Topic: Aluminum Rims for a CB400f. A few questions.

[billdramp]

Hey Gang. I am finally getting back to work on my long lost 400f project that I was working on before my accident in August. I am still on these damn crutches, But I am trying to do as much stuff as I can around the garage to maintain some momentum. It's part of MY healing process. Anyhow, to the point. I want to put aluminum rims on this build. But I cannot be sure on what size to order, or source. I have a couple sets of GL1000 spoked rims sitting around, but they are 40 spokes, and I'm not sure the rear would work witht the 400f's tiny swingarm. The CB400f wheels have 36 spoke hubs. I have found tons of Excel rims and such online, but they seem to be for dirtbikes, And I am unsure if they will lace correctly with the hubs. Does anyone have any experience with doing this? What size rims would work for a 36 spoke 400f?

I have been looking at these "CR125,250,F250,F450 / CRF250X     02-04 / 04-05     18x1.85
18x2.15    FD_417 / FE_411" from this site http://www.onoffroad.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=Excel-Honda-RIM-REAR&Category_Code=Excel-Honda

Anyhelp to end this headache would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers from Portland,

Billy

[tsflstb]

I can tell you positively that those WM2 (1.85) front rims won't work.  They're made for a rear dirtbike hub that is about 5" wide whereas the front CB400F hub is about 2.5" wide.  The spoke holes are at too much of an angle to work.  I've been down that road already.  I ended up having East Coast Wheels drill an Excel rim for the front.

You have a few more choices on the rear.  The 8" drum hub is pretty common.  I found a used Akront rim from an Ossa or Maico dirtbike for $10 on ebay.  Just make sure the hub is about the same diameter and width.  You also need a full width (not conical) hub.  There is a trick to lacing the European rims on Japanese hubs, but it does work.



I just dropped the hubs and rims at the powdercoaters this afternoon.  I'm looking forward to finally getting it back together.  I'll share some more pics of the process if it would help you.


Edit...Also the 18" XS650 and TX750 Yamaha rims should work on the rear.  If you wanted to run a 19" front, you could use the XS rims there too.

[agiyo]

Billy, that contact I relayed to Paul tonight should be some help.

Joe

[billdramp]

What about XS650 rims? They are 36 spokes. Anyone know if they would lace up to the CB400f hub?

Thanks for all the help this far!

Cheers from Portland,

Billy

[tsflstb]

Hey just a little update on those rear rims.  Be careful with the old dirtbike stuff.  I outsmart myself all the time trying to save a few bucks.

I initially was using epoxy paint, but in the interest of durability I bit the bullet and took them to be blasted and powdercoated.  I got the "better come look at this" call the other day.  I'd gone over this rim a hundred times with 240 grit, but never caught this crack before sandblasting. 

I didn't see any signs of really hard use, and I thought these Akronts were pretty heavy duty.  You might want to sandblast any used rim you buy.  I went ahead and ordered a new Excel for the rear also.

[Tim.]

Another nod to XS650 alloy rims.  I'd bet they would lace up just fine.  Pretty easy to come by too.  I'm actually running the rear 18" rim on both front and rear as I'm using a front drum brake, so the angle on the spoke holes needed to match up to a drum vs the smaller disc hub.

Stock XS650 alloy rims are 18" rear, 19" front just like the Honda's and are 36 holes.  Should match just fine.

That being said you'll need custom spokes.  East Coast Wheels can hook you up.  You tell them what rims and hubs you're using, and they'll get the right spokes made up.  I ordered my Buchanan stainless spokes/nipples from them and it ran about $80 per wheel.

[malcolmgb]

Stock XS650 alloy rims are 18" rear, 19" front just like the Honda's and are 36 holes.  Should match just fine.

CB400f is 18" front & rear

[Tim.]

Well, nothing wrong with putting a 19" front on the bike right?  Fender might be an issue, but who needs a fender anyhow.

[Barrett99]

Did the alloy wheels to my 400 a few years ago.  I could not locate the front rim (1.60x18) in the U.S. and had to order from the U.K.  Bought both rims from Central Wheel Components (www.central-wheel.co.uk) and was pleased with their service.  Then sent the rims and hubs off to Buchanan for lacing and truing with stainless steel spokes.   Very happy with the results but one downside with alloy rims is that they scratch very easily, be careful with the tire irons.

[DarkRider]

When it comes time for new wheels on my bike im going with Excel rims front and rear but then again thats on a 550 not a 400. So im not really sure what im in for just yet..

[crazypj]

You can get brand new motocross rims reasonably priced .
If you use rears only they build into CB400 hubs pretty easy,
 ( been there, done that, doing some for CB360 next weekend)
 I'm going to use 2.15 x 18 Suzuki DID rims, because I have some.
PJ

[malcolmgb]

If you use rears only they build into CB400 hubs pretty easy,

PJ

hi crazypj, surely a rim is a rim, neither front nor rear, you just need the correct diameter and width for the application.

[tsflstb]

Spoke angle is a big deal on the rims.  You can loosely lace them up, but if the angle is more than a few degrees off the spokes will start to bend as you tighten them.  I learned it the hard way with my wheels.   

Sometimes you can drill the rim's holes out larger or chamfer them with a dremel tool to correct the angle.  The problem with those Excel dirtbike rims is that they are drilled for .343" nipples, which are about the largest you can buy.  Typical is .281" diameter for streetbikes.

[crazypj]

If you use rears only they build into CB400 hubs pretty easy,

PJ

hi crazypj, surely a rim is a rim, neither front nor rear, you just need the correct diameter and width for the application.

 yep, a rim is a rim, but only the rears are 18" (all the latest are 19")
 You use spoke washers under nipples to compensate for different nipple diameters and angles ( I just make them )
Never had any wheel problems doing it, ( spokes loosening/breaking) even though it sounds dodgy it works.
 I didn't come up with the idea of washers, it was a guy I worked with who built a CB350 road racer for CCS competition.
I've only seen them used to prevent corrosion or cut down friction between nipple and spoke heads when using very lightweight rims with alloy nipples ( they do the same thing with bicycles)
PJ

[tsflstb]

You use spoke washers under nipples to compensate for different nipple diameters and angles ( I just make them )

Are you talking about using undersized nipples and flat washers?  That's not a bad idea.  You've got about .060" to play with at the spoke hole on those Excels if you use the .281 nipples.  That could make up for several degrees of spoke angle at the hub.  You'd just have to use some good judgement and high-quality washers.

Sounds like it's been proven on the track too.  Where were you before I gave up and ordered custom drilled rims$$$$$?  Good information though, thanks.

[crazypj]

Sorry I didn't reply soon enough.
 Spoke washers are dished not flat but you can get a dishing block and punch (not sure thats what its really called?) and make them from flat washers (although the holes need a little work because they become tapered instead of parallel)
PJ