Hitchcocks Forum

Dear all. A question about rims on my 2000 iron barrel bullet if you please. I wish to replace the rims with stainless as the chrome has become pitted. Would any 40 spoke 19 inch wm2 1.85 rim work or do the spoke holes need to be particular for no offset? Cheers, Andy.

Hi Andy - no is the short answer, I have built hundreds of wheels and the spoke holes in rims are angled for a specific application. I have seen incorrect rims fitted on some hubs and the spokes tend to take on a very slightly curved appearance as a result, rather than laying dead straight. Usually, the holes are angled to suit hub flanges of differing diameters, including half width and full width types, rather than offset, although there might be slight variences for this as well. Regards, Paul.

Paul, many thanks for the clarification. I purchased a pair is stainless rims from our hosts last year but found that the spokes did not lie true so I returned them. I'm now wishing to try again but concerned about the quality of the spoke hole angles. If my rims were not so pitted I'd get them powdercoated! Cheers, Andy.

Andy, if you get your wheel(S) to either Central Wheels or Hagons, they will strip it after measuring offset etc. then re spoke them with stainless or plated spokes and stainless rim, pierced to suit your hub.

Thanks Nettshubby. I'll have a look at those companies. Any idea how much a wheel rebuild costs? Cheers, Andy.

Sorry Andy, not had one done for many years. I did get the rear wheel converted to stainless rim on my new bought 1992 500, because, like yours, the rim started rusting, inside as well as out, even covered in chain grease!.one advantage apart from non rusting, was that due to the polished metal, a trye went on much easier than with chrome. This probably because the rim inside the flanges was polished too, making it more "slippery". By the way, mine was done by Hagons. You will have to give them a ring to find price, but they may have a "from" price on their web site.

It is quiet a pleasant task if you take it slowly and are prepared to go back to the beginning if you get it wrong. Our hosts almost certainly can provide to with the appropriate rim for your hub send them a pic with your cell phone. If the old spokes are still good and have all undone nicely use them again and save yourself a few quid. This will also determine any offset if you ensure you keep the spokes from either side of the wheel separated and return them to the appropriate spot. Truing it up is just a case of working out what effect tightening a spoke has by setting up the wheel to spin and giving yourself an index to check run out side to side and up and down. You get in the zone reasonably fast in my experience. I'm a novice compared to the BW but I'm on my forth set now and am just about to embark on my fifth. I've also done some 28" bicycle wheels which are a delicate matter compared to motorcycles. Have a crack Id say and you will be pleased as punch as you see them go around. Remember the spokes should generally cross three times. Do one wheel at a time so you can reference a properly spoked wheel. It's surprisingly easy to lose track if you have them all in bits at once. Good luck

Argh where is a spell check function?

There is a spell check function, it's called reading it before you post! 😉