I finally bought my first recumbent trike, a used Sun usx delta. It's been ridden less than 10 miles, despite being 3 years old. Even the bike shop said there was basically nothing that needed adjustment (the steering as a little out of alignment - otherwise - a great steal!) However, there is one problem.
The previous owner apparently stored chemicals in the garage where the trike was stored and quite a few of the spokes on the front wheel are broken. Others show pitting, so at least half need replacing. The bike shop said it was likely the other spokes could be bad too, even tho it's not apparent, but replacing all the spokes (materials+labor) would be pricey. They suggested I buy a new wheel, but they aren't a Sun dealer so couldn't check on price, etc.
Anyway -- I'm wondering if I really need to buy an entire new wheel or if I have other options. Comments?

Everyone is a Sun dealer. Sun is in the J&B catalog that virtually every bike shop in the country uses. Take your problem to a real bike shop.

The Sun bikes are pretty much made of industry standard parts.
A new wheel should not be a problem, J&B Importers is the best
bet for an exact replacement, but it doesn't need to be exact to
be rideable.

Three or four years back, there was a bad run of spokes that
got into the supply chain for the Asian manufacturers, and they
turned up on a lot of mid-level bike shop bikes, mostly hybrids
and mountain bikes, but- there could be some Sun recumbents
that had the problem, too. Any chance they are just defective,
and not a casualty of the stored chemicals? The is a slim chance
that a real Sun dealer might make good, despite the age of the
trike. It has been sufficiently long ago that this is not likely,
but it doesn't hurt to ask.

Congratulations on the new ride!

Don

I finally bought my first recumbent trike, a used Sun usx delta. It's been ridden less than 10 miles, despite being 3 years old. Even the bike shop said there was basically nothing that needed adjustment (the steering as a little out of alignment - otherwise - a great steal!) However, there is one problem.
The previous owner apparently stored chemicals in the garage where the trike was stored and quite a few of the spokes on the front wheel are broken. Others show pitting, so at least half need replacing. The bike shop said it was likely the other spokes could be bad too, even tho it's not apparent, but replacing all the spokes (materials+labor) would be pricey. They suggested I buy a new wheel, but they aren't a Sun dealer so couldn't check on price, etc.
Anyway -- I'm wondering if I really need to buy an entire new wheel or if I have other options. Comments?


checked out, it may still be good, and a few spokes would be a lot cheaper than a new wheel.