xs650 rims

[CJF]

Has anyone used Yamaha XS650 aluminum rims laced to a GT750 4LS front hub and rear hub with success? I'd like to pic up a set as opposed to $200+ Excel aluminum shouldered rims.

[tz375]

Not exactly, but I have used a few of those rims on other 8" hubs - CB77/450 without any real issues.

[CJF]

Thanks, I am looking at the shouldered aluminum rims on Mikes XS. The price is a lot better than any other places I have seen except for maybe picking up a used set on ebay. I'm trying to go a little less expensive with my latest build that is in the planning stage right now.

[Buffalo-guy]

I have used the XS rims in the past on my Buffalos, but bear in mind that the XS was laced to a spool hub for disc brake service, not drum brake. The 18 inch rear laces up fine, the 19 inch front does not. What I have done in the past is lace an 18 inch rear rim to the 4LS, and mounted that on the front. The 1 inch smaller rim also enhances the look of the big drum on the front. The 2.15 inch wide rim accepts a 100X18 tire as easily as a 120X18, to get a good balance and look from front to back. I tried lacing a 19 inch rim, and the spoke angle was just too far off to be right. Hope this answers a few questions for you. Cheers.
Fred.
ps. I laced one of those very rims to my 9 inch Gremica 4LS, for the front of my 73 Duc GT. Works great, and with Buffalo controls.

[jabcb]

Interesting use of MikesXS rim.

Which rims & spokes did you use?

[Buffalo-guy]

I didn't use new rims from Mikes, I used rims from a mid 70s XS 650 Yamaha, which used Takasago built shouldered rims. On those, I used stock, rear Buffalo spokes. For custom fitment, you will have to go to Buchanans in the US, or Central Wheel in Britain to get nice shiny stainless spokes. What are you building? Cheers.
Fred

[tz375]

If they have a rim for the XS1 with 8 inch drum brake, that would work.

In general the rim needs to be drilled to suit a hub of similar size to the one you plan on wrapping it round. Using a drum hub on a rim for disks will not work well and if the drum diameter is much different you end up with bowed spokes.

Surprisingly, slightly bowed spokes are not a problem usually but they don't look right and obviously are not as strong or rigid as straight spokes.

I used TZ350 rims on one GT750 - 18" both ends. The rear wasn't a perfect match to a GT hub but I would expect it to be perfect with an early GS spoked wheel hub.

[jabcb]

Am thinking about these rims for two different bikes.

My green 73 GT250 needed new crank seals & has moved on to a new owner.
He is doing a cafe build that I’m helping with.
The stock front rim is 1.6x18, which limits the tire selection.
He also is thinking about either blue or black rims.
I asked about it in this topic: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=11801

I have the “yellow bomb” which is a 72 GT550 with a period fugly fairing.
Was at the bottom of my projects queue, but I lost the free storage that I was using.
So now I’ve started working on it.
An considering a cafe / street tracker build with Jemco 3-into-1 exhaust & black 18” rims.
Pics are in two topics:
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=11790
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=11802

[jabcb]

I didn't use new rims from Mikes, I used rims from a mid 70s XS 650 Yamaha, which used Takasago built shouldered rims. On those, I used stock, rear Buffalo spokes. For custom fitment, you will have to go to Buchanans in the US, or Central Wheel in Britain to get nice shiny stainless spokes. What are you building? Cheers.
Fred

Did you use rear Buffalo spokes with the 4LS brake & the 18" XS1 rim?
If so, did you need to trim the lengths?