Pillar PBA 1422 Aero J Bend Rainbow Bladed 2MM X 2.2mm X 0.9mm X 2MM Spokes
The Pillar PBA 1422 is the bladed spoke that brings aero to a sensible budget: 2.0mm at the elbow and thread with a 1.4 x 2.2mm blade through the middle, cold-forged from stainless steel in Taiwan by Pillar, the company that supplies bladed spokes to a large share of the factory-wheel industry. It is a little heavier than a Sapim CX-Ray and a good deal cheaper, and it comes in black, silver and the oil-slick rainbow finish that show builders love. This page covers the Pillar PBA 1422 Aero J Bend Rainbow Bladed 2MM X 2.2mm X 0.9mm X 2MM Spokes.
These spokes leave here only inside a wheel, cut to the length the rim and hub call for; choose the rest of the build in the configurator and it ships from Georgia laced, tensioned and trued.
Design and construction
The PBA 1422 is a double-butted spoke first, 2.0mm at the ends and thinner in the middle, then forged flat to a 2.2mm-wide, 1.4mm-thick blade. The blade passes through a standard hub flange hole without slotting, which is why it fits nearly every J-bend hub, and it is easy to hold with a blade tool while the nipple turns so the wheel builds true without wind-up. Threads are rolled and the head and elbow are cold-forged. The 1.4mm blade is thicker than a CX-Ray's 0.9mm, which makes the PBA 1422 stiffer and a touch heavier at about 300 grams per 64. Lengths run in even millimeters from about 200 to 300mm, which covers 650b and 700c road and gravel wheels and 29in cross-country wheels.
How it rides
A PBA 1422 wheel is stiff, quick and looks the part. The blade cuts drag at road speeds, the wheel is easy to keep true because the blades are held during building, and the rainbow finish turns heads on a fixed-gear or show bike. It is the bladed spoke we suggest when the budget does not stretch to a CX-Ray and the customer still wants aero, or wants a color Sapim does not make.
For the lightest bladed spoke the Sapim CX-Ray is the step up; for heavy riders and e-bikes the CX-Sprint.
A PBA 1422 build we do a lot: 24 front and 28 rear on a KinLin XR-31 or Velocity Aileron with Bitex hubs, black spokes, black nipples, for a road disc wheelset that looks like it cost twice what it did. The PBA 1422 is also the blade we reach for on fixed-gear wheels in the rainbow finish, where the flat spoke catches the light in a way a round one never does.
Specifications
| Gauge | 14G |
|---|---|
| Profile | Bladed |
| Material | Stainless Steel |
| Spoke head | Jb14b |
| Finishes | rainbow |
About this listing
Version notes: J-bend, the gauge listed above straight gauge, flat-forged into a blade. A J-bend spoke has the elbow formed into the head and drops through a drilled flange, which is the older and far more common pattern. It fits almost any hub, replacements can be found in any decent shop anywhere in the world, and the elbow is the part that eventually fails - which is why it is seated properly and the wheel stress-relieved before it leaves us. If your hub has drilled flanges, this is the one you want.
Sizes, fit and compatibility
The Pillar PBA 1422 Aero J Bend Rainbow Bladed 2MM X 2.2mm X 0.9mm X 2MM Spokes is cut to length for your build; the configurator reads the rim's ERD and the hub's flange dimensions and works out the length. J-bend PBA 1422s fit any standard J-bend hub in the catalog.
We pair PBA 1422 spokes with brass or alloy nipples in matching colors; the configurator offers both.
Building it at ProWheelBuilder
Pillar makes the PBA 1422 in Taiwan; ProWheelBuilder is an independent wheel builder in Georgia, not the manufacturer. We cut PBA 1422 spokes from the measured ERD of the rim in hand, lace the wheel by hand, hold every blade straight as we bring the tension up with a gauge, stress-relieve it and true it before it ships.
The configurator recommends a spoke gauge and count from your bike type and weight, and only shows spokes that fit the hub you choose.
Warranty
Manufacturer's warranty. Pillar warrants this product against defects in materials and workmanship. The duration, conditions and claim process are set by Pillar and can change without notice, so ask us and we will confirm the current terms before you buy.
ProWheelBuilder. If we lace this into a wheel for you, that wheel also carries ProWheelBuilder's own one-year warranty, which covers broken spokes regardless of cause and all wheel-related labor, including truing and rebuilding, for a year from purchase. Where a rim or hub is covered by its maker, we make the manufacturer's claim for you and coordinate it; where it is not, we offer an eligible replacement rim or hub at 25% off current retail. Shipping to and from us is the customer's. This cover does not extend to wheels built from components you supply yourself.
Full terms are on our Policies & Warranty page.
PBA 1422 Aero J Bend Rainbow Bladed 2MM X 2.2mm X 0.9mm X 2MM Spokes questions
Should I take this in J-bend or straight-pull?
Whichever your hub takes - it is decided by the hub, not by preference. A J-bend spoke drops through a drilled flange and is what the large majority of hubs use, which also makes a replacement easy to find anywhere. If your hub holds the spoke head directly with no drilling, you need the straight-pull PBA 1422, which is a separate listing.
PBA 1422 or Sapim CX-Ray?
CX-Ray for the lightest, strongest blade; PBA 1422 for a stiffer, cheaper blade and the rainbow finish. Both build into good aero wheels.
What is the rainbow finish?
An oil-slick multicolor coating on the stainless spoke; it is cosmetic and popular on fixed-gear and show builds.
Does the PBA 1422 fit my hub?
The 2.2mm blade passes through a standard flange hole, so it fits nearly every J-bend hub; the configurator only shows compatible spokes.
Is the PBA 1422 strong enough for trail riding?
Yes, for cross-country and trail; its thicker blade is stiffer than a CX-Ray. For e-bikes choose a Sapim Strong or CX-Sprint.
Do I choose the spoke length?
No. The configurator calculates the length from the rim's ERD and the hub's flange geometry; we cut and thread the spokes here.
Which spoke should I pick?
The configurator recommends a spoke from your bike type, rider weight and rim; a stronger spoke is offered when the build calls for it.
Not sure? Text or leave a voicemail on 470-253-0929 or email info@prowheelbuilder.com — you will be talking to the people who build the wheels.
