Topic: Lacing a cb450 front drum to a Gl1000 front rim. Need help finding spokes.

[starshiplazyboy]

As the title suggests I have a cb450 front drum (1971 vintage I was told by the PO) that I would like to lace up to a 1975 GL1000 front rim (aluminum, 19"x1.85).  I called Buchanan Spoke and they said that it couldn't be done.  I was told by the salesperson that the CB450 front drum/hub was too wide when compared the original hub and that the spokes would bend when I tried to lace up the wheel.  But, I've seen photos of more than one bike on this forum (Greenjeans' bike specifically) where someone has done just that.   

With information collected through the power of the search function I'm confident that the Front rim and hub of a CB750 is the same size as that of a GL1000.  The only difference being that the GL1000's rim is aluminum instead of steel.  Is that the cause of the problem or is there something about the way a GL1000 rim is drilled that changes the spoke angles and causes this problem? 

They suggested that I buy a new SUN rim and have it drilled for a CB450 hub, but I would prefer not to spend the money on yet another rim if I could avoid it.

Any insight you all might have would be greatly appreciated. 

Thank you for your time.

[Old Scrambler]

Set your sights on ebay and look for front spoke kits for a CL77 big-brake model from '66-'67. They use the same hub as the CB450. I suggest you include the small brass washers that were standard issue on the CL77 19-inch shouldered steel rims.

[starshiplazyboy]

Ok, I'll look into that.  Still seems strange to get a flat "no" from them when I know other folks have laced up CB450 front drums to the same size rims. 

[Dan in SE WI]

Don't think your part is from a '71.  My '70 CB450 (the best motorcycle I ever owned) that I acquired in '71 or '72 had a very nice rotor attached to the wheel. 

[greenjeans]

They can do it.  You just got somebody lazy.  Those guys make, bend, shorten, thread spokes.....that's all they do.

They should have someone there that can calculate the correct spoke length for your hub and rim combo...you might have just got somebody that
doesn't usually answer the phones or something.

They had kits already made up that fit my application.  Can't remember what exactly I ordered, but I'm pretty sure all I did was tell them:  "I have a 69? CB450 front hub and I want to lace it to a 19" Honda CB rim"   The GL has a higher shoulder so the spoke length might need to be a bit shorter, but not by much...

Again - they have all the dimensions necessary to calculate the correct spoke length. 

Give 'em another call.

[starshiplazyboy]

I will.  Thanks a lot. 

[Triffecpa]

the CB450 came with a 19" front rim.  You should just be able to buy a set of CB450 spokes and you'll be in business.

TR

[Tintop]

the problem with lacing that combination has to do with angle and length.  it is next to impossible to lace a drum hub to a rim drilled for a disk hub.  the hole angles are wrong at both ends, its why they said the spokes would bend.  would possibly require the hub holes be modified, and a rim drilled for a drum hub.  both Yamaha and Kaw. used alloy rims with drums, should find something on ebay.

I had a guzzi rim laced to my 550 rear drum hub.  both are 18"/40 spoke drum setups.  was supplied with the stock 550 rear spoke set, but still had to play with the hub's holes to get spokes to sit right, and then grind off some excess length.  the cause was the marginal difference in the dia. of the guzzi & honda hubs.