Alloy vs Chrome Steel

Steverino · Post by **Steverino** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 11:16 am

I am ready to order rims and spokes. Has anyone used alloys on their CB72/77? Are they fragile, especially while lacing them up? Are they raw aluminum or are they anodized? I'm thinking If they are raw I could polish them for a more stock appearance. Im looking at the ones on eBay for 89 and free shipping in the US.
Thank you
Steve

R100 · Post by **R100** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 11:33 am

I too have been wondering the same thing.

Steve - I just received shifter/brake pedal bolts from Thailand. Took almost a month so be prepared for that.

OldScrambler · Post by **OldScrambler** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 1:29 pm

Alloy valanced rims were part of the optional CYB parts selection.

Lacing is no problem as long as the angles of the spoke-holes are correct.

cknight · Post by **cknight** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 2:31 pm

In the last few years I've purchased alloy rims that are both anodized and unanodized. Depends on the brand of rim and the vendor. The main caution is buying an 18" rim for a 36 spoke application that's not properly drilled with the proper spoke angles for the CB72/77 spoke circle diameter. Most of the items offered online are drilled for the CB160 spoke circle, which is smaller. Trying to use these rims on a CB72/77 will have the spokes bowing severely, not a safe condition. The "overseas" ones are really bad in this regard, so don't always believe the application information. You would be wise to go to someone like Buchanan Spoke & Rim and purchase the correctly drilled rims and appropriate spokes from them. You'll end up with everything being specific for your application. The cost is usually greater, but you'll save hours working on something that will never be correct. Lacing them up is not any more difficult than a steel rim. The last set of Takasago rims I assembled were easily trued to less than .004" total runout. The alloy rims are a bit more fragile on the street than steel rims, so watch out for potholes. Regards, Chase

Hoosier Tom · Post by **Hoosier Tom** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 2:42 pm

Chase,

You beat me to the keyboard. Same things I've seen with the overseas rims. It amazes me over the last few years some of the restored bikes I've seem with extremely bowed spokes.

HT

cknight · Post by **cknight** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 2:50 pm

I should also have mentioned that this incorrect drilling can apply to steel rims. Chase

Steverino · Post by **Steverino** » Wed Mar 11, 2015 12:15 am

Thank You R100, OldScrambler and CKnight
Good to know about the difference between the CB160 and the CB77 rims. I am going to check out Buchanan. I've restored two CB160's and used DID chrome steel rims on those and they've laced up beautifully. Probably just dumb luck that I got the correct rims on those. I find when I am lacing a CB160 rim, that the nipples are pointed by the canted holes in the rim to pretty much line up for threading to their mating spokes. the CB77, which I've never done should behave the same. Any thing other than that would be telling me I have the wrong rim, right?

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Alloy vs Chrome Steel

Alloy vs Chrome Steel