CB77 Rim and Spoke kit from Singapore on Ebay....Any good?

gltrench · Post by **gltrench** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 12:54 am

I"m sure you all have seen these kits on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/_Motorcy ... 240%3A1318

The price is right, but are they any good? Has anyone thrown the dice on these?

-Gabe

rbaselt · Post by **rbaselt** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 10:16 am

They are useable, but you will be much happier with restored originals for several reasons. One is that original replated rims look better and add value to the bike. More importantly, the repro spokes are thicker and difficult to lace up, sometimes they need to bend slightly to fit. Replate your originals (I prefer nickel-plating, zinc looks dull and chalky after a few months) and they will drop right into place and the lacing job goes smoothly.
Randall

e3steve · Post by **e3steve** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 4:34 pm

I bought the rims (Union Cycle) and chrome spokes/nipples; the rims are very nicely finished and will be imperceptible from OEM, to the untrained eye, for a daily rider. They won't pass muster for a show bike though, I have to admit.

The chrome spokes are identical in gauge to my tired-looking OEMs at 3.5mm.

rbaselt · Post by **rbaselt** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 7:04 pm

The OEM spokes on my bikes are double-butted, being thicker (3.6mm) at the ends than in the middle (3.3mm). Because the repro spokes have the same thickness all along their length, they can bind during installation, in my experience. Also, they are thicker at the head. I had to drill out the holes in the hub slightly to accomodate them, and the the spokes that lie on the outside of the hub did not like making that acute angle and often had to be persuaded by bending. Altogether, not a pleasant wheel-lacing experience. --Randall

e3steve · Post by **e3steve** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 1:18 am

Just tried a chrome spoke in one of my replacement (but not new) hubs, which I have had polished but aren't lacquered yet; they appear to pass, unimpeded, all the way. The hubs were cut from a pair of well-rusty original wheels.

My original, and apparently untouched, wheels have (zinc plated?) spokes that are of uniform gauge.

I think OEM rims & spokes were possibly DID (LM?); I've seen these on eBay but they are usually of a much higher price.

I'll chuck in my more-informed two-penneth once I actually start lacing & building, but that's my observation to date.