Hi Bert, your an engineer if I remember right?
you'll understand and correct me if I get some terminology wrong.
Originally, the front wheels on early models were the main problem, the load reversals during braking / acceleration caused the spokes to deflect as they were designed to do. (cast wheels and Comstars 'stand' the weight on bottom, spoked wheels 'hang' the weight from top)
So, 'wire wheels' are in tension but Comstars are in compression.
The rims and rivets were anodized, but, during installation the anodizing could get scratched on stainless 'spokes' or installation machinery
If (when) wheels get wet, water gets centrifuged into the 'space' between the fabricated parts if you ride bike (washing has same effect, except now you add corrosive chemicals)
Electrolytic corrosion weakens rivets, they don't fail catastrophically but they do work loose, I think the bulletin came out around 8 months after the bikes with Comstars were launched
If your living in 'frozen north' the water can freeze and stress rivets
The later all alloy wheels with 'reverse spoke' design were much better put together but you still have a long thin triangle standing on end with pressure from hub pushing towards rim trying to stretch rivets.
Honda put out all sorts of safety warnings to dealers not to modify or attempt truing/re-building of Comstars, and they dropped them in favor of fully cast wheels
Comstars are a good idea in theory, but the street use of them negated any weight/cost advantage they should have had
