Topic: Rims - rechrome or buy new?

[Magpie]

Hi Gang!
Crazy prices! I'm doing a K0 and trying to keep to a budget (HAH!). Rechrome old rims $180 each! Buy new: rear $103.72, front $148.00! Seems like a no-brainer. Just how authentic does a K0 have to be to still be a K0?
Cheers,
Cliff.

[Johnie]

Hey Cliff...I see your dilema.  I went through the same thought process.  I was lucky enough that my rims were in pretty nice condition since the guy stored the bike covered in a garage for 17 years.  Keep in mind if you rechrome your original ones, the chrome will look better than the factory OEM chrome,  provided your chromer knows what he is doing.  As far as buying new, I guess you would have to see if the new ones are the same as your OEM or if there are some suttle changes in the design and markings.  As for me, I wanted to keep the original parts on my KO so I decided to rechrome the original stuff.  I will do the same to my rims if they ever need it.  Good luck on your build...

[Magpie]

Hi Johnie!
It is a dilema especially since this bike has been through the street wars. It may be that these are not the original rims the bike came with anyway - the rear fender and taillight are wrong and the forks looked to be K1. Since the frame was bent it may have all be replaced at one time.
How can I tell K0 from K1 rims?
Cheers,
Cliff.

[MCRider]

Hi Gang!
Crazy prices! I'm doing a K0 and trying to keep to a budget (HAH!). Rechrome old rims $180 each! Buy new: rear $103.72, front $148.00! Seems like a no-brainer. Just how authentic does a K0 have to be to still be a K0?
Cheers,
Cliff.

As johnie says, most chromers will do a "show Chrome" which is brighter than original "factory" chrome.  If you're trying to do a true restoration, there are people here who know chromers who attempt to do factory chrome www.VJMC.org.  From reading the VJMC material, it seems if you go the show chrome route it may be count against you, and you might as well buy new.

Using your original rims and having a "factory" chrome job is the proper route it seems for restoration.

[Magpie]

Thanks Mc!
I think a decision has to be made or it kind of came about anyway. This is not going to "factory correct" because I'm putting a sandcast motor in it. I have the original motor, a dye cast, in good shape, not seized. However a seized sandcast found me and it should be put to good use. I have never seen a K0 that I can recall other than the one I owned in 1969 for a short time (crashed to death) so maybe I should just do a "nice" bike and call it that. It's not going to be sold anyway. I guess I answered my own question then.
Thanks for the input guys!
Cheers,
Cliff.

[Johnie]

Cliff...if you want some close-up pics of my KO rims let me know.  My build date is 1/70.  I also think there are some special markings or numbers on these rims.  Glad to help you out anyway I can.

[Magpie]

Thanks Johnie, that would be very helpful. I have 3 front rims and one rear I can get at. They all have a small oval with DID in it located one spoke hole away from the valve stem hole. One of the front rims also has 185 x 19 on the flat part of the rim. None of them have any colour other than rust brown on the inside of them.
The replacement rims I got for my K1 rebuild had DID and the size of it in bold print on the edge of the rim right near the tire.
Cheers,
Cliff.

[Johnie]

OK Cliff...I will get those pics for you on Saturday.  Have a gig at the animal shelter in the AM but will get at is as soon as I can.

[Jonesy]

Be advised that "new" rims from Honda (if still available) have changed the stamping on the rim. The originals have a small diamond-shaped DID logo on the part between the spokes. The new Honda rims have DID 4.00 X 18.00 D.O.T. (Blah blah blah) in large lettering a quarter of the way around the side of the rim, so it really sticks out as not being original, despite coming from Honda.

[mustangcar]

had the 78k 17 inch  stock spoke rim chromed 150.00, the chrome shop said they had to dip it twice in copper to get the imperfections out,chrome quality is better than stock, in my case you can't find a  new stock 17 rim its discontinued,get lots of compliments on the rim, its the widest stock rim that came for on the cb750 i think, also had the spokes chromed so far iv put 550 miles on the wheel no problems there was a concern that chroming spokes weakens them but i did have some spare spokes chromed for bending tests,tried to break them they bent the same as non chromed spokes,,overall happy with having them chromed,now for the front rim thats a next year project, back to the chromeman

[Johnie]

Cliff...here is the pic I promised.  Compare that to what you have for style of the KO.

[Magpie]

Hi Johnie!
Thanks for the pic. Mine do look similar. The front one has the size stamped on it in small letters.

Jonesy,
I have a couple of the rims you describe on my '71 CB750 and you're right, the numbers on the edge do take away from the rim.

This is  going to a longer project than I thought!

Cliff

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Hi Gang!
Crazy prices! I'm doing a K0 and trying to keep to a budget (HAH!). Rechrome old rims $180 each! Buy new: rear $103.72, front $148.00! Seems like a no-brainer. Just how authentic does a K0 have to be to still be a K0?
Cheers,
Cliff.

New rims are much cheaper than rechroming, less work, and do not have rust on the inside. PLUS you can get them cheaper than the prices you have quoted from Service Honda, about 30% less as their usual discount PLUS they only charged me about $17 shipping for my set.