MikesXS rims

[AgentX]

Anyone familiar with the quality of the aluminum rims they sell at MikesXS? They have rims in the size I want...black as an option, even...and they're less than half the price of Excels or the like.

Knowing you usually get what you pay for, I'd probably go with the Excels, but I recently bought some valve emulators and found out after the fact that Mike's has an equivalent quality product for under half of what I paid. So if anyone has any inside 411, I'd appreciate knowing if these are solid rims or if they're made from Velveeta.

MD

 

[Tim]

I have one on the front end of my XS650 and have had it up to nearly 120MPH. I'm still alive

 

[Tim]

Oh, and some of MikesXS stuff is pure crap, some is OK (like the rims). I also had their cartridge emulators and springs, and swapped them out for proper Race Tech parts (Gold Valves and their springs) while in Alabama in October.

If you bought the Race Tech emulators it was worthwhile.

 

[mydlyfkryzis]

I have XS Mike's rims.

The quality is Good. they have a nice finish, they work correctly, they look nice.

I used Buchanan's Spokes, SS spokes and nipples.

The rims have a slight irregularity where the seam is. It isn't so much visula, but I had some minor issues with a dial indicator when doing runout as the wheel was slightly bumpy where the wheel is joined.

For $160 for 2 rims, shipped, the quality is great. It cost me $410 Total for 2 rims, 2 sets of stainless spokes. 2 Rims from XS mike is cheaper than 1 Excel rim.

Rear Rim 2.00x18 36 Spoke :

Front Rim 1.85x18 36 spoke:

Front as received from XS Mikes:

Would I do it again? Absolutely. the rims appear strong, are an excellent value.

If you prefer black, that is available in some sizes too.

 

[andrewlk]

Amazed at how many options/combinations they offer. What's the motivation to convert to smaller or larger rim sizes? Is there a conventional wisdom for rim size on say...an RD350?

 

[mydlyfkryzis]

Mike's didn't have a 1.65 rim,
Since the 1.85 is still right for a 3.00 tire and 2.00 rim is good for the 3.50, I just went up one size. If I go to a 4.00 rear the rim is even better




Sent from planet Earth using mysterious electronic devices and Tapatalk

 

[BigKev]

Are these ebay rims?

 

[AgentX]

Thanks all for the advice.

Kev, they're not eBay; from online retailer mikesxs.com.

Andrew, changing rim widths is to correspond with different diameter tires as mydlyf explains; of course things like frame clearance and handling are going to play into that decision. Changing rim diameters can alter the ride height, overall geometry and bike stance (raising the rear or the front in relation to one another, changing the bike's angles relative to the ground), available tire choices, etc. Conventional wisdom is to stick with mfr's spec unless you understand the concepts involved. (With motorcycles, I certainly do not, myself...although I will widen my front rim size a tad to fit the brand of standard-size 3.25" tire I prefer, which is optimal with a 2.15 rim instead of 1.85 spec'd on the bike.)

I just wonder if it's worth it to order these, since I have 36h Royal Enfield hubs, not Yamaha. I mean, moto wheels are all laced in the same pattern, though, right?

If I get Mike's stuff, I have to then procure spokes to match my hubs and get someone to do the wheelbuilding; always an embarrassing moment to walk into a shop and hand them a bunch of crap you bought on the Internet but weren't man enough to work on yourself.

My experience is with bicycle wheels, not motos, so I'm kind of flying blind here. Bicycle rims just have holes, not dimples or punching in a particular orientation; I'm not even sure if somehow these motorcycle rims are somehow specifically punched to lace to Yamaha 650 hubs and not my Enfield. (Seems pretty obvious that the hub has 18 evenly-spaced holes per side, whatever the make, so that any rim punched for the same lacing pattern would be fine when proper length spokes are fit, but I've made bad assumptions many times before...)

I can build a bicycle wheel from scratch, but don't think I want to have to rig up a half-assed truing stand or try and compute spoke lengths for motos or anything.

 

[MotoMadness]

I've used several of his poslished aluminum wheels with the Buchanan's Spokes and I would say the qualty is excellent. Never had an issue with them.

Plus most of his wheels are DOT approved unlike some of the other chinese garbage out there.

 

[AgentX]

Moto, will/can Buchanan's make spokes for a rim and hub they don't have in stock?? (I know, I'll check with them, but figured it was worth asking since you've apparently done it...)

 

[Tim]

Yes - Buchanan has all the specs on hand. Just tell them what rim and hub you're putting together and they'll figure out what length of spokes you need, head angles etc. I've done it a few times.

For the MikesXS rims just tell them XS650 whatever. It's mostly the hub that's important as it dictates inner/outer, head angles etc.

 

[crazypj]

Amazed at how many options/combinations they offer. What's the motivation to convert to smaller or larger rim sizes? Is there a conventional wisdom for rim size on say...an RD350?

The reason for different width is to fit the tyres better
Larger or smaller diameter is completely different thing.
Manufacturers use the minimum width for tyre as it's cheaper
For RD350, use same as everyone with mid range bikes, WM2 front (1.85") and WM3 rear (2.15")
Use 90/90 front and 110/90 rear, bike will handle significantly better than stock

 

[AgentX]

For RD350, use same as everyone with mid range bikes, WM2 front (1.85") and WM3 rear (2.15")
Use 90/90 front and 110/90 rear, bike will handle significantly better than stock

These are the rim widths spec'd on my own bike, and the mfr also specs 3.25 or 90/90 front and 3.5 or 100/90 rear.

Yet the Dunlop K70 and Heidenau K34 I'm looking to use both recommend a rim width of 2.15 to go with their 3.25 size front tires, so that's what I'll use...struck me as odd, but that's what it says...

 

[AgentX]

Yes - Buchanan has all the specs on hand. Just tell them what rim and hub you're putting together and they'll figure out what length of spokes you need, head angles etc. I've done it a few times.

For the MikesXS rims just tell them XS650 whatever. It's mostly the hub that's important as it dictates inner/outer, head angles etc.

Awesome!! Thanks, Tim!

MD

 

[crazypj]

These are the rim widths spec'd on my own bike, and the mfr also specs 3.25 or 90/90 front and 3.5 or 100/90 rear.

Yet the Dunlop K70 and Heidenau K34 I'm looking to use both recommend a rim width of 2.15 to go with their 3.25 size front tires, so that's what I'll use...struck me as odd, but that's what it says...

Did not know that (well, I probably did at one time )
May be why Yamaha had a reputation for handling better than comparable bikes of the time?

 

[AgentX]

So, then, here's the $150,000 question:

Should I go to plain alloy rims on this bike, or stick with black or painted-to-match green? Shouldered or non- ?

The engine will likely get more alloy showing in the future...new cases on a replacement engine will likely be raw, blasted finish, with the primary and timing covers still green. So the whole thing will get a brighter look and maybe the alloys won't be mismatched.

And I'm going to a disc setup up front, too.

 

[crazypj]

Personally, I would go with unflanged on that.
They would be much easier to paint if you wanted to in future

 

[AgentX]

Argh. My rims are 40 hole! No Mike's stuff for me. I'm stuck with the very expensive or the very cheap local Indian stuff. Will probably check out the stainless steel rims on the market here. At least it's not gonna cost a lot.

 

[crazypj]

Yep, 'good' 40 hole rims are relatively rare (at least at a reasonable cost)
I've managed to get a 'pair' of used Boranni's but, there's about 6 yrs between getting front and rear rims (good job they are not for a project, I just 'wanted' them ;D )