adapting cast wheels to commando

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o0norton0o

o0norton0o

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I have WM2 steel rims with spokes on my commando. I'm at the point of wanting to try avon tires and get rid of the dunlops that follow the rain grooves in the pavement. We have more than a few rain grooved roadways in the seattle area, as you might imagine. The dilemma is that WM2 rims are not reccomended for the avon tires that I want to mount. That means I would have to change the rims to use the tires I want, so I am contemplating adapting a pair of cast wheels to my commando rather than switch to alloy WM3 rims. I already contacted a guy who's parting out an old yamaha SR500 about his wheels. Anyone adapted these to a commando yet?

I know I can go the alloy aluminum rim route, and just relace the hubs to swap rims. I'm keeping that as an option too.

I've used the search function and it's been fair in providing me with some good info, but of course you can never have enough info... The good thing is that I can keep my old wheels intact and swap back and forth so I won't lose any riding time while I am making the necessary adjustments. Any info or helpful advise is appreciated, thanks...
 
I ignore the not WM2 recommendation and just use Avon Roadriders 90/90 19 front 100/90 19 rear, lots of other people do too and no ill effects. The shape is a bit more crowned from the extra pinch from the rim but that just gives you closer to the rounded profile of the 100% aspect tyres fitted originally.
 
I use the 100/90-19 Avons both front and rear with WM2 rims. No issues.
 
Thanks for your comments. I really wanted to hear if that was a viable option too since I am financially challenged lately. I may just do that and buy the used cast alu wheels to adapt at a later date.
 
Ditto Avons, no rain grove issues, even good on singing bridges.
 
I have a chance to buy a pair of '79 yamaha xs650 cast aluminum wheels. The front is 19" and the rear is 18". I am checking on the rim widths. I am looking for WM3 wheels. The yamaha front wheel is a single disc which matches my commando's current set up, so making the front work might not be too involved.

The yamaha rear wheel has a drum brake but it's on the opposite side of the sprocket, unlike my current rear wheel which is a drum that is inside the rear sprocket. I don't think it would be all that difficult to route a cable to the other side of the swing arm.

How do I know if the yamaha sprocket will work with a stock norton chain? anyone?

If anyone who has done this conversion or similar has a comment, please feel free...
 
I've been running Cast Yamaha wheels on my '73 850 since about 1984. The front wheel is from an RD400 and is a straight switch, only needing spacers made up as the bearings are the same size as Commando wheels. The rear is from an SR500 which was chosen because it has a cush drive hub. It was a long time ago but I remember aligning the wheel first then I had to machine the sprocket carrier to align the chain.
 
thank you. there's a lot of cast wheels on ebay for sale. Knowing which one's are more easily adapted to fit will keep me from buying into a nightmare situation. I had a line on a pair of SR500 wheels locally, but it didn't work out. Any chance you could post a picture? I appreciate a look at your bike. Thanks
 
At a recent ONO rally

adapting cast wheels to commando


adapting cast wheels to commando
 
49mod 7 said:
I got a norton project that needs cast wheels. Can you contact me at my aol email address which doesn't connect with this platform. greatly appreciate it Celticnorton@aol.com
Click to expand...

So you joined the site, made a profile, and posted a response, so you could say that you're not able to connect to this platform. How is that true if you are posting...? Sounds fishy to me...



Anyway,.... Thanks Triumph2 for posting those pictures.

I am really doing a lot of research looking at various older bikes for possible donor wheels. I am going to try and go with a 19" front with a single disc. I am not dead set on WM3 for the front wheel, because WM2 would be lighter and maybe slightly more nimble. I'm not having too much trouble finding potential front wheels to fit, althought I'm still not sure about what spacers might be needed or if a new caliper bracket will need to be made.

The rear wheel selection a greater problem, because I am trying to find a drum brake rear hub, with an 18" WM3 rim. This is not a very popular configuration but it is on some of the old bikes. I'm not sure how a norton chain will run on any of these japanese bike's sprockets. Maybe Andychain will grace my thread with some of his much appreciated info... and I'll learn what needs to be done to make this work.

Anyway, the research continues...
 
Do a bit more research. The Avon AM26 100/90 x 19 Roadriders are for use with WM4 or 2.5 inch rims. I wouldn't recommend going to an 18 inch rear. It certainly doesn't help the handling. Avon suggest that 2.15 and 2.75 rims are suitable alternatives but if you want the best outcome, then the 2.5 inch rims are the go. Having said that, they do work on the standard 1.85 rims. They don't give you the ideal profile but they work quite well although you'll never all the tread on the tyre. Your chicken strips will be an inch wide at maximum lean.
 
I have some Yamaha SR500(?) wheels that I could sell here in Iowa, I put these Lesters on my bike years ago, it took about 40hrs of machining/designing
 

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49mod 7 said:
I got a norton project that needs cast wheels. Can you contact me at my aol email address which doesn't connect with this platform. greatly appreciate it Celticnorton@aol.com
Click to expand...
o0norton0o said:
So you joined the site, made a profile, and posted a response, so you could say that you're not able to connect to this platform. How is that true if you are posting...? Sounds fishy to me...
Click to expand...

I can vouch for him, lot of Model 7 chat.

I don't know how that posting here works though.
That was his No 1 posting though, so welcome here. !
 
If your goal is to try Avon road riders go ahead, buy and mount them on your stock rims. I have used 4 pair over the last 8 years. They give much better handling than Dunlop tt 100's. The only drawback is quickly wear out, about 5000 miles on rear, 10,000 on front.
 
Rohan said:
49mod 7 said:
I got a norton project that needs cast wheels. Can you contact me at my aol email address which doesn't connect with this platform. greatly appreciate it Celticnorton@aol.com
Click to expand...
o0norton0o said:
So you joined the site, made a profile, and posted a response, so you could say that you're not able to connect to this platform. How is that true if you are posting...? Sounds fishy to me...
Click to expand...

I can vouch for him, lot of Model 7 chat.

I don't know how that posting here works though.
That was his No 1 posting though, so welcome here. !
Click to expand...
Good to know but he is also vague on who he wants to contact him?
 
jimbo said:
I have some Yamaha SR500(?) wheels that I could sell here in Iowa, I put these Lesters on my bike years ago, it took about 40hrs of machining/designing
Click to expand...

So,... have they been fitted to your commando already? Did you mock them up and find them not suitable? any chance you could post a picture of them? thanks..
 
o0norton0o said:
jimbo said:
I have some Yamaha SR500(?) wheels that I could sell here in Iowa, I put these Lesters on my bike years ago, it took about 40hrs of machining/designing
Click to expand...

So,... have they been fitted to your commando already? Did you mock them up and find them not suitable? any chance you could post a picture of them? thanks..
Click to expand...
I was trying to figure out how to use the Yamaha wheels, I bought them from a Norton shop as they said they would be easy to make work. When I found the Lesters, so I never got anywhere with the Yamahas. I could take some photos, they are dirty but OK I think.
 
jimbo said:
o0norton0o said:
jimbo said:
I have some Yamaha SR500(?) wheels that I could sell here in Iowa, I put these Lesters on my bike years ago, it took about 40hrs of machining/designing
Click to expand...

So,... have they been fitted to your commando already? Did you mock them up and find them not suitable? any chance you could post a picture of them? thanks..
Click to expand...
I was trying to figure out how to use the Yamaha wheels, I bought them from a Norton shop as they said they would be easy to make work. When I found the Lesters, so I never got anywhere with the Yamahas. I could take some photos, they are dirty but OK I think.
Click to expand...

dirty is ok... I wrench all my own vehicles and I have a dirt driveway... so I'm often dirtier than my vehicles if that's possible... :lol:
 
could only find the rear wheel, I think the front was taken by some people buying a bunch of my stuff out of my building by mistake
 

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