Author Topic: Rims - How Important is Nipple Size?  (Read 4504 times)

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Offline Imago

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Rims - How Important is Nipple Size?
« on: May 08, 2015, 10:19:33 PM »
I can't find a reasonably priced pair of high shouldered aluminum rims such as Akront or Borrani, so I'm going with the tried and true chrome DID rims for my 1976 CB750K cafe build. I found them for $225 for the pair on Z1 which I think is a decent price.

Question: What spokes look best with the DID rms and where best, (read: cheapest) to source them?

« Last Edit: May 30, 2015, 04:21:22 PM by Imago »

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: Rims
« Reply #1 on: May 08, 2015, 11:10:35 PM »
DIDs are pretty heavy. Why not use high shouldered EXCEL rims?




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2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
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"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

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1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
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Offline bwaller

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Re: Rims
« Reply #2 on: May 09, 2015, 05:19:24 AM »
 ;D  ;D sad but true, mutually exclusive.

Offline Imago

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Re: Rims
« Reply #3 on: May 09, 2015, 07:12:31 AM »
DIDs are pretty heavy. Why not use high shouldered EXCEL rims?
Those are great looking... sources?

Offline 78 k550

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Re: Rims
« Reply #4 on: May 09, 2015, 07:18:04 AM »
here you go.
http://www.woodyswheelworks.com/

Find and old Bultaco the had Akron rims.

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Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: Rims
« Reply #5 on: May 09, 2015, 07:43:29 AM »
DIDs are pretty heavy. Why not use high shouldered EXCEL rims?
Those are great looking... sources?

Buchanan's
http://www.buchananspokes.com/categories/rims.asp
1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline 754

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Re: Rims
« Reply #6 on: May 09, 2015, 09:02:33 AM »
Just run your mags..truer than any wire wheel could ever hope to be..
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Offline Imago

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Re: Rims
« Reply #7 on: May 09, 2015, 09:39:06 AM »
Just run your mags..truer than any wire wheel could ever hope to be..
True, but t just sold the Lesters to a nice fellow in Colorado...
« Last Edit: May 09, 2015, 02:36:54 PM by Imago »

Offline Garage_guy_chris

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Re: Rims
« Reply #8 on: May 09, 2015, 02:10:35 PM »
If you dont mind a 17" rear why not use CB750A wheels



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1974 Cb750 Restomod (on the road)

Offline Imago

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Re: Rims
« Reply #9 on: May 09, 2015, 02:38:55 PM »
Just run your mags..truer than any wire wheel could ever hope to be..
True, but t just sold the Lesters to a nice fellow in Colorado...
I still have these... Henry Abes I think... but you have to have one with spokes, don't you?

Offline chewbacca5000

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Re: Rims
« Reply #10 on: May 10, 2015, 11:48:05 AM »
I would just send some hubs to bucann's and they will send you shiny new excel rims with stainless spokes.  The wish you could get the excel rims in bare polished aluminum though.

Offline chewbacca5000

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Re: Rims
« Reply #11 on: May 10, 2015, 04:45:33 PM »
I would just send some hubs to bucann's and they will send you shiny new excel or Sun rims with stainless spokes.  The wish you could get the excel rims in bare polished aluminum though. Sun rims are available this way

Thanks Cal,  this is good to know.

Offline Imago

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Rims - How Important is Nipple Size?
« Reply #12 on: May 30, 2015, 04:20:52 PM »
Well, I found a set of aluminum Akront rims on eBay Australia. Polished them with Mother's Mag and Aluminum Polish last night while watching TV and I think they turned out very well. Check 'em out...

The rim holes do seem to be slightly larger than on the stock rims, but in my mock up the spokes I purchased from Z1 seem to be doing what they're supposed to do, however the nipples are not as snug in their respective rim holes as on the stock rim.

A question for you wheelwrights:

How much play, if any, should there be around the spoke nipple in its rim hole, prior to tightening?

« Last Edit: May 30, 2015, 04:30:29 PM by Imago »

Offline FunJimmy

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Re: Rims - How Important is Nipple Size?
« Reply #13 on: May 30, 2015, 05:32:59 PM »
You sure got my attention with a title change like "how important is nipple size".

Answer. Really important.
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Offline Retro Rocket

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Re: Rims - How Important is Nipple Size?
« Reply #14 on: May 30, 2015, 05:37:28 PM »
You sure got my attention with a title change like "how important is nipple size".

Answer. Really important.

I knew there would be one.... ;D
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Offline grcamna2

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Re: Rims - How Important is Nipple Size?
« Reply #15 on: May 30, 2015, 07:43:16 PM »
Nice polishing job on those rims Imago  8)
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Offline chewbacca5000

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Re: Rims - How Important is Nipple Size?
« Reply #16 on: May 30, 2015, 07:49:15 PM »
Those are drilled for .28" not .25 which is stock.  The extra space does matter.  Nipples need to be snug to provide proper support.

Offline Imago

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Re: Rims - How Important is Nipple Size?
« Reply #17 on: May 30, 2015, 08:12:30 PM »
Thanks Chewy. My neighbour has a pair of digital calipers; tomorrow I'll measure the rim holes to ensure I get the exact and proper fit.

I did just spend $100.00 on a front/rear set of spokes/nipples from Z1.  I guess I can use them on another build.  :(

Offline 754

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Re: Rims - How Important is Nipple Size?
« Reply #18 on: May 30, 2015, 08:52:15 PM »
You might be able to use washers to take up some of it. When you order from Buchanan so you get the option of several. Nipple sizes.
Maker of the WELDLESS 750 Frame Kit
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Kelowna B.C.       Canada

My next bike will be a ..ANFOB.....

It's All part of the ADVENTURE...

73 836cc.. Green, had it for 3 decades!!
Lost quite a few CB 750's along the way

Offline chewbacca5000

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Re: Rims - How Important is Nipple Size?
« Reply #19 on: May 31, 2015, 07:22:35 AM »
You might be able to use washers to take up some of it. When you order from Buchanan so you get the option of several. Nipple sizes.

I got the a pair of rim that looks identical, but from italy and the nipple is .28.  I measured and order spokes from Buchannan's.

Offline Imago

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Re: Rims - How Important is Nipple Size?
« Reply #20 on: May 31, 2015, 08:14:51 AM »
Chewy, do you mind looking up the part numbers you ordered from Buchanan's?

I'll probably do the same thing.

Did you splurge and go with stainless? I'd have to sell a kidney...

Offline Imago

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Re: Rims - How Important is Nipple Size?
« Reply #21 on: May 31, 2015, 09:13:32 AM »
We checked with my neighbours micrometer, (he says it's commonly misnamed a caliper) and here are the sizes on random rim holes:

Old steel rear: .275 .276 .275

New Akront front: .256 .259 .260 .257 .261 .250 .255 .258
New Akront rear: .312 .319 .320 .314 .316 .312 .310 .315

I was surprised the new Akront rims were different from front to rear.

So I'm thinking different nipples are in order for front and rear?

« Last Edit: May 31, 2015, 07:31:17 PM by Imago »

Offline chewbacca5000

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Re: Rims - How Important is Nipple Size?
« Reply #22 on: May 31, 2015, 10:32:38 AM »
I will double check mine and let you know the part numbers.

Offline grcamna2

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Re: Rims - How Important is Nipple Size?
« Reply #23 on: May 31, 2015, 06:45:37 PM »
When I first saw the title today quickly I thought I was seeing part of 'the Babe thread'..  :D  but then I noticed the word 'Rims',oh well yeah it's important for wheels too. ::)
75' CB400F/'bunch o' parts'
  I love the small ones too !
Do your BEST...nobody can take that away from you.