Topic: Wheels and history

[beemerbum]

I bought a K7 750 that had a DID aluminum rim on the back. An old time Honda dealer service manager told me that in '77 and '78, Honda would ship some SOHC 750's with aluminum wheels as these were used on the 750A and  the demise of the SOHC bike was on the horizon. I think the alloy rims also were on the Wing at that time and DID no longer produced the steel rims for Honda. Is this true?

[jlh3rd]

Not showing in the parts book for U.S. imports, k7... but the f models show a”comstar” wheel I think it was called......
But as far back as the 69’s guys were putting different wheels and tires such as 16 inch wheels and big tires on the back of 750’s..Heck, look at what guy’s on here are doing to those stock Honda bikes. Amazing to me actually... so your bike could and probably is a modified,but I’m sure, a bolt on wheel, but not factory from Japan....
I can’t answer for the service manager, but stories do get embellished with the years..
    And I can get a new DID stamped wheel for my 75 550 today if I want it, I don’t know if it’s made by them....

[Stev-o]

Highly doubt it.  Even if the SOHC 750 was nearing the end of it's run, Honda still would have to have a supply of parts to keep it's customers happy.
Some OEM Honda parts are still available today, 40 years later.

And DID is still making rims...

[Bankerdanny]

The 750A did come with the same aluminum rims as the GoldWing (aluminum front and rear). However, I can't see the factory selling a bike with mismatched wheels. It is more likely that the wheel on your bike was put on by a former owner.

[beemerbum]

I agree that a bike with mis-matched wheels would not be attractive if sold as new. I don't know the complete history of my bike as to when the back wheel was switched. On the other hand, I have now obtained a 750A front wheel that matches. The shouldered alloy rims look a lot better than the chrome stock units. likely an improvement in the unsprung weight department.