Should I be worried?
 

I'm sure someone else has come across this before. I've noticed several cracks in the rear wheel of my transalp. They all appear to be on the outside but I can't really tell how deep they are. Inside the rim there doesn't appear to be any corrosion.

But there are a lot of them. Some pictures are below but all together there are cracks around about 10 or 12 of the spokes and numerous hairline cracks elsewhere on the rim.

I am meant to be leaving on a six month trip in a couple weeks and would quite like to avoid having the wheel collapse in the middle of a desert or on top of a mountain. Should I be worried about that? Should I try to get replacement wheels or just ignore it? Or any other creative suggestions (a combination of welding and gaffer tape has already been mentioned)

http://i.imgur.com/1Uzral.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/MNIQHl.jpg

I wouldn't ride on that wheel to the end of the street, never mind for 6 months.
From the tone of your questions, I suspect that you have a similar view.

Yes, I would be worried. I would sort this before I leave for a trip.

A local wheel builder put on 2 used rims (off a Cagiva and a BMW) and new spokes onto the hubs of my 1987 Transalp for £125 in total. Worth the investment, IMHO. FWIW, if I replaced another back rim, I'd make sure I put an 18 inch one on. More tyre models available in 18 inch, particularly if you're out in the boonies.

Chris

I am not sure why you are asking this questiondoh That wheel is an accident waiting to happen, I am no great bike cleaner but the state of those spokes!:nono:


As suggested by Chris, get an 18" rim laced to your hub, not sure it will be as cheap as whats been suggested tho, anyway good luck and lucky you had your own doubts before riding off into the sunset:palm:

I had the same thing on my transalp, failed an MOT and from memory cost around £200-300 to get it rebuilt.

That wheel is worse than scrap. Did you find it in a ditch somewhere ?

Is the front in a similar condition ??

I'd have no hesitation in getting both wheels rebuilt before toddling off on a long trip.

One of the advantages of living in God's Own County, rather than Londonistan, is that we get ripped off a bit less here. Both replacement rims were used but with no corrosion, (and definitely not in any way suicidally rotten like those pictured above). The new spokes were the cheaper of the 2 options available and now show a little surface corrosion (a hazzard of riding in winter).

The ones that came off the bike were similarly nasty to those pictured above. Actually they weren't quite as dangerous...

The wheel builder's name is Peter Jackson and he's in Outlane, near Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.

Chris

Detecting a bit of a theme in the answers here :)

Thanks for the responses, pretty much what I was expecting. Some people have said not to worry about it but I probably would have got them changed anyway. I was wondering why the back felt a little sloppy recently but thought it was just to do with tyres needing replacing. If it wasn't for a flat I probably wouldn't have noticed....

The front wheel isn't quite as bad as the back, but probably should be relaced as well.

Looks like there is a problem with getting hold of new rims at the moment, something like a 5-6 week lead time - I am meant to be leaving in 2. Oh well, makes it more interesting :D

FWIW, the Honda TA/Dommi/AfTwin rims tend to rot from the inside outwards. So, just because your front rim looks ok, I'd check by taking the tyre off if I were you. There's likely to be a nasty surprise waiting.

You don't need new rims, nor particularly Honda rims. The only critical thing is that the hubs and the rims take the same number of spokes. My new/used rear Cagiva rim on my TA hub is a bigger size than the original, meaning I can run a fatter back tyre (say a 150/17! (not that it would fit in the swing arm!) or 140/17, rather than the standard 120/17). As also suggested, put on an 18 inch rim.

I hope you're not saying it's impossible to find a new or used rear 18 inch rim available today in the UK. If you are, you're not looking very hard.

Good luck,
C

I had my TA rear wheel rebuilt here: Welcome - sfx wheels

Actually, it was more renewed than rebuilt as I had the works. New rim, stainless spokes, hub & sprocket carrier powder coated etc.

Not cheap but it's a top quality job and they turned it around pretty quickly too.