SpokeTune

Live

Tune wheel spokes by ear — tap, listen, adjust

The problem Even spoke tension is what keeps a wheel round and strong, but a tension meter costs real money and the traditional tap test tells you only "sounds off" — not which spoke, which way, or how much.

How SpokeTune solves it SpokeTune listens to each spoke's ring, measures its pitch and tension, and prescribes the exact nipple adjustment — tighten or loosen, in fractions of a turn — with a full-wheel pass mode that ranks the spokes needing work.

Status: Live and publicly reachable

About SpokeTune

SpokeTune turns spoke tensioning into tuning a musical instrument. Tap or pluck a spoke on a bicycle or motorcycle wheel and the app hears the note, estimates the tension, and tells you which way to turn the nipple — and by how much, in eighth-turn steps. Record a full pass around the wheel and get a worst-first list of the spokes that need attention, compared against your target tension or the wheel's own average. A one-time calibration — pluck, turn exactly once, pluck again — measures how your particular wheel responds so the advice matches reality. Every pass is kept in a log so you can watch a wheel improve over time. Presets cover common bicycle spokes and motorcycle wheels including multi-length spoke sets. Everything happens on the phone: the app never connects to the internet at all.

Screenshots

Tap a spoke and get the verdict: which way to turn the nipple and by how much, with the note's frequency and the estimated tension. (opens in a new tab)
Tap a spoke and get the verdict: which way to turn the nipple and by how much, with the note's frequency and the estimated tension.
The live display shows where the spoke's ring falls against your target tension as you work. (opens in a new tab)
The live display shows where the spoke's ring falls against your target tension as you work.
A full wheel pass ends with a worst-first adjustment list — fix the spokes that matter most, then re-check. (opens in a new tab)
A full wheel pass ends with a worst-first adjustment list — fix the spokes that matter most, then re-check.

What you can do

  • Tap a spoke with a wrench or pluck it with a fingernail — the app reads the note and shows frequency, tension, and the turn to make.
  • Wheel-pass mode: tap every spoke in order and get a worst-first adjustment list, against your target or the wheel's own median.
  • Per-wheel calibration measures how much one turn actually changes tension on your wheel, so the advice fits your rim and spokes.
  • A live display shows where each spoke's ring falls against the target, and a level meter shows when a tap registers.
  • Unclear taps are rejected with a hint — tap firmer, damp the neighbour — instead of polluting your readings.
  • Presets for bicycle spokes (plain, butted, bladed, aluminium) and motorcycle wheels, including multi-length spoke groups.
  • Every pass is saved to a log with per-spoke detail, so you can track a wheel over time.
  • No account, no ads, and no network access at all — the app cannot send anything anywhere.

Who it's for

Truing day

Run a pass, fix the worst spokes first, run another pass — watch the spread tighten.

New wheel check

Verify a fresh build or a new bike's wheels are evenly tensioned before the first ride.

Motorcycle spoke maintenance

Check dirt-bike or classic wheels by sound at the workbench, one spoke group at a time.

No tension meter handy

Get within a few percent of even tension with nothing but the phone in your pocket.

Open solution — SpokeTune (opens in a new tab) Download for Android Request a walkthrough of SpokeTune Back to all solutions

Android 12+ · sideload (enable “Install unknown apps”)

last modified 2026-09-06