Topic: Reverse Comstar Swap

[raymond10078]

I have a 78A - and I don't like the Comstars so much.  I had thought about painting them black - as I do like the Reverse Comstar look that was introduced in 1979 - that was painted black.  Then, after doing some research, I found that the 1979 CB650 17" (rear) and 19" (front) wheels should be a good swap candidate for the 78A.

Just pulled the rear wheel today, and found that to do this part of the swap:

• The CB650 rear brake panel will swap.
• The CB650 wheel/bearings will swap.
• The CB650 drive hub and spacer do NOT swap.

If the CB750A hub and spacer (the spacer between drive hub and wheel bearing) is used - along with the spacers (between the brake panel/drive hub and the swingarm), and the axle, the rear wheel will bolt up, and all spacing/sprocket alignment will be unchanged.  The down side - now I've got to paint the drive hub to match the wheel and brake panel before I can complete the swap.   

Based on what I've found so far, the front wheel (and speedometer drive) should bolt up completely.  I'll report this swap later as it happens.

 

[Terry in Australia]

Good work mate, make sure you post some pics when it's done. Cheers, Terry.

[chickenman_26]

I have a 78A - and I don't like the Comstars so much.  I had thought about painting them black - as I do like the Reverse Comstar look that was introduced in 1979 - that was painted black.  Then, after doing some research, I found that the 1979 CB650 17" (rear) and 19" (front) wheels should be a good swap candidate for the 78A.

It might prove to be quicker and a lot less hassle to just paint them.
I'd like to install a set of Comstars on my '77, but not for the looks. I'd just like to be able to take long trips with only a plug kit and compressor in tow, rather than tire levers, tube patch kit, and the need to pull the wheel and break the bead to repair a puncture. I'm running tubeless tires w/tubes, and the bead is very hard to break compared to some old skool tires like the IRC GS11. Easy enough in the shop, but not on the side of the road in some God forsaken place.

Stu

[raymond10078]

I considered the option to paint my existing wheels - but decided against it.  I wanted to keep the silver "rim", with the black spokes. I also like the silver "trim" that is on each spoke.  I've seen pics of others that have painted the "normal" Comstars, and just wasn't impressed - not the look I wanted.  A stock Reverse Comstar just looks better (to me) than a painted normal Comstar.

The 79 CB650 rear wheel is for tube tires - later years of 19" front Reverse Comstars are for tubeless tires.  As far as I know the 79 CB650 rear wheel is the only 17" Reverse Comstar version available (in 80 they went to 16" rears).  I'm not against changing tire sizes - but my rear tire is fairly new (less than 500 miles on it), so I'm sticking with a 17" rear for now.

As far as easy - I'm not much of a painter - I find that replacing bearings is easier than painting.

[Terry in Australia]

I'm glad you mentioned that the early Comstars aren't suited to tubeless tires. I did run tubeless tires on my 1977 F2, but later found out that it wasn't a good idea, and it probably explained why I was re-inflating them every other weekend.

Later Comstars like the reverse Comstars I have on my 1980 CX500 Custom are suited to run tubeless tires, but the tire guy found a problem with mine, that there was a fair amount of corrosion around the valve hole, and it took awhile to get it to seal, the alternative would have been fitting a tube.

Be careful with your selection of reverse Comstars, my original CX500 front wheel had a ding in it, so I bought one for a CB650, not knowing that Honda built at least two different 19 inch reverse comstars with different width hubs. The CX500 with it's spindly 33 mm forks has quite a narrow hub, so the 650 rim, when fitted with the CX500 discs (which bolt straight on) was too wide to install in the CX500 forks. This of course, was after I'd paid 150 bucks for the CB650 wheel, including shipping from the US................. Cheers, Terry.

[raymond10078]

Good advice.

I compared the axle parts - including the wheel bearings, the spacer between the bearings in the wheel, and the speedo drive - and found the CB650 front wheel combo used all of the same parts.

So . . . I"m hoping it will all work out.

[Terry in Australia]

I'm sure it will be fine mate, have fun! Cheers, Terry.