Topic: Tip for measuring the offset of the front wheel

[evanphi]

Forget what I said here! Use a straight-edge from the hub to the rim and measure there. WAY easier, and more exact.

[greenjeans]

What is the correct offset ?    I'm about to lace some wheels up tonight.

[evanphi]

What is the correct offset ?    I'm about to lace some wheels up tonight.

Zero is best. It is outlined in HondaMan's book.

[Old Moe Toe]

Why did the factory off set them? surely not just for fun.
Some HD's have off set wheels to compensate for the bulky and weighty primary drive. No doubt some other bikes do too.
In a way it makes sense, if you consider a wheelbarrow that has all the load on one side then off setting the wheel would help.
Having said that though, these Honda's do not look obviously lop sided so the question remains, "Why did they do it?"

[turboed13b]

In theory it looks like a good idea but tires are not perfect and will skew the results. It is best to remove the tire and run a straight edge across the rim.

[przjohn]

What is the correct offset ?    I'm about to lace some wheels up tonight.

Zero is best. It is outlined in HondaMan's book.

As far as I can see by that style hub there is Zero offset. Every standard hub like that that I have done has No offset. I have done conical hubs that have an offset, in fact, Canam has  very detailed truing instructions on their older MX and TNT bikes for this. Correct me if I am wrong but what I believe you are talking about is not offset but centering. The way I have always done it is with a straight edge on the hub and measure the distance to the rim, no tire involved. Maybe I am missing the point here but, why would you be centering a wheel with the tire on? The only time I have ever measured centering was when lacing a rim, is it suppose to be measured more often?

[flybox1]

^^^+1
Needs to be done with tire off, or you are including tire inconsistencies with your measurement.
Better with a dial gauge, mounted to the truing stand.

[evanphi]

The way I have always done it is with a straight edge on the hub and measure the distance to the rim, no tire involved. Maybe I am missing the point here but, why would you be centering a wheel with the tire on? The only time I have ever measured centering was when lacing a rim, is it suppose to be measured more often?

Looks like I was literally trying to reinvent the wheel, here. HAHA

The straight-edge way sounds much easier and would be much more consistent. Dorp.

I was going to do this without removing the tire because... well I just don't want to put it back on again. They are off center from factory, and it is apparently better to have them evenly centered on the hubs.

[754]

 You can do it with tire on to check...just cut a straightedge to proper length...

[evanphi]

You can do it with tire on to check...just cut a straightedge to proper length...

I updated my post in my build thread.

Here's that trick to see how much offset your wheel has without removing the tire/tube/rim-strip. It'll be about 5mm, this was standard from factory... but this will also help you get it well centered.

I'm silly. Don't use string hanging over a tire. That'll just be inaccurate. Use a straight edge on the hub about a foot long, and then measure to the lip on the rim. The rest is the same:

Measure the closer side

Zero your caliper

Measure the further side

And there's your offset!

Now you can center your wheel. The distance should be the same on both sides.

If you have a dial gauge, you would set it on one side, then adjust the wheel over towards center HALF the value you got for offset. If you don't have a dial gauge, you'll have to re-measure using the above method.

[754]

 I got that from the beginning... just addressing those that say you cant get a good result with tire on...

[evanphi]

I got that from the beginning... just addressing those that say you cant get a good result with tire on...

Yes I think they were mostly concerned about using the edge of the tire as the edge, rather than the rim itself.

[chewbacca5000]

What is the correct offset ?    I'm about to lace some wheels up tonight.

Zero is best. It is outlined in HondaMan's book.

+1  I have built a 3 or 4 sets of wheels over the past year and zero is correct.  I asked a local mechanic who does cb wheels and that is what he said.