Whilst I've got the forks out and back again to fit new headlamp brackets, I've checked the brake shoes and front wheel bearings. All seems reasonably OK but - look at the pictures of the spokes in the borrani WM32 18" rim. It's a TLS brake drum.
I'm no expert on spokes but the way that the spokes are bent just doesn't seem right to me.
Am I worrying needlessly?
I get concerned when I see the bodgery that has been undertaken in the bike's history. The front wheel nut - see pic - seems to have enjoyed flirting with a chisel hence my reluctance to take anything for granted on this bike.
I'd welcome your thoughts and recommendations re the spokes.
It should be a 19" rim on the front not 18" so I wonder if someone has used spokes for a 19" and bent them to suit, or just the wrong spokes for a Borrani Rim. I would seek advice from a competent wheelbuilder as in it's present state your safety may be compromised.
Chris
There is definately something wrong there. Spokes bent like that just are not safe. I'd get it re-laced.
The rim could be wrongly pierced for that hub so the spoke angles are incorrect.
Thanks for the quick replies. I've spoken with a local wheelwright who says that all of the spokes should run more or less radially, not angled. There's something oddly weird here so I will get a respoke. I'm not putting that original back in the forks.
Chris, I've read somewhere that one batch of A50s had 18" wheels back and front, can't recall where I read it though. If my wheelwright says that the existing Borrani rim has been damaged then I'll probably get a new 19" replacement.
I'll let you know.
looks like a conical hub type rim possibly rather than full width hub rim has been used to build, if it needs a good home then let me know!
8)
I will not use the current front wheel as it is. I will probably get a new 19" rim instead - stainless steel looks good. Trouble is, if I go for SS at the front I'll have to ditto for the rear. Only problem after that will be trying to ride the bike without an arm and a leg!
I guess that in due course I'll have two 18" WM3 40-hole Borranis scheduled for ebay - that will lessen the pain a little bit. I'll keep you posted.
Hi - the early A65 Stars had 18" wheels back and front.
JohnJag.
Hi Johnjag,
Thanks for the heads-up.
I've got a Nov 1961 Instruction manual which indicates that Royal Stars had 18-WM2 front and back.
My 1967 Spitfire had 18" rear and 19" front - alloy rims.
Draganfly shows, for a 1970 Royal Star, WM2-19 front and WM3-18 rear.
I'm going down the route of 18" - WM3 rear and 19" - WM3 front - both alloys. Might not look original but I'll get some fatter tyres on them.
Hi Splodger,
Bear in mind, using an 18" on the front, you may find that the mudguard looks a bit odd as it's arc will be sized for a 19" wheel so it may not be parallel to the tyre. Also it will sit 1/2" higher making the already over generous gap there look worse.
Just a thought
Chris
Hi Chris,
You're absolutely right re looking odd.
The existing 18" front went to the knackers yard this morning - well, I took it to a wheelwright to have a new 19" rim and shiny spokes fitted.
The existing mudguard - a six-tab chrome job complete with dent in the middle - looked horrible against the 18" wheel with a 3.00 tyre fitted so I'm planning to fit a 'short' front mudguard whose aesthetics match the new 19" wheel.
I'll try different mudguard sizes/arcs/radius to get the tight concentric look that sets off a bike.
Hi Splodger,
You're doing the right thing. I know from bitter experience. Back in the early seventies I had a Triumph Speed Twin 5TA. Bathtub version. These had 17" wheels. I junked the 'Roman Centurion's Helmet' shaped front mudguard for a universal stainless probably to suit a 19" wheel. Fitted OK but looked odd. A friends sister, took a B&W picture of me riding past and I have that picture framed on my lounge wall. So the ill fitting mudguard has been haunting me for the past 48 years !!!!
Chris