The Sapim Sprint J-Bend is a butted, round stainless steel spoke with 2.0 mm (14G) ends and a thinner, cold-forged middle section – a strong, durable all-round spoke for wheels that work every day. At BoodaBike it is black, cut to length in our workshop and sold per piece.
Why the Sprint?
Butted round profile. 2.0 mm (14G) ends and a thinner middle section – thick only where it has to be, so the wheel is lighter than with plain-gauge spokes. 
Less stress at the head. The slimmer middle stretches a little under peak loads, so less stress reaches the head and the thread – where spokes usually fail. 
Sapim Cold Forging Technology. The spoke is stretched while keeping its molecular integrity – according to Sapim this raises its strength by 48%. 
Wheels that stay true. The elastic middle section helps the wheel hold its tension on rough roads. 
J-bend head, 2.8 mm bend length. The standard bend length fits at least 90% of hubs on the market. 
Stainless steel, black. Corrosion resistant; Sapim blackens its stainless spokes by black oxidation.
Strong where it matters, slim where it can be
1 – head end, 2.0 mm. 2 – thinner, cold-forged middle section. 3 – thread end, 2.0 mm.
The slimmer middle is lighter and more elastic: it absorbs peak loads instead of passing them to the head. Illustration, not to scale.
Black, cut to length
Every Sprint we sell is black. We cut each spoke to the length you order in our own workshop, so a repair does not have to wait for a rare length.
J-bend or straight pull?
1 – J-bend: the head hooks through the flange hole; the classic, most common hub type.
2 – Straight pull: no bend at all; the head sits in a slot of the hub and the spoke runs straight to the rim.
Not sure which one your hub needs? Send us the hub model and we check it before cutting.
Who is it for?
- Trekking, touring and city riders. Reliable wheels that stay true.
- Gravel and all-road riders. A durable, lighter alternative to plain-gauge spokes.
- Wheel builders. A dependable butted spoke in exact lengths.
- Anyone replacing a broken Sprint spoke. On an existing wheel.
Specifications
| Model | Sapim Sprint |
|---|---|
| Type | Butted round spoke |
| Head type | J-Bend |
| Gauge | 14G (2.0 mm ends) |
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Colour | Black (black oxidation) |
| Nipples | Any 14G nipple, e.g. Sapim Polyax Double Square aluminium |
| Sold | Per piece, cut to length, without nipple |
Frequently asked questions
How do I find the right spoke length?
The correct length depends on your hub (flange diameter and spacing), your rim (ERD – effective rim diameter) and the lacing pattern. Use a spoke length calculator, or send us your hub and rim model and we will help you check it before we cut the spokes.
Will the Sprint J-bend fit my hub?
The standard Sapim bend length of 2.8 mm fits at least 90% of hubs. Send us the hub model if you are unsure.
Which nipples fit?
The spoke ends are 2.0 mm (14G), so any standard 14G nipple fits. We offer the black Sapim Polyax Double Square aluminium nipple (16 mm), sold per piece.
Can I replace just one broken spoke?
Yes. Order the same model, head type and length as the broken spoke – all our spokes are sold per piece. Re-tension and true the wheel after fitting the new spoke.
What is the difference between a butted and a plain-gauge spoke?
A plain-gauge spoke has the same diameter along its whole length. A butted spoke is thinner in the middle: it is lighter and slightly more elastic, which takes stress off the head and thread and helps the wheel stay true.
Why buy Sapim spokes from BoodaBike?
- Cut to your length. We keep long black spokes in stock and cut every spoke to the length you order in our own workshop – no waiting for a rare length to come in.
- Sold per piece. Buy one spare for a broken spoke or a full set for a new wheel – you pay for exactly what you need.
- All black. Every spoke we sell is black, for a clean, consistent look.
- Orderable even when out of stock. If a length is not on the shelf, you can still order it.
BoodaBike grew out of Massive Bikes, a Budapest workshop that has been building belt-drive and hub-gear bikes since 2013. We build and service wheels ourselves, so we stock the spokes we use in our own wheels. Sapim is a Belgian manufacturer that has specialised in bicycle spokes and nipples since 1918. From its headquarters in Wilrijk (Antwerp) and more than six factories in Europe and Asia, the company can produce around 600 million spokes and nipples a year. Sapim introduced the CX-Ray aero spoke and the Polyax nipple in 1995 – both are still benchmarks in wheel building today. The company also runs its own independent testing department (Cycling Parts Testing) for wheel and bicycle manufacturers.About Sapim