Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Custom Corner 21" front wheel

I've searched through the archives and still have yet to find out if anyone has found a 21" front wheel for a speedmaster frontend. I read that some used the hub from an America and relaced - is this the only way to go? Also, if this is something you have done, could you send a pic or direct me to one so I can see how it looks?

Here is one from the customs photopost.



Someone else has also done it using a Thunderbird front hub which has 2x disks. I just can't remember who it was...

Here's Lee's (Tsalagi) bike:

Don't forget Soul Survivor (Doug Farrell):

I love!! abosolutly love how the 21" looks..

just one more thing to add to my shopping list..

Wife's not gonna be pleased

Just met a guy that did the t-bird wheel re-laced on his BA. Definately looks great but would not sacrifice the handling myself.

Hmmm..a Thunderbird front tire is the same dimension as ours, 110/80-18, but then the regular TBird also has only one front rotor. Must be a Thunderbird Sport hub, because it has dual front brakes and a 17" front rim. Wait though, if he laced that hub to a an America rim, then we're back to to the 110/80-18. So how would that effect the handling?

I think he meant using the hub to re-lace to a new rim.

Keith, who is this guy? I'd like to see one in person.

Well if he's using the 17" rim and the 11/70-17 tire, he's down about 1" on the front over a stock wheel and tire. With this you'd lose some ground clearance, but you'd get more weight on the front end which might be a good thing on our bikes. It'd be interesting to take a ride on one setup like that to see what difference there is.

Like Benny said he used the t-bird hub to lace a 21" rim to. Yes it was the sport dual disc. He also did brake mods but I did not talk to him long to get details (he was kinda....ummm in a hurry I will say).

Benny I saw the goodwood green BA parked at the book store (Borders?) in Riverhead on route 58. I checked it out for a few minutes before the guy came out. I introduced myself but he just started mounting up. His name, Jake and that he lives on the east end was about all I got out of him besides the wheel info. Not very social but hey it was late. Nice bike, lots of chrome, lots of custom work. Brown leather seat and brown leather bags with dangly things. The brown went real nice with the goodwood.

Ah, a 21" rim. I didn't realize that's what you meant.

I'd like to see what maybe a 19" rin would look like with a 16 or 17" rear. Not sure if you can even get 19" rubber? I assume so.

I have a 16" TB rear wheel. I know the rim is too narrow, but I am wondering if I can just get a new rim and use the same spokes, or what...

Here are pics of a 19 x 2.5 front and a 16 x 5.5 rear.
Tommy

Tommy, where did you get the 5.5 rim? And what size tire do you have on it?

If you are referring the the Goodwood Green BA in the above picture that is mine. I'm pretty sure that wasn't the bike you saw. I live in SoCal. But if I came out of a store and found you ogling over my bike I can assure you that I would stand there and B.S. with you for hours. When I'm riding there are no time constraints. I would let you sit on it and I have been known to let fellow riders take her for a spin.
Now...for those of you who want to know the riding characteristics of upsizing to a 21" wheel. You have to use an BA or Tbird front hub, They are the same. The wheel is not an off the shelf item due to the odd number of spokes. My front wheel was laced(measured for offset and spacing of the spokes) up by MC Tire Works in Lomita CA. I lowered the front forks 1 1/2" to compensate the added height of the wheel. Add the 1/2" less sidewall height of the front tire over stock and the bike has been lowered a total of 2 inches. The rear was lowered with shorter shocks with the right spring rate and a low profile 200 rear tire.
The bike handles better than stock. I'm sure you will have doubts like I did. Maybe I'm used to it now. But I feel just as safe and in control as when mine was stock.
Cheers!!

Doug

Benny- Buchanan Spoke built both rims. 200/60/16 on the rear
Tommy

Tommy...You have done yourself proud. I love the look and attitude. And, like me, you just couldn't stop. And, like me, you will never be finished. Absolutly beautiful. I would really like to her in person.
Doug

Doug- Thanks for the comments. Unless your ready for a long road trip. Pics will have to do.
Tommy

Thanks Tommy! I'm checking out their site with prices. I'm not too hip to the lingo tho, any idea what it would cost if I sent them a wheel and wanted a wider rim put on it?

It cost about $900.for front and rear and I supplied both hubs.
Tommy

Thanks Tommy. Maybe I can do one at a time

>Maybe I can do one at a time

Reminds me of something a friend told his wife when she wanted a boob job.

Actually very expensive

hey benny look for rim's on ebay... i got a old school 16' 3.5 from the 60's still in the box for for $70 buck's
also i bet you can get it relaced by a local shop for about 80 bucks and a good spoke kit will be about $85 to $90 bucks... you should be able to get this done for about
$300.00 a wheel or even cheaper..

BIKER

and if any of you are looking for rim's in that size i found this over on ebay for he has 31 of them and is only asking 15 bucks for each one.. NOW I DON'T KNOW THIS EBAY SELL... OR AM I SAY BUY FROM HIM I AM JUST SHOWING YOU YOU THAT YOU CAN GET THE RIM'S THAT YOU NEED OR WANT.. THIS WAY!!!
web page

BIKER

Thanks for the idea Ed. I have a 16x3.5, TB rear wheel still in the box. But what I need is a wider rim to even get a 180 on there, and I wouldn't mind going up to 200. I'll keep searching tho! Plus, now that Pat's garage is a wheel n tire shop, might even git er done cheaper

Just lace your own it's not hard to do just takes patience. I have a stand and dial indicator now but I used to do it with 2 vertical 2X4s with V notches cut in the top nailed to the sides of a 2X8 and a hole drilled in each 2X4 with nails stuck through against the sides of the rim if either nail moved it wasn't straight!

If anyone has a hub that will fit a speedmaster I'm interested.

FYI Thunderbirds use the same hub, if you go hunting on fleabay or whatever.