Topic: What is good wheel replacement for this 16" nighthawk alloy

[chickenStripCharlie]

Hi guys,
I don't mind the look of these wheels, but have found that tire selection for 16" rim is terrible. If i was to upgrade to a 17 or 18" rim, what would be the best choice for me?
I feel like either a donor wheel with its own drum brake, or one where my drum brake can swap into would be fine for me?

The reason I ask is that I see a lot of the rear comstar wheels on eBay, but they are 2.15x18. That does not seem nearly wide enough to run in a rear with anything but a 110 tire.

Current setup is 140/90 16. I'd like to stay around 130/140 for width. Please advise me on what a good wheel to keep an eye out for would be and what size. I'd like to run some dual sport tires on my build once it's all said and done.

Here is the current rim. Thanks guys in advance!

[754]

Chain drive or shaft ? Axle size ?
 If chain you can probably make a cb 750 wire wheel fit plenty of 16 inch out there   20 mm axle in them.

[chickenStripCharlie]

Chain drive or shaft ? Axle size ?
 If chain you can probably make a cb 750 wire wheel fit plenty of 16 inch out there   20 mm axle in them.

I'm looking to stay with alloy rims, not go to wire. I will get the measurements later, but it is a chain drive.

Is there no 18" alloy wheel out there besides the comstar? I have been looking on Ebay and all I can find is 16" and 2.15x18 comstar. The 2.15 seems way to narrow for me considering my rear is 140 now. That cant be right for rear non-spoke options, can it? I thought there were more than 1 option for 18"

[754]

Look at Kawi mags from around 76 to 81, some may be drum , they look good.
 May have to do some adapting.. I mean you will..

I don't think you got choices.

[chickenStripCharlie]

Look at Kawi mags from around 76 to 81, some may be drum , they look good.
 May have to do some adapting.. I mean you will..

I don't think you got choices.

I've been entertaining the idea of a 17" from an early 90s nighthawk.
I bumped another (old) thread in the SOHC forum but didn't get any help .... Do you know if the rear drum brakes are interchangeable between years? They seem to be the right dimensions in that they are both 180mm, but wondering if there is more to it than that.

I know the 92 is a 17mm rear axle and the 83 is a 20mm, but more curious about the brake fitment and whether the sprocket side would interchange (since all wheels on eBay do not come with the brake and no dimensions are provided)

In fact, is there some type of "catalog" where i can learn this? How do you old timers know what fits with what? Just experience?

Thanks 754!!!

[Alan F.]

ChickenStripCharlie there are lots of places online where you can reference what other bikes used the same part by part number. These lists aren't always complete, and once in a while Honda will put a new part number on an old part.

Go to www.Partzilla.com choose Honda, Motorcycle, model year, model, then choose a part from one of the diagrams and click on it in the list below. Scroll down to see a list of other bikes that part number was used on.

As for the 91-03 CB750 Nighthawk rear wheel, go for it, all years sprocket carriers and brake carriers fit All year wheels. Its a 4-1/2 wide wheel so 130 is about as narrow as you can go. You'll need to center the wheel on your swingarm, figure out spacer lengths left and right, mill or turn your sprocket carrier to achieve correct chain line, and add a bushing to the brake carrier if you use the 17mm axle.

To use the 17mm axle, just get a set of bearings with 17mm ID. Find your bearing numbers here:
https://www.bearingworks.com/bearing-sizes/#6300-metric-series

Cheers M8!