Topic: aftermarket rims, wheels, spokes, hubs.

[evinrude7]

always been function over form but getting to the point of wanting to make this fugly bike look a bit better since it's been running really well the last few years after lots of work.  so far my plan is to paint the tank and side covers myself with the help of some great posts/tutorials here.  with the color scheme i have in mind i'd like to purchase some lighter (in weight) aftermarket rims in a specific color, have my hubs vapor blasted and powder coated to match and then have buchanan do the spokes and wheel build.  can you point to a source for rims (brands, suppliers) and anything i need to look out for with the hubs regarding vapor blasting and powder coating?  all other advice welcome.  thanks.

[Doobie]

I've never checked but I'd be surprised if there is a noticeable difference in weight among any of the rims that fit. When I was shopping for new rims, I went with DID but I know there are others like Excel and Sun. DIDs you can find in several places online like Partzilla. Check Cognito Moto, which sells Excel and some others in different colors, to see what they have for your bike. That's off the top of my head. Google is your friend.

[BenelliSEI]

Buy the time you do all that, chase down a set of Lester’s for the same price........

[754]

Letters are not light..Morris way lighter.  Lots of used mags on ebay. I often get the for 100 or less even new for 200.

[DaveBarbier]

Aluminum hoops aren’t really that much lighter than the stock steel. When I took my rims apart to respoke I was surprised how light they were. The tire adds a lot of weight. One reason it’s dumb to go with fatter tires.

They will be less prone to corrosion though but you could just blast the hoops and have them powdercoated too. A fully black wheel (depending on the rest of the bike) looks killer.

[Don R]

 Don't overlook the cb750 Hondamatic wheels. They fit K's, hubs and all. I picked up a 76 fence leaner for $40 delivered, the spokes were rusty but found a new set with the washers for the aluminum rim and respoked them. I put the rear on a 75F hub for a rear disc brake.  I'm collecting components to build my version of the ultimate cb750.

[754]

Check tire weights before you buy, some are 3 or 4 pounds lighter in same size..

[Tracksnblades1]

I've been eyeballing Buchanan's web site too. Mainly for their Sun rim offerings. I should just send my hubs to them like you wrote. Had to do it last time myself you know...🤔

[dave500]

I got dimple less alloy sun rims,anodised not polished.

[evinrude7]

I got dimple less alloy sun rims,anodised not polished.

nice dave. 

[dave500]

polishing wheel rims is for suckers!

[evinrude7]

polishing wheel rims is for suckers!

agreed

[maxheadflow]

Aluminum hoops aren’t really that much lighter than the stock steel. When I took my rims apart to respoke I was surprised how light they were. The tire adds a lot of weight. One reason it’s dumb to go with fatter tires.

They will be less prone to corrosion though but you could just blast the hoops and have them powdercoated too. A fully black wheel (depending on the rest of the bike) looks killer.

Actually, good aluminum rims are much better than the stock steels for strength. They support where the nipple goes through the rim much better and make the wheel stiffer.  Cornering is much better.  I've noticed the difference on 3 different bikes when switching from steel to aluminum.  On my 76 cb550f, i could drag the pegs at 70-80 and the bike felt fine. Before that it would start to shimmy.