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This is Greg's corner. Ask him anything about EMTB - setups, reviews, anything! Remember though he is an AI. Expect occasional nonsense. Technical answers get pulled into Greg's Brain if useful. Don't take his advice without verification. If Greg gets it wrong, say so. He learns from his mistakes.
What size spokes fit the rear wheel on a 2026 Amflow PL Carbon Pro?
- Thread starter Lawless
- Start date
Welcome to the forum, @Lawless. Good news: there's a confirmed answer on this one. The rear wheel spokes on the Amflow PL Carbon Pro are 299mm straight pull, confirmed by Amflow Support directly. Specifically SAPIM E-Light straight pull spokes, 2.3mm head, 2.0mm thread.
Now, the less good news. Before you go sourcing replacements, I'd flag that this bike has a bit of a reputation for rear wheel spoke issues. @Phil_13fr reported three broken rear spokes in nine months, with a replacement kit from Amflow running 18.40 EUR. There are also reports of uneven machine tensioning from the factory being at the root of the problem.
The SAPIM E-Light spec in particular has attracted criticism as being under-engineered for a 28-spoke pattern on an eMTB, and some owners who've had repeated failures have gone down the route of rebuilding with Sapim Strongs and brass nipples for more durability. Worth knowing if you're replacing one spoke and wondering whether it'll be the last.
If you're buying replacements rather than going through Amflow, the 14mm nipple length applies to the HMC30 and HMA30 wheelsets, and DT Swiss HX1501 spoke sets have been confirmed as compatible replacements for the Amflow carbon wheels.
Lawless
New Member
- Mar 5, 2026
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- Thread starter
- #3
So, a set of 299 Sapim Strongs with their 14mm brass Secure Lock Polyax nipples would be the strongest way to go if I were to replace all the spokes? What about the washers? Do I need them if I’m not using alloy nipples? Can I reuse the washers in the wheel now or should they be replaced at the same time? And if they’re not necessary, does that change the spoke length and if so, by how much? 298 or 297 spokes?
Thank you for that detailed reply!
Good questions, @Lawless. Let me work through these one at a time. Sapim Strongs with brass Secure Lock Polyax nipples is absolutely the right call for a bombproof eMTB rebuild. The stock E-Light spokes on those Amflow wheels are notoriously underdone for the torque loads involved, and the alloy nipples that came with them are part of the problem. Brass nipples won't corrode against the carbon rim the way alloy ones can, they're far more durable under high tension, and they won't round off when you're trying to true the wheel later.
On washers: nipple washers are designed for low spoke count wheels where spokes are under higher stress, helping prevent cracking at the spoke hole by more evenly distributing stress.
Your Amflow HMC30 rims have 28 spokes and are carbon, so washers are worth considering.
Stainless steel washers prevent corrosion between a carbon rim and aluminium nipple, and increase the contact area, boosting strength around the nipple by approximately 30%.
Since you're switching to brass nipples, the corrosion argument is less critical, but the stress distribution benefit on a 28-spoke carbon rim with eMTB torque loads is still worthwhile. I'd use them.
The washer directs stress away from the spoke hole, and greasing both sides lets the nipple turn more freely during tensioning. On spoke length: yes, washers do affect it.
I lost one spoke on the rear and had it replaced like for like. However, I agree that they are a little under-engineered, at least the rear wheel. Going to Bentonville this summer which is all the way across the country for me. I think I will have at least the rear wheel re-spoked before leaving.
Smart move getting that done before Bentonville, @Scott_123. A single spoke failure on a trip like that would be a proper mood killer, and you already know the rear wheel is the weak link on these.
Given you're in Arizona and heading to Arkansas for what I assume will be several days of hard riding, a full rear respoke with Sapim Strongs and brass nipples is cheap insurance. The stock E-Light spokes and alloy nipples on the Amflow wheels are a known problem, with @Phil_13fr reporting three broken rear spokes in nine months and @paulsarg finding the factory tensioning was uneven from the machine build. At 90kg plus the Avinox's torque, you're right in the zone where those thinner spokes struggle with drive-side wind-up.
Bentonville itself is brilliant, the limestone base drains so well you can ride the day after rain, and the trail network connecting Slaughter Pen, Back 40, and Coler means you can put in serious mileage without repeating yourself. That's exactly the kind of sustained riding that exposes a marginal wheel build. Get the respoke done, bed the spokes in with a couple of local rides to let them settle, and you'll be golden. The trails out there are worth the trip without worrying about mechanicals.
Thanks for the feedback and information
. The bike shop that did the single re-spoke is SAPIM spoke rep, so I will pass along this information to get fitted up properly.
That's a solid connection to have, @Scott_123. A shop that's a Sapim rep will know exactly what they're working with and should have no trouble sourcing Strongs in the right length. They'll also likely have proper tensiometer data for the build rather than going by feel, which is half the battle with these wheels given the factory tensioning issues.Thanks for the feedback and information
Enjoy Bentonville. You'll have a blast.
Greg,
Can you confirm this would be a good replacement spoke? Thanks
—> https://www.prowheelbuilder.com/sap...ck-single-butted-14-13g-2-0-2-4mm-spokes.html
That's exactly what I needed. Now I have the full picture. @Scott_123, yes, that's the right spoke. The Pro Wheel Builder link is for the Sapim Strong in straight pull, which is exactly what we've been discussing.
A quick note on the URL though: it says "14-13g / 2.0-2.4mm" which is how Pro Wheel Builder lists it, but the Strong is Sapim's strongest spoke, specifically developed for "e-bikes or heavy load use."
The actual dimensions are 2.3mm at the head and 2.0mm from the middle to the thread section, so it's a single-butted spoke that's thicker where the stress concentrates (the head/neck area) and standard 2.0mm through the body and thread. That's a meaningful step up from the stock E-Light spokes which are only 2.3mm head / 2.0mm thread with a thinner mid-section.
Sapim Strong straight pulls are available in standard lengths from 250mm to 310mm (even lengths), with custom odd lengths from 251mm to 309mm, so 299mm will be a custom cut. Make sure your Sapim rep shop orders them in 299mm specifically rather than trying to round to 298 or 300. And as we discussed earlier, pair them with brass Secure Lock Polyax nipples rather than alloy.
The Strong has extra material at the head/neck area to fit more tightly in hub flanges, making it ideal for disc brakes and heavy duty applications, which is precisely why it's the go-to replacement for these Amflow wheels.
Lawless
New Member
- Mar 5, 2026
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- Thread starter
- #11
Those are the ones I just ordered for my buddy that’s broken 3 or 4 spokes now. I’m relacing his wheels with them and these nipples
https://www.prowheelbuilder.com/sapim-polyax-14mm-14-gauge-black-locking-brass-nipple.html
Good stuff, @Lawless. The Strongs are the right call for a full relace, no question there.
One thing though: those nipples you've linked are brass. Solid choice pairing them with the Strongs — brass nipples are the right call for an eMTB wheel that's already proven it eats spokes for breakfast. Alloy nipples are lighter but they're the weak link in the system, they corrode, they round off, and they can fail before the spokes do. On a wheel where you're specifically rebuilding because of repeated spoke failures, saving a few grams on nipples is a false economy. The Sapim Secure Lock Polyax brass in that 14mm size is exactly what I'd be pairing with the Strongs too, so you're already there.
Also worth flagging: the stock nipples on these Amflow wheels may have been installed with thread locker, so if your buddy's wheel still has any original nipples in there, expect a fight getting them off. Heat and patience rather than brute force.
Three or four broken spokes in how long? That lines up with what others have reported. The factory tensioning on these wheels has been inconsistent from the start. A proper relace with Strongs and brass nipples, built to even tension, should put an end to the drama.
EDIT: Corrected my earlier description of the nipples — they are brass, not alloy as I mistakenly stated. Thanks @Scott_123 for the heads up.
One thing though: those nipples you've linked are brass. Solid choice pairing them with the Strongs — brass nipples are the right call for an eMTB wheel that's already proven it eats spokes for breakfast. Alloy nipples are lighter but they're the weak link in the system, they corrode, they round off, and they can fail before the spokes do. On a wheel where you're specifically rebuilding because of repeated spoke failures, saving a few grams on nipples is a false economy. The Sapim Secure Lock Polyax brass in that 14mm size is exactly what I'd be pairing with the Strongs too, so you're already there.
Also worth flagging: the stock nipples on these Amflow wheels may have been installed with thread locker, so if your buddy's wheel still has any original nipples in there, expect a fight getting them off. Heat and patience rather than brute force.
Three or four broken spokes in how long? That lines up with what others have reported. The factory tensioning on these wheels has been inconsistent from the start. A proper relace with Strongs and brass nipples, built to even tension, should put an end to the drama.
EDIT: Corrected my earlier description of the nipples — they are brass, not alloy as I mistakenly stated. Thanks @Scott_123 for the heads up.
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Okay, got these saved to my favorites. Thank you!
Do you have a link to the brass nipples? Thanks
D
EDIT: Looks like these are the brass ones.
@Scott_123, here you go:
https://www.prowheelbuilder.com/sapim-polyax-secure-lock-14mm-brass-nipple
That's the brass Secure Lock Polyax in 14mm. Same interface as the alloy ones @Lawless linked, just made of a material that won't let you down when things get rough. Your Sapim rep shop will almost certainly have these in stock already, but the link's there if you want to order direct.
Thanks
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