Topic: 17" rims laced to 550 hubs: why cant i find any examples?

[flyguyeddy]

im looking to lace a 3.5" wide front 17" rim and a 4.5" wide rear 17" rim to my 550 hubs (or a kz900 rear hub for disk brake) and i havnt been able to find many examples of this being done.  i want to do this for the availability of modern sportbike tires in the 120 size for the front and the 160 size for the rear.  (150 if thats all i can fit)

is there a reason NOT to do this? 

[Danno]

yes the spoke angles will be wrong with that size rim and the spoke dimples in the rim won't line up right with the hub why don't you put a cb750A rim on it instead it is a lot easier and you have more tire sizes to choose from but you will need to change the front sprocket to an 18 and remove the chain guide under the cover as the 750 hub uses a 48 tooth sprocket but it is a 17 inch rim I have done this as I used to own a 76 750A it is a direct fit

[flyguyeddy]

i planned to buy new hoops from buchanans drilled for the proper hubs.  expensive options, tho!  its cheaper to run aluminum cbrf2/f3 wheels than spokes but i like how spokes look

[RoyCB550]

i purchased a 17" 4.5 rear from a 750A got it super laced to my rear stock hub.  then i took my 18 inch rear and got that super laced to my front hub.  basically i took down the 550 one inch front and back to keep the bike's geometry the same.  after all, i'm pretty sure the japanese knew what they were doing when they made these bikes.  i sent the work to be done to Woody's Wheelworks (303) 936-0232.  now what super lace is they reconfigure the lacing pattern to find the spoke angle that is closest to 90degrees from rim to hub, making them about 5 times stronger each in comparison to the normal pattern.  i'm about to get mine tomorrow so maybe i can post pics.  they also powder coat or polish.  btw, powder is cheaper.  polishing is at an hourly rate and understandably so.  if you really can't find your rims, they also sell used rims.  they probably have a set of  17's front and rear.  they also installed new bearings and new tires.  so its ready to go.  btw, even if you keep the same tire profile, the height is really only a half inch off.  now after saying all this, i must say that all this work did cost a $h!t load of money.  but since i'm short, i need all the help i can get.

[flyguyeddy]

if i can put a 150 on the 750 a wheel i might do that, since i can buy sort demons in the stock sizes for this bike. 

[bryanj]

Why bother i ask as although the tyres are better the alteration in ride height and trail knocks the handling to #$%*