert the spokes on the opposite side of the wheel.

    • 5

      Repeat the steps to lace the other rim.

    • 6

      Place a tire tube and tire on each rim. Inflate the tires to the pressure stated on the sidewall. Place the tires on the bike and secure with axle bolts.