Topic: Smooth vs Shouldered

[Maxacceleration]

Ok, its decision time for me.
I am going to aluminum rims on my 550F rebuild.
I'm going road race style with a CR tank & tail section.

What do you all think would go best on my bike?
Vintage shouldered or a more modern smooth rim?
I want period correct but I want the modern hot rod influence also.
Oh, and 18" will be on front also.

Hmmm...   What do ya think?

[Spikeybike]

Shouldered ,  they are instantly recognized

[754]

smooth, like excel

[Really?]

I was gonna say excel.  Check MCRiders project.  His wheel setup looks really sweet.  If I ever get my own, hoping it to be a k8, that is the way I am going.

I know nothing about shouldered or smooth though.

[aussie]

Im in the middle of this swap aswell, mind if i ask what size rear you going to or sticking to the standard 1.85 size.

Oughhhh and shouldered would be my preference

[rhinoracer]

For my next set of wheels I'll go with a pair of Excel Takasago rims with Buchanans stainless spokes, but for your build I vote shouldered since you mentioned road race and I figured vintage racing.

[bwaller]

I like the shouldered rims, maybe slightly heavier, but somewhat stronger too, this is an Excel. I also went 18" in the front. This combination of stuff is getting expensive though.

[tsflstb]

Shouldered rims look the business, but are probably overkill on the street with modern alloys and manufacturing.

I went with shouldered Excels and heavier gauge spokes on my 400F.  Those things could survive nuclear war. 





These wheels are a pound or two lighter than stock.  I could have saved another 2-3 lbs. per wheel with the non-shouldered rims and thinner spokes and still had a nice stiff wheel.  I couldn't resist the fancy raised shoulders though.

[MCRider]

Shouldered are limited in width, that's why I went from shouldered to smooth on my project. You can't get a 3.0+ x 17 in a shoulder.

Shouldered width is fine on a 500, probably. They look period, late 60s to mid 70s, but only really authentic on European bikes, Japs never used them.  If you want an authentic Jap look, or more modern look, then they will look out of place and dated.

THe bike in my Avatar had Borrani's with chromed spokes. Got a lot of looks. Built in 1972, when all the Euro muscle bikes had them.

Having lived with the shouldered for many years, they are harder to clean and keep clean. They are known affectionatley in the dirt bike world as "mudcatchers" for good reason.  So do you intend to ride it a lot and get caught out in the rain?

I loved mine while I had them. Always got the parking lot looks, "hey are those Borrani's?" So there's that.  But I'm looking forward to not having them.   

Now they'll say "THat's a sweet wheel setup MC!"  Thanks Giga.   

IMHO

[Maxacceleration]

Thanks guys.
These will be Excels built up by Buchanan.
I'm confused on if my stock wheels are 1.85/1.85 or 1.85/2.15 on my '75 550F.
Which are they?

I hope to do 2.15 and 2.50.
Does this sound reasonable?
Will this slow turn in too much?

[754]

MCRider, I am pretty sure XS 650 at times came stock with shouldered rims.
Thats what I dont like about them the cleaning aspect, plus to ,my eye, they look heavier(optically)

[MCRider]

MCRider, I am pretty sure XS 650 at times came stock with shouldered rims.
Thats what I dont like about them the cleaning aspect, plus to ,my eye, they look heavier(optically)

Could be, that's a model I wouldn't know. It had a vertical twin flat tracker aspect to it, and shouldered rims would look good.

Yeah, my saturday afternoon cleaning days are over. I'm going for max low maintenance in my older years.   

[MCRider]

Thanks guys.
These will be Excels built up by Buchanan.
I'm confused on if my stock wheels are 1.85/1.85 or 1.85/2.15 on my '75 550F.
Which are they?

I hope to do 2.15 and 2.50.
Does this sound reasonable?
Will this slow turn in too much?

Don't know your stock size, but your proposed sizes should look and feel good. Especially with modern low profile rubber.

[Maxacceleration]

Just wanted to mention the post ups of some nice bikes.
Thanks!

I think my decision will be 2.15/2.50 shoulderless/smooth.
I have a BT-45 100/90-18" and 120/80 18" sitting here ready to spoon on.
I couldn't get the 100/80 I was looking for. People show they carry them, but not really available.

[FunJimmy]

Stop the train!

You can get the best of both worlds with Akront or DID.
I'm using an Akront 18 x 2.5" front and a DID 18x3" rear.
These are sholderless but more period correct than the Excels.

[pablo78cb550]

Shouldered are limited in width, that's why I went from shouldered to smooth on my project. You can't get a 3.0+ x 17 in a shoulder.

Shouldered width is fine on a 500, probably. They look period, late 60s to mid 70s, but only really authentic on European bikes, Japs never used them.  If you want an authentic Jap look, or more modern look, then they will look out of place and dated.

THe bike in my Avatar had Borrani's with chromed spokes. Got a lot of looks. Built in 1972, when all the Euro muscle bikes had them.

Having lived with the shouldered for many years, they are harder to clean and keep clean. They are known affectionatley in the dirt bike world as "mudcatchers" for good reason.  So do you intend to ride it a lot and get caught out in the rain?

I loved mine while I had them. Always got the parking lot looks, "hey are those Borrani's?" So there's that.  But I'm looking forward to not having them.   

Now they'll say "THat's a sweet wheel setup MC!"  Thanks Giga.   

IMHO

Yamaha used Akront shoulder rims on their XS650. and non shouldered aluminum rims.
stock bikes already came with allen head bolts too. lets not forget the self canceling turn signals...

[MCRider]

Stop the train!

You can get the best of both worlds with Akront or DID.
I'm using an Akront 18 x 2.5" front and a DID 18x3.5" rear.
These are sholderless but more period correct than the Excels.

"More period correct" in what way? I'm guessing maybe Excel wasn't around back then?

[MCRider]

Shouldered are limited in width, that's why I went from shouldered to smooth on my project. You can't get a 3.0+ x 17 in a shoulder.

Shouldered width is fine on a 500, probably. They look period, late 60s to mid 70s, but only really authentic on European bikes, Japs never used them.  If you want an authentic Jap look, or more modern look, then they will look out of place and dated.

THe bike in my Avatar had Borrani's with chromed spokes. Got a lot of looks. Built in 1972, when all the Euro muscle bikes had them.

Having lived with the shouldered for many years, they are harder to clean and keep clean. They are known affectionatley in the dirt bike world as "mudcatchers" for good reason.  So do you intend to ride it a lot and get caught out in the rain?

I loved mine while I had them. Always got the parking lot looks, "hey are those Borrani's?" So there's that.  But I'm looking forward to not having them.   

Now they'll say "THat's a sweet wheel setup MC!"  Thanks Giga.   

IMHO

Yamaha used Akront shoulder rims on their XS650. and non shouldered aluminum rims.
stock bikes already came with allen head bolts too. lets not forget the self canceling turn signals...

But no shoulders on their 4s? I think that's what were really talking about here.

I never knew much about the XS650, but it seems to have quite a cult following.

[FunJimmy]

"More period correct" in what way? I'm guessing maybe Excel wasn't around back then?

Conventional dimpled rim, shoulderless.  Looks similar to a steel rim.

FJ

[pablo78cb550]

excel started making rims in 1958 for two wheeled vehicles.
http://www.rk-excel.co.jp/global/company/history.htm

yamaha started using mag wheels around 78. so their XS1100 got those.

[swan]

Shouldered/Flanged for cafe, smooth for restoration.

[Really?]

I was gonna say excel.  Check MCRiders project.  His wheel setup looks really sweet.  If I ever get my own, hoping it to be a k8, that is the way I am going.

I know nothing about shouldered or smooth though.

I do now, lol.

[754]

I dont really like the very wide, non-dimpled look.

[MCRider]

I dont really like the very wide, non-dimpled look.

I didn't think people would have so many opinions. I guess like on cars, wheels are a visual point.

My Excels have dimples but they sit on top of the dropcenter which is kind of boxy. I forgot my CB750F has Buchanan/Akronts on it. (The chassis came with them when I bought it) The center is more a gentle bulge than the squared off dropped center. The Akronts do look like steel replacements.

Both have their appeal. I like both.

[754]

I am not remembering any aluminum rim that resembles steel ones, the outer edge  on steel usually has pretty big radii. I guess perhaps you mean amount of drop in center, dimples, etc..


A month or 2 back we got to search through a pile if about 1000 bike wheels, had a good look at a lot of styles.. I think we got around 100 or more between 3 of us..

1080 got a few Sun rims, they have a nice profile.. got a few Akronts too, but not wide18s. Did find a 18 in mag that is about 3 inches wide or so, 3 double spokes, not sure of make... hard to find a wide factory 18 inch mag.