Author Topic: Lester Wheel Information (Read 14704 times)

srook · « **on:** November 29, 2010, 08:38:04 AM »

Lester Wheels:
For the CB750K and CB500/550K

Front:
The fronts are interchangeable as long as they have the 6 bolt pattern for the disk. In fact the same front wheel can be used for the CB750K, CB500K, CB550K, and GL1000 (possibly other Hondas w/6 bolt disc).

Rear drum:
The rears are different between the 750 and 500/550. Inside the brake drum is a hub number. The hub number for the CB750K is 20200. The hub number for the CB500 series is 20100. Both came in either 16" or 18" with possibly a wide (3.00) 18" as well. The major differences in the two are the sprocket carriers. If you have the 20200 and want to use it on a CB500K then you need to get the sprocket carrier for the CB750K and vice versa.

For the CB750F
Rear disk:
I am not sure if their were any changes in the hubs of the CB750F models. I think some models had a 530 chain (75-76) and some had a 630 chain (77-78)? Either way I believe the differences were in the sprocket carrier itself and not the hub. The Lester wheel for these bikes has a hub number of 20400. These came in either 16" or 18" with possibly a wide (3.00) 18" as well.

Tube or Tubeless?
Lesters can be run tubeless. I know they don't have the bead retention grooves like modern tubeless rims do, but Lester marketed their later rims as tubeless and their seemed to be no change to the bead retention area. Some wheels will have a T or TL stamped into one of the spokes. The TL means tubeless and looks the same as the wheels only marked with a T.

What do the stamped numbers and letters mean in the spokes?
Most Lesters have the size of the rim, the date the rim was made, and either a T or TL stamped into one of the spokes. I have never seen a Lester wheel with the part number stamped into the spokes, in fact I have never seen a Lester wheel with the part number stamped anywhere on the wheel. The part numbers were a variation on the hub numbers.
A typical stamp looks like this
T 19x2.15 TL DOT
LESTER 11 09 76

How many different types of Lester Wheel were there?
The original Lester Wheels came in 2 different finishes, standard and hilighted.
Standard:

Hilighted

There was also a 2nd generation Lester Wheel that had reliefs cut into the outer rim.
2nd generation

HTH
Scott

BLUE71TURBO · « **Reply #1 on:** November 29, 2010, 08:55:18 AM »

Great work SROOK !! Very informative.

srook · « **Reply #2 on:** November 29, 2010, 09:04:40 AM »

Thanks, Can this be moved into the FAQ. I tried to post it there but I can't post directly to the FAQ so I put it here?
Scott

Whaleman · « **Reply #3 on:** November 29, 2010, 10:05:49 AM »

I bought my Lesters back in 75 (I think) after picking up a nail in my front tire at 70MPH. Dan

mick750F · « **Reply #4 on:** November 29, 2010, 10:29:57 AM »

Great info. There's an Admin forum for FAQ Suggestions. It's at the bottom of the forums page...it is in the configuration I'm using anyway. You could post it there or perhaps pm Steve...he moderates the FAQ section.

Mike

SteveD CB500F · « **Reply #5 on:** December 01, 2010, 03:33:25 AM »

I have copied this into the "Wheels and Tires" FAQ

Steve

Eydugstr · « **Reply #6 on:** January 07, 2012, 09:24:15 PM »

TY for posting this info, srook! Finally found a correct Lester for the back end of my bike, and this thread helped me double check it. Thanks.

dave500 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 08, 2012, 12:05:46 AM »

great research srook,the 500 and later 550 have different hubs and the brake backing plates dont interchange,lester hub 20100 wont work with a 550 backing plate?unless its the same as a 750 maybe?

Imago · « **Reply #8 on:** January 08, 2012, 08:08:24 AM »

Is there a 5 bolt Lester for a 1978 CB750F out there?

If so, I need it, and would trade a nice 6 bolt for it.

Joerg · « **Reply #9 on:** April 14, 2013, 12:12:55 PM »

Hi,

do you knnow if the Kawasaki KZ 550 rims fit on the cb550 1977?

Thanks

jk

dunlop44 · « **Reply #10 on:** September 24, 2014, 12:41:33 PM »

Anyone know what hub # 20500 fits?

Don R · « **Reply #11 on:** September 24, 2014, 04:11:00 PM »

I'm not sure, is it for a drum or disc brake?

dunlop44 · « **Reply #12 on:** September 24, 2014, 04:11:44 PM »

Its a drum brake wheel....

Don R · « **Reply #13 on:** September 25, 2014, 01:58:40 AM »

Someone mentioned that number on a kawasaki forum but he was asking the same question.

RobbyD · « **Reply #14 on:** September 25, 2014, 03:13:12 AM »

I wish someone would reproduce these.. Good post

Rookster · « **Reply #15 on:** September 25, 2014, 09:03:24 AM »

The hub number sounds like it's for a Honda. It could possibly be for the CB550 which had a different sprocket carrier than the CB500. A couple of pictures would really help.

Scott

Mcwilliams570 · « **Reply #16 on:** October 10, 2014, 07:56:17 AM »

Just came across this thanks for the information. I guess these rims I got on this 1974 cb750 have been blasted?

Matt

goldarrow · « **Reply #17 on:** October 10, 2014, 08:32:37 AM »

Seems like so. Clean and paint

Rookster · « **Reply #18 on:** October 10, 2014, 12:27:52 PM »

Just my opinion but that is the worst thing you can do to a set of Lesters. They have a really nice polished edge that holds its shine much better than the engine covers. At this point it is almost too much work to polish them back to stock. Paint or powder coat. A flake gold would look nice.

Scott

goldarrow · « **Reply #19 on:** October 10, 2014, 01:05:50 PM »

Quote from: Rookster on October 10, 2014, 12:27:52 PM

A flake gold would look nice.

Scott

I agree

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #20 on:** October 10, 2014, 06:20:32 PM »

$297 a pair complete! I would love to have a set for that price now!

scottly · « **Reply #21 on:** October 10, 2014, 07:45:46 PM »

Quote from: goldarrow on October 10, 2014, 01:05:50 PM

Quote from: Rookster on October 10, 2014, 12:27:52 PM
A flake gold would look nice.

Scott

I agree

I agree, too!

Mcwilliams570 · « **Reply #22 on:** October 11, 2014, 01:30:17 PM »

That looks good Paul I am not sure what I am going to do with these rims yet.

Whaleman · « **Reply #23 on:** October 11, 2014, 04:15:11 PM »

I am 100% positive my 1976 instructions for my Lesters said "NO" tubeless tires. I am also 100% positive that I don't know if they are fine to use. Dan PS: I wish I knew the correct answer.

Korven · « **Reply #24 on:** December 11, 2018, 12:58:31 PM »

First of all, sorry for waking up an old thread. So im about to change the tires on my lesters. Seems like no definitve answear to if the lesters should be using a tube or not? Mine were mounted with tubes. Anyone new opinions on this?

754 · « **Reply #25 on:** December 11, 2018, 01:01:44 PM »

Do they have the lip , inboard of the bead ?

Bankerdanny · « **Reply #26 on:** December 11, 2018, 03:13:58 PM »

One of the advertised features for Lester wheels was that they were tubeless. But the size marking on the wheel should include the letters TL for "tubeless"

Here is the markings from the rear Lester for my 750F note the TL after the rim width (3.00)

Also, for what it is worth, I ran the Lesters on my 550 tubeless with no issues. When I get home I can confirm what markings they have.

Bankerdanny · « **Reply #27 on:** December 11, 2018, 03:23:38 PM »

I can also confirm that at least for the 750F there is an 18x3.00 version, since that is what my wheel is.

Korven · « **Reply #28 on:** December 12, 2018, 05:44:19 AM »

Not sure what you meant with lip so provided a pic on the rim side
They say TL so I guess it's fine without tubes then?

RAFster122s · « **Reply #29 on:** December 12, 2018, 09:56:02 AM »

T means Tube , whereas TL means Tubeless. But, that said...folks here indicate they can run Tubeless on rims marked for a tube...

David

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Author Topic: Lester Wheel Information (Read 14704 times)

srook

srook