Wheels-need opinions.
Thread Starter
evil man of nothing
MotoGP
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,516
From: Boynton Beach, FL
Wheels-need opinions.
Okay, let me know what you all think of the wheels. This is a quick photoshopped older pic of my bike (please don't blow it up and start looking for errors you'll get me paranoid 'cause I used to use photoshop for a living and I did this QUICKLY and us artists are obsessive compulsive and crazy and..... 
). Now I've put a few bucks into the bike since this pic-shock, header, front end, etc. Now that stuff alone USED costs more than my whole car is worth, so I figure I'll draw the line somewhere as someone else is always going to have something bigger/better and I'm kinda sick of the madness and just want to get out and ride it. SO while I'd love some aftermarket rims they are WAY expensive. (Also would LOVE a JMC swingarm but again BIG $$$$). So I've decided to go with the 6 spoke RC51 front and a 900RR rear, also 6 spoke, and I think they match pretty well. Also wanted to paint/powdercoat them gold. Now I've always been a huge fan of dark charcoal or black wheels, but think these look pretty good. Kinda like that exotic look of the Bimotas, etc. Nothing set in stone just an idea. I figure 99% of the look of $$$ rims for a more budget price. Fire away!
). Now I've put a few bucks into the bike since this pic-shock, header, front end, etc. Now that stuff alone USED costs more than my whole car is worth, so I figure I'll draw the line somewhere as someone else is always going to have something bigger/better and I'm kinda sick of the madness and just want to get out and ride it. SO while I'd love some aftermarket rims they are WAY expensive. (Also would LOVE a JMC swingarm but again BIG $$$$). So I've decided to go with the 6 spoke RC51 front and a 900RR rear, also 6 spoke, and I think they match pretty well. Also wanted to paint/powdercoat them gold. Now I've always been a huge fan of dark charcoal or black wheels, but think these look pretty good. Kinda like that exotic look of the Bimotas, etc. Nothing set in stone just an idea. I figure 99% of the look of $$$ rims for a more budget price. Fire away!
Thread Starter
evil man of nothing
MotoGP
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,516
From: Boynton Beach, FL
Yeah I just don't want to spend the $ if I'm not completely happy. First off I think I have the color wrong-not such a shiny gold. Before everything was black or red. Every my old Jardines had emblems in black and red. Now though I have the gold Ohlins, the front forks are also gold. Plus the calipers, so at least there is something to tie it together. Not really into bling bling but I do like the colors that come on the Marchesinis or the PVMs. Seems to work on all the other red bikes from Italy. BUT I'm certainly not looking for everyone to agree and appreciate all input. I know black rims would still look good and be a safe bet. We'll see I guess. Still have a bunch of work to do. Got the brakes working and took her for a quick ride around the neighborhood the other day. I am paranoid though and still want to have the bike computracked to make sure it's all safe and "correct."
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,138
From: Austin, Tx
I think the guys are right that there needs to be more gold parts on the bike and you say you've done that. Take some new pix and then we'll see. I think you're on the right track. Not for the bling but to make the other colors stand out as well. The red and the aluminum finishes are so strong the gold as to come across equally big.
Senior Member
SuperSport
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 655
From: Madison Wisconsin
Is either of the rims lighter than stock Superhawk rims? Need to set up some track only tires. One other thing are the rc51 rims just rotor mounting different one is smaller id on mounting flange can’t remember which. Do the calipers and rotor line up ok.Will be eBay shopping soon and need to know what to look for to take advantage of deals when I see them.
Thread Starter
evil man of nothing
MotoGP
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,516
From: Boynton Beach, FL
Is either of the rims lighter than stock Superhawk rims? Need to set up some track only tires. One other thing are the rc51 rims just rotor mounting different one is smaller id on mounting flange can’t remember which. Do the calipers and rotor line up ok.Will be eBay shopping soon and need to know what to look for to take advantage of deals when I see them.
As far as the weight goes I haven't researched it, but I remember reading somewhere they're about the same, if not a hair heavier than stock actually. Whatever...Like I said the wheels in the pic were done in photoshop-they're not real. I currently have an RC51 front end (which is not shown in the older picture) so of course I have no fitment issues. If you want a similar front wheel on the stock front end I believe you can use a cbr600f3 wheel. On the back use a 900rr wheel on the stock rear swingarm, which is what I'll be using.
Senior Member
Back Marker
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 200
From: Ottawa
why not use the RC rear with a 180?
BTW, I call photoshop.
I think the gold looks good, but powdercoated white would be amazing!(sorry, grew up with white wheels on bikes from the late 80s, early 90s)
BTW, I call photoshop.
I think the gold looks good, but powdercoated white would be amazing!(sorry, grew up with white wheels on bikes from the late 80s, early 90s)
Thread Starter
evil man of nothing
MotoGP
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,516
From: Boynton Beach, FL
Not sure what you mean when you said "I call photoshop." I SAID they were done in photoshop in order to see what they'd look like and get opinions before I spend the time and money.
Senior Member
Back Marker
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 200
From: Ottawa
?? I don't believe the RC rear wheel will fit the superhawk swingarm, and the cbr900 wheel is basically identical anyway. I will have a 180-that's stock. An RC51 swingarm swap is over my head. If I hit the lotto I'll get a swingarm from JMC.
Not sure what you mean when you said "I call photoshop." I SAID they were done in photoshop in order to see what they'd look like and get opinions before I spend the time and money.
Not sure what you mean when you said "I call photoshop." I SAID they were done in photoshop in order to see what they'd look like and get opinions before I spend the time and money.
I was yanking your chain, regarding the photoshop, but this place has no smilies.
As for the RC vs CBR900 wheel, the RC is a 17X6" where the CBR is a 17X5.5".
I am not sure if the 6" will fit in the swingarm, but it might with a 180 on it.
Thread Starter
evil man of nothing
MotoGP
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,516
From: Boynton Beach, FL
HA yeah some of these guys have all kinds of different faces and stuff. If you use a colon and a right parenthesis it will show up as a smiley face...I don't think that rc51 wheel fits but like I said the cbr900 rear wheel bolts right up and is also 6 spoke.
Thread Starter
evil man of nothing
MotoGP
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,516
From: Boynton Beach, FL
Thanks for proving my "someone else will always have bigger/better"theory Alan! That bike looks sick. However now that I'm looking at it where's the header, and what's that rub tool around the midpipe? Is THAT photoshop? Damn I thought that was real for a second...
Senior Member
Back Marker
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 152
From: UK (England)
wheels
no m8 theres no photoshop on there its just a bit off bubble wrap to protect my swingarm from the link pipe when i took the photo,as for the headers i am finally getting them made this week so will be out testing my beast after 12 months+ off it cant wait.
Senior Member
Back Marker
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 152
From: UK (England)
wheel colour
Hi m8 yes ive put loads of work in but sacrificed alot off riding time but im sure it will be well worth it.As for the conversion its a fireblade 929 front end with spondon clipons,vfr swingarm/wheel/ohlins shock and tons off other stuff.
Thread Starter
evil man of nothing
MotoGP
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,516
From: Boynton Beach, FL
A local powdercoating shop right next to my work does them for @ $100 a wheel. 900RR wheels are fairly cheap on ebay, I paid maybe $50 for my rear (funny because it has a fresh matte black powdercoat). The RC51 was a bit more expensive-another ebay buy, but I ended up getting it for much cheaper too-long story
Senior Member
Superstock
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 277
A local powdercoating shop right next to my work does them for @ $100 a wheel. 900RR wheels are fairly cheap on ebay, I paid maybe $50 for my rear (funny because it has a fresh matte black powdercoat). The RC51 was a bit more expensive-another ebay buy, but I ended up getting it for much cheaper too-long story
Thread Starter
evil man of nothing
MotoGP
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,516
From: Boynton Beach, FL
Yeah that's what he told me and I've spoken to him a few times when I get to work in the morning. Bike wheels and frames seem to be a large portion of their business and they seem to do pretty decent work.
Thread Starter
evil man of nothing
MotoGP
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,516
From: Boynton Beach, FL
Yeah Mike I think the gold would look pretty sweet. I'm torn between that and gloss black (the safer bet) with maybe a red rimstripe. I think I may take a chance with the gold though-they'll look identical to a set of 6 spoke OZ's I saw advertised the other day in an older issue of Cycle World.
Thread Starter
evil man of nothing
MotoGP
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,516
From: Boynton Beach, FL
And sorry for dragging *** with this project. I'm doing another old bike at the same time (also dragging *** with that too) and not finding much time for either and I'm trying to gear up for moving in a few months (close by) and still work two jobs and run a business at the same time... Bought a 900rr swingarm cheap the other day and cut off the brace-it's going on the stock superhawk swingarm. It'll have to be mounted below because from above the caliper will interfere. So that will add a little more time to the project too. I WILL finish it though and it WILL be cool!
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,844
From: Gainesville FLA.
You can always get the caliper mount for the 900rr and weld the mounts from the 900rr to the swingarm. Another member had the welder cut into the brace so that the original mount still worked it looked pretty good. do a search fo it if you want to see it.
