Topic: Lester Wheels questions

[Garage_guy_chris]

Well i just got a set of Lesters and I have a few things to confirm and a few questions regarding them:

This is what i have figured out by reading about 25 threads, correct me if im wrong:

- It seems they only ever made Lesters for CB500/550 (hub #20100) , CB750 (hub #20200), GL1000 ( ? ? ? ? ) 

- Within these applications there are a few variations with size and rear brake
     -18" or 19" front
     -16" or 18", disc or drum brake.

- Came in two styles
     - standard - spokes all black
     - Highlighted - edges of spokes raw

Questions:

- The TL stamped next to the size seems to indicate tubeless can these truely be run tubeless with an appropriate TL (tubeless) tire? (mine despite TL on both rim and tire seem to have tubes)

- If you can and do run them Tubeless do you need any special valve stems? or are they a standard thing any bike shop should have? (every bike I have owned has needed tubes)

- What is the proper finish for the raw aluminum area's?
     - Machined, Polished?

- For the painted area's what is the appropriate black
     - Gloss, Semi gloss, satin, matte?
     - Any metallic or anything in there?

- How is the paint laid out originally, whats painted and whats not?
     - Maybe someone could post some pictures of some original ones

- Are there any problems or new challenges converting front Lesters to dual disc brakes?

- Anyone ever done a pair in gold? Its just a thought as to match my bike although I think Im likely to keep them original thus black
     -Pics Please!

[Retro Rocket]

Chris, if you are only talking Honda then ignore this but, Lesters were made for every major Japanese manufacturer. 

[Don R]

 I pinned the speedo drive to the hub, mine didn't have flats on it.

[Garage_guy_chris]

Chris, if you are only talking Honda then ignore this but, Lesters were made for every major Japanese manufacturer. 

Yes im only considering Honda, Your right they did make them for other manufactures

[slikwilli420]

There were also various hub configurations for early/late 750 as well a 4 hole version for cb400. They're was also the later model that had the intermittent groove around the perimeter as opposed to the continuous groove of earlier versions.

[Powderman]

The edges were finished by machine after they were painted. None that I know of came with polished edges. Paint was a semi gloss, probably a 55% gloss range. The Lester has the same bolt pattern hub as a CB750 or Ducati or some other makes, stock CB750 rotors will bolt right up.

Here's another thread on Lesters.

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=73893.0

[Roach Carver]

I run mine tubeless. You do have to buy a bolt in valve stem. I picked mine up at an old Harley shop

[Powderman]

I meant to post this in the last reply. Though not Lesters, but my Kimtabs that I just did in Metallic Sun Gold.

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Gold with a silver ring

[Retro Rocket]

Those bloody handlebars are driving me nuts Jerry, put some bloody superbike bars on it , even for the unfinished pics...

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

LMAO. Just a start. Get it running properly then I'll start modifying. Bars, modern front end, hoop and café seat, etc. 

[scottly]

- The TL stamped next to the size seems to indicate tubeless can these truely be run tubeless with an appropriate TL (tubeless) tire? (mine despite TL on both rim and tire seem to have tubes)

- If you can and do run them Tubeless do you need any special valve stems? or are they a standard thing any bike shop should have? (every bike I have owned has needed tubes)

I can't speak for Lesters, but my Morris wheels are stamped TL, and have the raised inside bead, although I've seen rims clearly marked tubeless without the beads.
When I finally realized I could safely run tubeless tires, I found I had to slightly enlarge the valve stem holes to fit the currently available stems.

[754]

Has anyone seen an 18 front 6 bolt Lester.. , i thought only 19,s

[nicks2319]

Gold with a silver ring

Exactly what I wanna do. Awesome! Have a build thread?

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Naw, been lazily posting it the "what did you do today" post.

[Garage_guy_chris]

Has anyone seen an 18 front 6 bolt Lester.. , i thought only 19,s

Somewhere in one of my threads i found mention of the 18" fronts ?!?! How common they are or if anyone has one is beyond me.

Id love to see an old Lester application list or catalog and see exactly what was available..

I meant to post this in the last reply. Though not Lesters, but my Kimtabs that I just did in Metallic Sun Gold.

Those are some sexy Kimtabs. I would love to have them so much...  Thats almost the colour im considering doing mine.



This is my bike the one id like to put them on, I want to maintain the original look with the machined area's left machined or possibly polished?!?! and painted spokes likely in the "highlighted" design. If it was gonna be gold it would be the same gold you see on the brake rotor and caliper. Im debating if it would be gold overload or not. Im also considering there value would be substantially less if painted gold over the original black. Im going back and forth on the gold vs black.... help me decide. Im not ready to dive into this mini project yet but will be in a month or two when it starts to warm up.

[Don R]

Those bloody handlebars are driving me nuts Jerry, put some bloody superbike bars on it , even for the unfinished pics...

 I've seen Jerry ride, he has good posture and sits straight up, low bars might not suit his style. I'm a sloucher that arrives with a sore back.

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Throw in a good pair of rear sets........... to go along with the 1000cc HP and I may NEED to get lower...... 

[Retro Rocket]

Throw in a good pair of rear sets........... to go along with the 1000cc HP and I may NEED to get lower...... 

See the bars on the blue bike above Jerry....

[mrfish2]

- It seems they only ever made Lesters for CB500/550 (hub #20100) , CB750 (hub #20200), GL1000 ( ? ? ? ? ) 

The GL1000 hub number is 20300

- Came in two styles
     - standard - spokes all black
     - Highlighted - edges of spokes raw

There was actually a third style in case you missed it (I've seen a couple of these for sale, they're not as good looking in my opinion):

There was also a 2nd generation Lester Wheel that had reliefs cut into the outer rim.
2nd generation


HTH
Scott

[Powderman]

Has anyone seen an 18 front 6 bolt Lester.. , i thought only 19,s

Somewhere in one of my threads i found mention of the 18" fronts ?!?! How common they are or if anyone has one is beyond me.

Id love to see an old Lester application list or catalog and see exactly what was available..

I meant to post this in the last reply. Though not Lesters, but my Kimtabs that I just did in Metallic Sun Gold.

Those are some sexy Kimtabs. I would love to have them so much...  Thats almost the colour im considering doing mine.



This is my bike the one id like to put them on, I want to maintain the original look with the machined area's left machined or possibly polished?!?! and painted spokes likely in the "highlighted" design. If it was gonna be gold it would be the same gold you see on the brake rotor and caliper. Im debating if it would be gold overload or not. Im also considering there value would be substantially less if painted gold over the original black. Im going back and forth on the gold vs black.... help me decide. Im not ready to dive into this mini project yet but will be in a month or two when it starts to warm up.

I have a 19" Kimtab set up with a CB750 front rotor and speedo drive for sale on EBay right now.

[slikwilli420]

Has anyone seen an 18 front 6 bolt Lester.. , i thought only 19,s

I have seen 2 offered for sale. On was here on the forum about a year or more ago. Based on what I have seen with my own two eyes, I would say the 18" front is more of a holy grail than an 18" disc rear.

[754]

I am thinking it may be RD 400 front, they did have 18 for part of the run..
Cheaper 18 front the Yamamag if you can find them

[slikwilli420]

This list show optional front 18" wheels for Suzuki and Kawasaki. I have seen a Honda 18" front, proving they were offered but were likely in pretty limited numbers.

[754]

Its half inch wider..desireable beast I bet...