Motorcycle wheels
Motorcycle wheels or wire wheels typically use 36 or 40 spokes, of much heavier gauge than those on a bicycle. They are never “interlaced” in the manner described above, nor are “radial” builds recommended (except on wheels without brakes, which are not themselves a good idea). Adequate spoke tension is very important with motorcycle wheels, because of the greater torque applied to the wheel by an engine or disc brake. Loose spokes on a wheel fatigue rapidly and break, usually at the bend where they attach to the hub. When this happens, the wheel must be rebuilt using all new spokes, because even unbroken spokes in such a wheel are fatigued, and will usually break when tightened during the truing operation.