Topic: You thoughts on 16" wheels used on the back of old Honda's?

[Kong]

I put a 16" wheel on the back of a 750 I had years ago and to this day I think it made the bike look a whole lot better.  I don't recall that it handled much better or worse for the substitution either.

Now I'm putting together a 550 and I've got to do something about the back wheel.  The ones I've got are either blessed with badly rusted spokes or rims and so the cost to go switch to 16", rebuild to stock, or replace spokes and powder coat will be about the same.  Whatever I do will be purely cosmetic; although the bike is being built in the cafe fashion no engine modifications are planned.  The drive will be enhanced with a more favorable ratio though.

So, how do you feel about 16" wheels on old bikes?

[FunJimmy]

Not a fan of them Kong, especially on a café bike.
They certainly won’t enhance the handling of your bike, and a café racer is all about performance, but they also look heavy to me.

Better left to the bobber crowd.

[jesus freek]

I'm not much for them either. Infact a member on here, I believe his name is Clevland had one on his cb550. That is what got me interested and of course I went out and found one. When I put it next to my bike to compare it looked too small compared to the stock 18, even with the 5.10-16 which I think is the equvilant of a 120 or 130. So now it just hangs on the wall in the garage. BUMMER!

[seanbarney41]

I've got a really clean 17" I'd gladly trade for stock 18".  Looks pretty stupid on a 750 even with perfect chrome rim, clean spokes, and an almost new Cheng Shin.  Have not ridden the bike yet so I don't know what it does to the handling.  One plus, smaller diameter wheel will change the final drive ratio in the direction of more acceleration!

[Don R]

I rode a 750 with one Back in the day, The only problem I ever had was when I replaced one tire and not the other. I had a continental on one end and a goodyear on the other. Squirrely. I replaced the other end so they matched and all was well again. That said, If I bought a bike with a good 16"  I probably wouldn't go out of my way to replace it but I wouldn't spend much to get one either.  My humble opinion.

[754]

 I sure dont mind them . It would sure improve the ride on my stock frame with struts.

 I think a 750 with a 110 or 120 x 18, looks a bit wimpy at the back end..

 There was a few good reasons to run them back in the day, they lasted and got more rubber on the road..

[DavePhipps]

16 backs make me cringe and shudder. Personal opinion/preference, I like ground clearance and less rake.  The also make bikes not made for them, seem squished in the back.

[Bluegreen]

Cafe?

18" Front and back!

[thelowmax]

I have a 73 cb750 with a 16" rear wheel and It looks pretty cool. I was thinking of one for my 78 cb750. The styling is different and it just seems like it might be awkward, but with extended forks, I need a solution to be able to put my feet on the ground . It will, however go great with the 21" front tire I'm thinking of too. (in my best Arnold Swartzenegger impression... It's not a chopper!!!)

[6pkrunner]

On a mostly stock bike, the 16 incher looks completely out of place.And with such a large sidewall carcass flex is noticeable. Good for choppers or bobbers. Cafes as mentioned above should keep the 18 incher for both performance and looks.

[Kong]

I have a 73 cb750 with a 16" rear wheel and It looks pretty cool. I was thinking of one for my 78 cb750. The styling is different and it just seems like it might be awkward, but with extended forks, I need a solution to be able to put my feet on the ground . It will, however go great with the 21" front tire I'm thinking of too. (in my best Arnold Swartzenegger impression... It's not a chopper!!!)

If you go look at the voting for the Bike of the Year for 2008 you will see that the bike that is about the 5th one down has a 16" rear and 21" front and I have to tell you, the bike is stone cold beautiful.

[754]

On a 750 I have run 15in, 16in, 17 in and 18 in rear wheels.
 Ilike the 16 and 17 the most..

[mrbreeze]

I sure dont mind them . It would sure improve the ride on my stock frame with struts.

 I think a 750 with a 110 or 120 x 18, looks a bit wimpy at the back end..

 There was a few good reasons to run them back in the day, they lasted and got more rubber on the road..

+1.......I hate the pizza cutter in the rear. I'm glad to hear that it doesn't upset the handling.

[singedebile]

.....if anyone around philly wants to trade for mine they are welcome to (see the buy/sell thread)  hehe, I am definitely a fan of the stock 18.. but I can still see how on a bobber the 16 would make sense.

[seanbarney41]

How come it seems like all the chopper/bobber guys got 18" and want 16".  Everybody else's got 16" and wants the 18" back.

[Stev-o]

My K7 has a 17" and is staying that size!

[thelowmax]

If you go look at the voting for the Bike of the Year for 2008 you will see that the bike that is about the 5th one down has a 16" rear and 21" front and I have to tell you, the bike is stone cold beautiful.
[/quote]

That's the exact look I'm going for. Stone cold, indeed.

[Really?]

Momma's bike has a 16 rear but it was purpose built.  I was lowering it.  It gave me about an extra inch.  I think it looks perty good on there too.

[Stev-o]

  It gave me about an extra inch.

Women always appreciate that!

[Really?]

  It gave me about an extra inch.

Women always appreciate that!

LOL, that's never been a problem.

[thelowmax]

How come it seems like all the chopper/bobber guys got 18" and want 16".  Everybody else's got 16" and wants the 18" back.

They say that experience is the best teacher.  

[ProTeal55]

I say to each their own.
I ran one on my old CB750, but I was also running a 21'' front --->


I think certain builds call for certain sizes...