Australian-Made Yamaha Z Spokes
Manufactured In-House by Axiom Moto-X
At Axiom Moto-X, over 50 years industry experience means we’ve always taken pride in pushing the boundaries of motorcycle wheel building.
From precision-drilled rims to custom wheel builds, everything we do comes down to one simple goal: strength, performance, and reliability.
In every wheel we build, there’s a story of craftsmanship, precision, and problem-solving. Some stories are loud — like the roar of a two-stroke on the pipe. Others are quieter, hidden in the details most riders never see. The Z spoke is one of those details.
What Are Z Spokes?
At first glance, a spoke is just a spoke. Straight, simple, replaceable. But anyone who’s ever rebuilt a wheel knows that isn’t always the case. Some hubs demand a unique fit — a spoke that doesn’t just sit in place but locks in with strength and reliability. That’s where the Z spoke comes in.
Z spokes, sometimes referred to as “cross-bend spokes,” are specially formed spokes that feature a unique “Z” bend in the center of the spoke. Unlike traditional straight or J-bend spokes, the Z spoke crosses the wheel from one side to the other, passing through the hub, taking the place of 2 traditional style spokes
Z spokes were found in Yamaha off road models in the early 1980’s. Models such as IT200, TY250, TY350, YZ80, YZ125, YZ250, YZ490, TT350, TT600 featured Z spokes in various years between 1983 and 1995 across these models.
With replacement spokes no longer available from Yamaha, for years, Australian riders chasing OEM replacements had to look overseas. Delays, uncertainty, and a lack of options made it frustrating. Riders and restorers often told us the same story: “I’ve got the hub, I’ve got the rim, but I can’t get the spokes anywhere.”
That challenge is what pushed us to act. After all we are passionate about being leaders in the Australian Motorcycle Industry and passionate about Wheel building.
Wheels are Our Thing!
In our workshop, we decided not just to supply wheels, but to make the parts that others couldn’t. With custom tooling, careful design, and countless hours of trial, we began producing Z spokes right here in Brisbane, Australia.
It wasn’t the easy route — manufacturing tooling, bending and shaping them to the exact angle, making sure each spoke held the hub with OEM-level strength, and ensuring no compromise in durability — but it was the right route. By producing Z spokes in-house, we can guarantee: Faster turnaround times, Reliable supply, Stronger, better-performing wheels.
We offer a full Z spoke OEM wheel supply service, send us your OEM Hub and Rim and we will produce Z spokes to suit the two. Or send us your OEM hub, we will custom drill and supply a new rim to suit and manufacture the Z spokes to suit the new aftermarket rim and OEM Hub.
Today, every Z spoke wheel that leaves our shop is more than a piece of alloy/steel. It’s a promise. A promise that your wheels can be restored, rebuilt, and raced without compromise.
And the best part?
You’re supporting a 100% Australian-made product, crafted by a local family business that lives and breathes motorcycles.
We’re proud to say we are the only manufacturer of Z spokes in Australia. Proud that when restorers, riders, and workshops need them, they don’t have to look overseas. They can come to us — knowing each spoke is Australian made, built in-house, and tested for the toughest conditions.
Because in the end, it’s not just about building wheels. So, if your build requires Z spokes – whether it’s a restoration project or ex race bike you intend to ride, get in touch with our team today.
It’s about keeping the stories of these bikes alive — one spoke at a time.
Available to suit:
IT200 1984-1985 - Z SPOKE
TY250 1985-1986 - Z SPOKE
TY350 1985-1986 - Z SPOKE
YZ80 1984-1992 - Z SPOKE
YZ125 1984-1987 - Z SPOKE
YZ250 1984-1986 - Z SPOKE
YZ490 1984-1986 - Z SPOKE
TT350 1985-1995 - Z SPOKE
TT600 1985-1989 - Z SPOKE
