Topic: CB550 wheel rebuilds

[Two_Wheel_Tuesday]

Hi all, new here to the forum, don't even have pics of the bike up yet!  But, I'm already dreaming of the build up for the winter!  I had a mint 350 in college that I blew the cylinder in and sold it before I knew what I had...so I'm back in the saddle again...

I bought a non-running cb550k this summer, $400!  And it was pretty clean, minimal rust and a great starter project.  And as all projects go...I'm lookin' at doing more to it!  She's running now and quite fast.  Jetted the carbs to 177.5's and still workin' on the lower end of the throttle...she's a bit scary above 6 grand!  The posts on the 650 cam swaps are great!  I hope I can garner enough knowledge to help others out too someday!

So all this brings me to the point of new wheels.  I'm looking for a little more rubber below me and since I used to build up bike wheels (pedal) as a profession, I wanted to give it a try on the new bike.

The stock rims are 19 front and 18 rear.  I was wondering if anyone has done a wheel rebuild here for front or rear to maximize the tire size under the bike without changing the rid height too much.  Recommendations would be great.  I have seen some threads for Harley rims 17" I think. (Confirmation?) 

I'm wanting to do a good mix front and rear, going larger on both.  So Rim width is also a consideration.  I have read the other threads and looked into the DID rims, but did not find any in the above sizes still for sale.

Considerations:
Aluminum if possible for lighter weight
maximize performance size, 130-150 possible inside the rear swing arm?
front 17"?  Possibly move the rear wheel to the front...though it's steel...
I could move the new rear tire to the front to fit on it then...

It's interesting but probably not necessary for this thread:
Will be converting the front brake to dual caliper
650 cam this year, and possibly going to a bigger displacement next year as the mechanics progresses.

Now I know I should have been posting here earlier!
 

[Sporkfly]

177.5s?! Your plugs must hate you!

I'll watch this, I'm tackling my wheels (and engine, and electrics, and steering stem bearings, and all that other good stuff) this winter as well

[tsflstb]

http://www.buchananspokes.net/products/excel_dimpled_aluminum_rims.asp

You'd probably want a WM4 front/WM6 rear rim to run some 17" modern sport tires (120 front/160 rear).  I don't know if those widths will rub on the 550's fork or swingarm.  It might turn into a bigger project than just wheels at that point, but would be cool to see.

[Two_Wheel_Tuesday]

Thanks for the info.  I did a calc that said the 150/160 would be the right size.  Any recomendations on where to get rims and what tires are good at that size.  I bought a set of Avon's this summer, they seem fine...when I bought them I was just going for price to get the bike back on the road.

[Two_Wheel_Tuesday]

177.5s?! Your plugs must hate you!

Yeah, well I was running a set of 120's!  The bike ran fine in the 6+ grand range, a little bogged but not too bad.  With the new filters on the rear, the low end shows to be a little lean, but she takes off like a rocket! 

Interestingly the needles were what Honda stocked for the CB500 in the same year, and as set by the factory, the clip was in #2.  When I put on the new filters and 120's, I moved up the clip to #1, the bike felt like it was bogging in the mid-throttle.  When I took the carbs apart to look the #2 had lost the jet-needles into the bowl...so that was the bogging.  It's going to take a bit more playing with to get it just right, but it goes from 75-95 in about 1/2 a tractor-trailer length!  (Didn't mean to do it honest !)

I'll put some more info up when I get it, and thanks for the look!

[mrbreeze]

I never even heard of 177.5's....you sure that ain't a typo?