Do It Yourself Buchanan Rims & Spokes
April 26, 2014If you follow my blog, you know that I replaced my stock 2008 Triumph Bonneville wheels (chrome steel rims) with new ones purchased from BellaCorse. The new set are Excel rims (black), stainless steel spokes and nipples, and Talon hubs (also black). Of course they look and perform great!
At first, I was going to sell the original wheels. But, after watching a number of YouTube videos on how to lace a set of motorcycle wheels, I decided to try re-lacing my OEM hubs with new alloy rims and stainless steel spokes purchased from Buchanan’s Spokes & Rim, Inc. in Azusa, CA.
I purchased from Buchanan’s because they have a long history and a great reputation. If Bill Gately from Bonneville Performance uses and recommends Buchanan’s, that’s good enough for me! The new rims and spokes arrived yesterday packed very well in a big box. Below are photos of what I found inside!
So, the next step will be to dismantle the steel rims and spokes from the OEM hubs, then re-lace them with the new rims and spokes from Buchanan’s. If all goes well, I will have another set of wheels and tires for my Bonnie. I am planning to use this set for track days. I will use a stock 42 tooth rear sprocket (I run a 41 for normal street use) and softer racing tires on them (probably Avon or Dunlop)… haven’t decided on those yet.
New Sun rims and stainless steel spokes and nipples from Buchanan’s.
Hand marked instructions on each rim… I like that!
Each rim is clearly marked with instructions on which side has the disc brake, etc.
These are going to look great!
Here I start the process of taking apart the stock rims, hubs and spokes using the spoke wrench I purchased from Buchanan’s.
I start the process of dismantling my front wheel.
Spoke removal went well. Only broke 2 spokes in the process!
Front wheel disassembled!
Long and short curved ends of the spokes.
Starting the relacing process… getting the spokes in the hub in the right order, alternating short and long.
I’m using my balancing stand to true up the wheel.
Randy,
I contacted you a few months ago after discovering you were the same person selling items on Craigslist. I follow your blog and I’m happy to see you’re riding again. I’ve read you post on your new set of rims as was wondering if you’d be interested in helping me out with my rims. I’d like to have the spokes removed and have the rims and hubs powder coated. I’ve located a place for the powder coating, I’d just need help getting the wheels off and spokes removed and then re-laced and installed again. Please let me know if you’re able and willing to help. If not no worries. Please contact me @ 773-742-8182
Good job, I was thinking of doing the same thing with my 2008 Bonnie. What torque setting did you use for your spokes and what was your “offset” on the rim centerline? Thanks Phil
Phil, I actually gave up on lacing these myself. It was just too complex at the time and more than I wanted to learn. So, I sent the rims, hubs, and spokes to Buchanan’s Spoke & Rim, Inc. in Azusa, CA and they did it all for me. So, I can’t answer your question. However, I bet you could call them and they would tell you what you need to know.
Did you use stock size rims for this or were the rims a bit bigger?
Simon, I selected Buchanan Sun Rims that were the closest in size to the stock rims. At that time, I believe they were both within 1/4″ to 1/2″ of the stock rim widths.