WM4 stainless or chrome rims unavailable?

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Sergio

Sergio

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Rear Avon 120/18 tire recommendation is 2.5"-3"(min-max) rim. That is a WM4 size. Why cannot find a stainless or chrome rim to fit the Norton full hub?
 
kommando said:
You will only find alloy rims in WM4.
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Thank you for your feed.Unfortunately, alloy rims are a nightmare to keep clean. This is the reason why I'm not fond of them. I'm wondering about having alloy chrome plated? Is it possible?
 
Yes, I have many aluminum parts on my bike that are chromed. But chroming a rim would cost a lot because the spoke holes have to be either masked or drilled to size after chroming. A local plater quoted me $600 US to rechrome a stock Norton rim.
 
maylar said:
Yes, I have many aluminum parts on my bike that are chromed. But chroming a rim would cost a lot because the spoke holes have to be either masked or drilled to size after chroming. A local plater quoted me $600 US to rechrome a stock Norton rim.
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Ugh#$$$$$ expensive option, I admit. Another one would be to stick with WM3 rim...2.15 inches wide instead of 2.5 inches for WM4? Is there a BIG safety issue using a narrower rim ?
 
Re safety issue...
Sadly there are plenty of us with 19" Avons on WM2 rims. It makes the contact patch narrow but gives you lots of radius for cornering, most of which never gets used. Probably the biggest concern would be in stopping.

I'm sure the tire manufacturer would tell you to put it on the specified rim. I'm sure there are people here who won't run them on WM2 rims. But its done. Otherwise any of us with stock rims would be hard pressed to find tires.
 
Sergio said:
Ugh#$$$$$ expensive option, I admit. Another one would be to stick with WM3 rim...2.15 inches wide instead of 2.5 inches for WM4? Is there a BIG safety issue using a narrower rim ?
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No.

2.15 inches is within the specifications for most tires for use with Commandos.
 
The 120/80 18 does require a min rim width of 2.5 according to Avon’s PDF (below).

If you don’t like the idea of continual polishing of alloy rims (which I totally get) have you considered anodising? Or the cheapo option of satin rims courtesy of Scotchbrite (my chosen method)?

The 120/80 18 is a relatively unusual choice for a Commando. If running an 18 rear, most would opt for either a 110/80 or a 4.10. Both of which are ok on a 2.15 rim.

I’m curious as to why the OP chose the 120/80?

My thinking is that it depends a lot on what you intend to run on the front. The Commando had same size front / rear as standard. Obviously, the easy way to do that is do the same and run matching universal 19” front and rear.

I chose to run a 100/90/ 19 front and a 4.10 18 rear as they gave the same radius front and rear.

WM4 stainless or chrome rims unavailable?
 
Fast Eddie said:
The 120/80 18 does require a min rim width of 2.5 according to Avon’s PDF (below).

If you don’t like the idea of continual polishing of alloy rims (which I totally get) have you considered anodising? Or the cheapo option of satin rims courtesy of Scotchbrite (my chosen method)?

The 120/80 18 is a relatively unusual choice for a Commando. If running an 18 rear, most would opt for either a 110/80 or a 4.10. Both of which are ok on a 2.15 rim.

I’m curious as to why the OP chose the 120/80?

My thinking is that it depends a lot on what you intend to run on the front. The Commando had same size front / rear as standard. Obviously, the easy way to do that is do the same and run matching universal 19” front and rear.

I chose to run a 100/90/ 19 front and a 4.10 18 rear as they gave the same radius front and rear.

View attachment 14248
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Thank you for the input Eddie. I made a phone call to an anodising shop after reading your post. After discussion, about 100$ Canadian is about the price they charge. I'll consider seriously that option. Actually, at my age, I prefer having handlebars in my hands instead of polishing pads....To answer to your curiosity about 120/80/18 unusual choice for rear tire, despite it hurts my self-esteem, I have to admit that I'm a bit short legged....The almost one inch smaller diameter gives me a break.Also it lowers a bit the overall gearing between 21T to 20T. To make a long story short, it would have been easier if a manufacturer made WM4 stainless or chrome rim...Thank you all gentlemen for your advices. Don't worry to add more!
 
Sergio said:
Rear Avon 120/18 tire recommendation is 2.5"-3"(min-max) rim. That is a WM4 size. Why cannot find a stainless or chrome rim to fit the Norton full hub?
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I would like to support your opinion that stainless rims are a better choice over alloy. There is no dramatic weight penalty in selection steel over alloy rims.

FYI, there is no rim wider than WM3. If you want something wider, e.g. 2.50 in, as an example you will have to order

MT 19 x 2.50 ISO 4249-3.

https://www.accessnorton.com/NortonCommando/getting-new-wheels-choosing-correct-size.25627/page-3

Maxxis lists corresponding rim widths and tyre sizes:

https://www.maxxis.co.uk/know-your-tyres/motorcycle-tyre-safety/wheels-and-rims

I suggest you discuss your needs with Devon Rims. They are offering quite wide rims made of alloy AISI 304 and will proable dimple and drill to any pattern specified by the customer.

-Knut
 
Sergio said:
To answer to your curiosity about 120/80/18 unusual choice for rear tire, despite it hurts my self-esteem, I have to admit that I'm a bit short legged....The almost one inch smaller diameter gives me a break.Also it lowers a bit the overall gearing between 21T to 20T.
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The 110/80 18 is the same diameter as the 120/80, is only a little narrower, and fits on a 2.15 rim.

Jus’ sayin’...
 
Sergio said:
Thank you for your feed.Unfortunately, alloy rims are a nightmare to keep clean. This is the reason why I'm not fond of them. I'm wondering about having alloy chrome plated? Is it possible?
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Why are alloy rims a nightmare to clean for you, I have no troubles keeping mine clean no different to chrome or SS rims, my Akront rims have been on my Norton for nearly 40 years and they look as good as the day I fitted them I only polish my Norton once a year on its birthday including my rims and no other time, I just give them a quick wipe down every so often when wet or a bit of chain lube flung on them from the chain, the same as with chrome or SS rims.
I replaced my stock rims when rust or peeling chrome got to bad after just a few years of owning my new Norton, don't have that problem with alloy rims and they are a lot lighter.

Ashley
 
kommando said:
Devon rims has a new owner, quality is not what it was.
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Which begs the question, who do folk recommend in the U.K.?

Kommando says Devon rim quality is not so good. I had a very disappointing and frustrating experience last time I used Central Wheels.

So, who is good ?
 
Excel alloy rims seem to be the only 100% reliable source, I have not tried Andover Norton's rims but they only do chrome and I no longer use chrome. The best stainless rims I have used other than Devon pre current owner were made by Autonix of India but they are no longer produce them and the range was limited anyway. The Borrani rims around seen very variable with rumours the base rim is made in China and then finished in Italy, the good ones are good but if the weld is bad nothing can recover them. Central Wheel make changes to the specs to suit them and not the customer, instead of 10 inner and 10 outer spokes with different head angles are per OEM they make 20 with a single head angle in between the 2 OEM angles as an example. As a builder you are left with a wheel with heads that do not sit right at the hub or extra work to change the head angle.
 
Central wheels stripped my hubs despite explicit instructions not to.

They then reassembled them incorrectly.

I had to insist, after lengthy discussion (arguments) with them to fit the rims I wanted, ie the rims specified by Avon. But Central Wheels remained adamant that they knew more than Avon.

They then lied about their stock levels and resultant lead times, resulting in a long wait.

When they did eventually build the wheels, they got the offset wrong.

I wanted butted spokes, but didn’t get them.

They also managed to fit tubes that failed to hold air.

And after all of that, I had to balance the wheels myself.

So... I’m keen to hear any recommendations of good wheel builders in the U.K...
 
The previous owner & founder of Devon rims got bored and does wheel building, I expect his attention to quality and detail are still as good as when he did Devon rims.

http://www.drwheelbuilding.com/

No direct knowledge as I do all my own wheel building.
 
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