Topic: HD16" back to 18" rear wheel

[dcalvert]

In the process of restoring my K1 750 which has a HD 16" rear rim. Have an NOS 18" rim and I am looking to purchasing spokes. My question is the wide spread in spoke pricing/type. Pricing for a set of Zinc spokes varies some from $30 to $60ish. Buchanan's has Stainless sets from $120 to $130ish. Why is this so varied and what is the best way to go? I am after quality and reliability as well and don't want to do this twice. Any help with this decision would really help.

dcalvert

[gane]

D,Happy to share what I know. 1st, there will be differences in the anodized/zinc spoke sets due to   manufacture quality....distributor....type (whether they are "swamped" or of different diameters) and if they are OEM, and respectivly their availability...Stainless spokes IE Buchanan's are available in different guages (diameters) Lengths (Lacing patterns) and whether nipples are chromed, stainless or anodised. In my experiance, almost all spoke problems are due to accidents & or lack of maintenance. I endorse your' return to an 18" wheel, as it will improve both quickness of handling and weight distribution. luck G

[RAFster122s]

Replated spokes can suffer from hydrogen embrittlement, so ensure you are purchasing new spokes. A hazard of the plating process on used spokes and it happens on many plating things, not just spokes. Not an issue from a seller who is a business, sometimes you run into it when buying from an individual...but it is not a small amount of work to redo spokes, polishing the zinc plating before chromate conversion, etc.

David

[dcalvert]

Definitely going to buy new, just baffled by the huge price swings I am seeing from the different new vintage Honda parts Houses I been buying from. $30 to $130 seems kinda crazy. Thanks for the reply's
dcalvert

[slikwilli420]

The difference is zinc spokes likely made in the orient vs spokes made on the states from American milled materials and stainless steel which is harder to manipulate that steel. Spokes from Buchanan are some of the very best you can buy and a huge upgrade from zinc plated steel. Remember, you get what you pay for.

[754]

Stainless is harder to work with, more expensive material. But it also is  lifetime parts..
 The others are not .butted spokes are usually stronger and maybe lighter.
Butted means two diameters, there is single and double butted.

[tlbranth]

I relaced both wheels on my 750. I got one set from Partsnmore and the other from Sudco. Both are working fine after several years. I looked at Buchanan when redoing my GL1000 and decided they were overpriced. I sent my spokes and all the nuts & bolts to be replated. I specified heating afterwards to obviate embrittlement. Worked fine. Hard to choose ain't it?

[dcalvert]

Thanks for all the replies, I am learning a lot here. Definitely understand stainless is tough to work with! Love life time stuff. Thinking it may be worth it to laydown for the Buchanan's, they have 2 types 7/9 gauge or 8/9 gauge the 1st being heavier than stock. Any thoughts?
 My 16" HD rim and spokes look great just trying to get the bike back to stock..

dcalvert

[754]

Yes measure your spoke holes in the rim, heavier uses bigger nipples. You may not want to drill the holes bigger, which could lead to rusting on steel rims.

[CycleRanger]

I replaced the rims and spokes on my CJ360T wheels with stuff from Thailand.
No issues so far but that bike doesn't get out much.

[Stev-o]

Thinking it may be worth it to laydown for the Buchanan's, they have 2 types 7/9 gauge or 8/9 gauge the 1st being heavier than stock. Any thoughts?
 

I've rebuilt several wheels [Honda & Kawasaki] and have always used SS from Buchanan's.  Why skimp on cheap crap for a quality bike?!

For the CB750, get the smaller of the two spokes they offer, I've read the larger can cause issues fitting the nipple in the rim.

My K3 earlier this year....

[CycleRanger]

That's a beefy looking stand Steve-o! 

[dcalvert]

Okay perfect Buchanan's it is. Thanks for help on this.
Dcalvert