Author Topic: Lester Rim ID - New Photo at End of Thread! (Read 2565 times)

Imago · « **on:** April 30, 2015, 04:23:32 PM »

I asked this once before but I can't find the thread now.

Will these work on a 1978 CB750F, or is the left one for an F and the right one for a K?

chewbacca5000 · « **Reply #1 on:** April 30, 2015, 05:24:06 PM »

If they are disk which they appear to be they should work.

kmb69 · « **Reply #2 on:** April 30, 2015, 05:37:07 PM »

They appear to be correct for the 75-76 F models. Honda changed to Comstars with 5 bolt discs on the front in 77-78.
The rear should work on a 78 F. Will probably require modified, thinner, discs to work on the 78 F. Can be done.

754 · « **Reply #3 on:** April 30, 2015, 05:42:53 PM »

78 For front should be five bolt.

Imago · « **Reply #4 on:** April 30, 2015, 05:49:39 PM »

Quote from: kmb69 on April 30, 2015, 05:37:07 PM

They appear to be correct for the 75-76 F models. Honda changed to Comstars with 5 bolt discs on the front in 77-78.
The rear should work on a 78 F. Will probably require modified, thinner, discs to work on the 78 F. Can be done.

Ah, I think you've solved the mystery... I bought them as a pair for my '78 which has Comstar rims with, (I think) a 5 bolt front rim as "754" says. So these are for the 75-76 F model that came from the factory with wire wheels?

Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er · « **Reply #5 on:** April 30, 2015, 05:59:46 PM »

Yes, my 75 F did come with spokes. I would be interested in those if you don't attempt to rig them up to fit your F. Shoot me a PM and we can discuss.

goldarrow · « **Reply #6 on:** May 01, 2015, 12:01:55 PM »

Up for grab http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=251942707213

754 · « **Reply #7 on:** May 01, 2015, 02:46:18 PM »

I am not seeing the "very nice condition" in the pics.

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #8 on:** May 01, 2015, 03:58:19 PM »

$2500, thats got to be a joke, you can buy brand new high quality mag wheels for less than that now, including the highly sort after Hayashi's from Japan. Lesters are period accessories that aren't as well made {materials/ alloys/casting vs forged} as the modern wheels, if anyone is stupid enough to pay $2500 for a set of Lesters, they need their heads read. Those wheels are worth about $1000 tops and aren't in " very nice condition" and will need restoring, no wonder they weren't advertised here...

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #9 on:** May 01, 2015, 04:33:03 PM »

I could understand someone pricing NOS Lester 19/18 wheel sets for $1K. Those oxidized ones are not even close. OBO is right!!!

Powderman · « **Reply #10 on:** May 01, 2015, 05:06:10 PM »

They price them that high knowing they are only worth maybe $500 and when someone offers them $650, they jump on it and the buyer thinks he's getting over on the seller. Win/Win for both, except the buyer who doesn't have a clue.
Because the seller has never seen a pair like this before must mean there isn't another pair on earth and they are worth much more than he's asking.
Slightly off topic, I didn't think my Kimtabs were worth that, but they do keep appreciating. There is only one Kimtab on Ebay right now at $695 starting bid. I 'm willing to bet he won't get any bids on it due to price and the big chip in it.
This one is like no other Kimtab I've seen before. It has bearings in the wheel itself. Mine has separate removable bearing carriers. It amazes me the price of wheels these days. When I bought my Kimtabs new I got 2 wheels, 3 rotors, sprocket, calipers, master cylinders, lines,etc. A complete 2 wheel triple disc set up for $415 in 1976.

Correct me if I'm wrong but Lester's aren't even magnesium are they?

Imago, the ones you have pictured are the same ones in the ebay listing. Are you seriously considering this set?

goldarrow · « **Reply #11 on:** May 01, 2015, 06:00:27 PM »

Quote from: Powderman on May 01, 2015, 05:06:10 PM

When I bought my Kimtabs new I got 2 wheels, 3 rotors, sprocket, calipers, master cylinders, lines,etc. A complete 2 wheel triple disc set up for $415 in 1976.

Correct me if I'm wrong but Lester's aren't even magnesium are they?

Imago, the ones you have pictured are the same ones in the ebay listing. Are you seriously considering this set?

Assuming 5% rate of return, or wishing money grows at that rate, $1 from 40 years ago would be worth $7 today. So, your money $415 spent 40 years ago roughly $2905 today.

I'm sure Lesters are aluminum alloy

And I strongly believe Imago is owner of those wheels and trying to sell them

754 · « **Reply #12 on:** May 01, 2015, 08:53:13 PM »

Lester are outers, welded to an inner hub.......obviously they did this correctly, and seemingly without problems. Most custom wheels are one piece, or modular construction..
If these wheels were NOS in their boxes..would they bring that?...I doubt it.

Powderman · « **Reply #13 on:** May 01, 2015, 10:09:41 PM »

Is the only thing making these valuable is the fact they were only for 2 years on the Honda. I see lots of NOS Lesters on Ebay in the $300 range.

jaguar · « **Reply #14 on:** May 02, 2015, 04:29:23 AM »

Seller has never seen a set?!?!?
Can't actually be a member here.
I have a set!
Actually I don't own a cb750 that isn't running 19/18 lesters.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #15 on:** May 02, 2015, 07:19:24 AM »

Quote from: Powderman on May 01, 2015, 10:09:41 PM

Is the only thing making these valuable is the fact they were only for 2 years on the Honda. I see lots of NOS Lesters on Ebay in the $300 range.

They are becoming pricier each year. A little patience, however, and you can get a set in the $300-350 each range for NOS. The 18 rear is the harder to find wheel!

Eydugstr · « **Reply #16 on:** May 02, 2015, 07:39:05 AM »

Quote from: CB750 Cafe Racer Fan on May 02, 2015, 07:19:24 AM

They are becoming pricier each year. A little patience, however, and you can get a set in the $300-350 each range for NOS. The 18 rear is the harder to find wheel!

THIS. After it was all said and done think I paid about $500 for mine, with most of that being the 18" rear. The 19" fronts and 16" rear are much more common.

754 · « **Reply #17 on:** May 02, 2015, 08:04:10 AM »

Way too heavy wheels to put that much money into..

Rookster · « **Reply #18 on:** May 02, 2015, 09:26:48 AM »

The 19" 6 bolt front is very common and can be had for $200 or less. Maybe a bit more for nos or hardly used mint condition. It fits all 69-76 CB750K and many other models. The 18" 6 bolt rear is quite a bit rarer but that doesn't make it worth $2000! Maybe $400-$600 on its own. The market for 18" rear disk wheels is also much smaller. They are not a set and were never sold as such. They are 2 individual wheels that happen to fit 75-76 F model bikes. A little advice: if you want top dollar they need to look like they just rolled out of the Lester factory in Ohio not like you pulled them out of a lake.

Scott

Imago · « **Reply #19 on:** May 02, 2015, 12:26:20 PM »

Yikes! Gone for a day and I seem to have stirred up a bit of a nest...

I bought them a couple of years ago thinking they would work on my 1978 CB750F. When I recently found out they won't, I decided to sell them and thought they were worth more than they obviously are.

I'll amend my ad on eBay and if anyone here wants them, send me a pm and we'll talk.

I've been in touch with one very nice interested member here already... he'll have the first right of refusal.

I need the money for my 1976 CB750K build... I'm looking for a 75/76 GL1000 front end which I hear is a good swap with it's dual discs, or some other front end as I want to go with wire wheels. Some Akronts laced up would be nice too...

754 · « **Reply #20 on:** May 02, 2015, 01:12:28 PM »

I have adaptors (if I can find them ) same as what I built for Bert.I think it was VFR? Calipers to 6 bolt 750 laced front wheel. I should say adaptors to mount the brakes to the Future front forks.
He redrilled the floating discs to fit the wheel..and wire wheel then bolted up to 78 F fork.

Powderman · « **Reply #21 on:** May 02, 2015, 01:58:33 PM »

Quote from: 754 on May 02, 2015, 01:12:28 PM

I have adaptors (if I can find them ) same as what I built for Bert.I think it was VFR? Calipers to 6 bolt 750 laced front wheel. I should say adaptors to mount the brakes to the Future front forks.
He redrilled the floating discs to fit the wheel..and wire wheel then bolted up to 78 F fork.

What years of the CB750 ran the 6 bolt pattern? My Kimtabs are that 6 bolt pattern. After doing some searching I found that Lester made bicycle mag wheel out of a factory here in Ga. Found some I might buy for a BMX build I have going also.

754 · « **Reply #22 on:** May 02, 2015, 02:08:59 PM »

69-78 on keeping models early hubs a bit different.
Also fits 450 500 and early GL. Models.

Powderman · « **Reply #23 on:** May 02, 2015, 03:50:52 PM »

Quote from: 754 on May 02, 2015, 02:08:59 PM

69-78 on keeping models early hubs a bit different.
Also fits 450 500 and early GL. Models.

Good to know. That fits in line year wise. My wheels were the last set out of the factory when they went bankrupt in 1976.

Imago · « **Reply #24 on:** June 29, 2015, 06:19:44 PM »

The nice fellow here that ended up with my Lester rims has made me green with envy when he recently sent me this photo of them after powder coating. Sweet!

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Author Topic: Lester Rim ID - New Photo at End of Thread! (Read 2565 times)