New wheels for my CB77

JSharpPhoto · Post by **JSharpPhoto** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 2:02 pm

I just ordered a set of Avon roadriders (90/90 & 100/90) for my CB77, and i'm thinking it might be the right time to replace my rims. I've found several good aluminum shouldered rims in what I think are the correct sizes. I'm guessing 1.60 and 1.85, but I read on someone's build thread that they were using 1.85x18's for front and rear. Is that correct? I don't know and I figured i'd ask since they didn't run fenders on their bike.

And while we're at it, do I need to be concerned about spoke hole angles in the rim? One of the ones I found lists a 22 degree hole angle, while others didn't specify, they just specified "for 60s and 70's japanese and euro bikes".

Hoosier Tom · Post by **Hoosier Tom** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 2:36 pm

You DO need to be concerned with spoke hole angles. I have seen more bowed spokes on "restored" bikes and some custom builds in recent years. It's like an epidemic of wheel scurvy run amuck. I stick with the stock rims and replated original spokes, but if you want an aluminum rim you better have it drilled by someone who knows what they are doing.

HT

JSharpPhoto · Post by **JSharpPhoto** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 3:33 pm

what are the correct sizes and angles?

Here's an example of what i'm looking at.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ALLOY-ALUMINUM- ... 32&vxp=mtr

cknight · Post by **cknight** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 3:50 pm

The standard rims are 1.60 (WM1) front and 1.85 (WM2) rear. Avon recommends a minimum rim width of 1.85 for the 90/90-18 front, and a 2.15 (WM3) for the 100/90-18 rear. I'm not sure of the spoke angle for the CB72/77's. Just the fact that they're drilled for drum brakes doesn't mean they're correct, as they could be drilled for a CB160, which has a smaller drum brake, and a different spoke angle. Perhaps you could contact the folks at Buchanan Spoke and Rim, and they may divulge the proper spoke angle. The rims that I've obtained online have been drilled for the smaller diameter drums, and require reworking for the CB72/77's. Regards, Chase

JSharpPhoto · Post by **JSharpPhoto** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 4:27 pm

thanks chase, that's exactly what I needed to know.

JSharpPhoto · Post by **JSharpPhoto** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 4:58 pm

I can't be the first person trying to put those Avons on a superhawk. What's the harm in putting a tire on a wheel that's 2 or 3 mm narrower than recommended?

Hoosier Tom · Post by **Hoosier Tom** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 8:12 pm

Those measurements are in inches, 1.60 and 1.85. The difference in width measurements that Chase gave you equals a 6.35mm difference in the front and a 7.62mm difference in the front, not 2-3mm.

Those rims you gave a link to I am very familiar with. Will Herman and John Strempfer (WPH Sports) have them produced in China. I rolled the dice and bought a pair from Will and John at Mid-Ohio 5-6 years ago and they don't fit the CB77 drums (spokes bow). I do believe they will fit the smaller CB350/CB160 drums from what I was told. The old number I have for Will is 781-631-0662, or you could e-mail him through ebay. Good alloy rims that are drilled for application don't come cheap as seen here:

http://www.buchananspokes.net/products/ ... m_rims.asp

When drilling rims for hubs there's a lot of geometry going on there as it is not just the diameter of the hub at play, but also the width.

Bill Silver touched on the subject of putting over-sized tires on stock rims in his CB77 resto guide. You might want to read it if you have the resto guide.

HT