Motard Wheels for my Honda TransAlp

[Cafe Racer]

Hello,

Does anyone know if it is easy to obtain wheels for my Honda TransAlp. Basically, I want to run a set of Motard wheels on the bike. I think I could make it into a fun V-Twin Motard. ALittle heavy but still fun.

It is a cush-drive wheels and I suppose that would be a problem. Would I just need to get a set of hub from Honda and then use those on a set of bare wheels?

Anyone familiar with the Honda Dominator? Is that similar to a TransAlp?

Miguel

 

[Beauregard]

You might try wheels off an f2 or similar, that would take care of the cush-drive and fab-ing some spacers shouldn't be to hard. If you go in that direction you will need to think about adapting the callipers too though. Check with motomorphic.com, they know haow to do just about anything and can prolly help you out.

 

[thump]

Getting a set of transalp hubs and having them laced to 17"s is a practical way to go as you can just switch your rotor carrier and sprockets over and use your existing axle spacers etc.

Might take 30 minutes or more to do the swap than if you had fully sets, but that's not desperate.

You might want to consider a smaller rer sprocket and shorter chain though as the 17" will hahve a lower circumference than the 18 or 19 you're running now and you'll want the motard setup to be higher geared.

Are you riding with us Sunday? If you are you'll see Tom Dillenbeck's bike, which is a KTM adventure with 17" wheels- pretty similar to what you're proposing, just one cylinder less!!

 

[PowderdToastMan]

The dominator is a 650cc "adventure" styled bike and here: http://www.stusbikeshed.co.uk/ is a link to some info on an SM'd one it has spec and FAQ's .click on honda NX650SM and for you KTM guys there's a LC4 640 on there too !


Rich

 

[Beauregard]

Did you say lc4 640 ?

I think Thump has the best idea. Re-lacing your hubs is the easiest solution. Buy a couple of excel or sun rims and some bulldog spokes and have at it.

 

[thump]

Buy a couple of excel or sun rims.

Or scavenge at places like Fremont Cycle Salvage.


One of my earliest bikes was a Honda 175 'trail' bike that I fitted the 18" wheels from a crashed cb 250. My first 'motard was in 1979!!

They just went straight on so it's definitely worth trying to find out if there are other model Hondas from the approximate same model year that share hubs and axles.

It's a Honda thing to do to make use of common parts wherever possible.

Unlike KTM where it seems every model and year has a different axle setup. Bastids! :loser

 

[PowderdToastMan]

Or scavenge at places like Fremont Cycle Salvage.


One of my earliest bikes was a Honda 175 'trail' bike that I fitted the 18" wheels from a crashed cb 250. My first 'motard was in 1979!!


That is an idea but cycle "recyclers" usually want a pretty penny for wheels and what not,but its worth a shot ! Try wheel craft in hayward (510) 785-0690 they will disassemble your wheels and re-lace them to excels or whatever brand you chose.Probably cost around $700 (bring them the tires and tubes ,they will mount and balance them for you the old skool way for free !)

 

[thump]

Hey Rich,

Good counterpoint, but I think Miguel's planning on keeping the stock wheels for adventure riding.

That's why I suggested looking for salvage hubs / wheels. I've no idea how expensive honda hubs or wheels are.

 

[Cafe Racer]

Hello,

Thanks for the great info and advice. I do want to keep the original wheels intact but when I build a new set I will go to Wheel Craft for advice.

I went to Mission M/C today and found out that the hub for the rear is over $400.00. Yikes! This is going to be an expensive project.

Miguel

 

[JoeBar]

Miguel,
Are you sure you want to spend that much $$$ on a Transalp... IMHO it is too heavy to make a good Motard.

 

[Cafe Racer]

Well, I dont want to spend that much but I do want to make the bike unique and handle well.

No, it aint going to wheelie but thats okay. I got the WR for that. I just want a nice bike I can carry my girl on thats got the Motard flair.

Btw... I just got my third offer to buy my TransAlp in 5 months. Funny thing is that all of the offers have come from Europeans that have owned one in the past. They all say the same thing too... "I wish I never sold my TransAlp" Each one of them told me a story of their bike on how they rode it to some different country. In Europe I suppose that is easy. But it sounds exotic to me. The saddest story was from a guy who rode it from France to South America and sold it there. He really wanted to buy my TA.

Anyway, I will be taking it to SoCal this weekend for my first trip on it. Just a prep trip for my cross country adventure maybe next year.:teeth

Miguel

 

[dillinger]

re: transalp cush drive to motard

I have some f2 rims floatin for sale. The tires are shot, but if you want to see if they fit between the swing arm etc. I'd be happy to let you try. Dillinger