Big wheels

[Uncle Stretch]

Got my wheels today. The one set is a 26x2.5'' wide already laced to a Nexus 3 speed. The second set is a 26x4'' with wide hubs. Being the hardheaded person that I am, I bypassed the spoke calculator stuff and grabbed some 10'1/2'' spokes I had. I figured if it didn't work was no biggie to pull them back apart. I wound up about 2 threads sticking out of each nipple , but the rims are double wall and they are way below the inside. I read on another web site that you could lace a Sach's 7 speed to them , because unlike the Nexus 7 speed the shifter part is like the 3 speed with it on the outside.You can run the offset sprocket without any problem. Its also about an inch wider between the flanges. I tried to stick that 26x3 Kenda flame on and I' telling you , they don't just jump on there. The only tube I have is a 26x 2.125 and when I tried to air it up it started raising the spot where the valve stem is before it would fill out the tire. Somebody said that you could run two tubes. How do you do that? Drill another hole where the other valve stem goes? Does that really work or should I wait and buy a bigger tube?

 

[thatismytruck]

I dunno about that 26x3. I think even with a properly sized tube it will not work quite right. I wouldn't drill another hole, btw.

those are fine looking rims made for an Uncle Stretch frame for sure.

 

[Uncle Stretch]

I just hate to spend another $150 on tires and tubes. This project is getting expensive. Did anybody feel the economy pick up a little. Maybe somebody got a job today. :roll: :roll: The 10 1/2'' spokes worked perfect on the 4'' wide front hub. I got it spoked and its close....got to go true it . This is working out pretty good so far. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Rat Rod]

They do look really cool...man they are wide! :shock:

 

[Uncle Stretch]

Ok both done and trued. Got one almost roadbike true, and the other has just a hint of a bobble. May work on it some more and get it out. These were nice to work with. :lol:

 

[udallcustombikes]

If you wanted to run two tubes- drill the stem hole 180• from the original and offset to the other side of the rim. You would just have to inflate both tubes a little at a time to keep the pressure equal. Or perhaps a motorcycle tube would work?

 

[Dr. Tankenstein]

That 4" rim probably made a huge difference in the profile of that tire,huh?
It looks like the whole tread touches the ground vs. the center portion.

 

[Uncle Stretch]

Yeah I'm not real crazy about the 3'' ones not working. I will come up with some other tubes before I spend $200 on those endomorph ones. They are ugly too.

 

[X-RAY]

this doesnt help much since you already invested in the rims, but ive been wondering lately about the possibility of using one of those space-saving spare tires from a small car (i call em imaginary spares) on the back of a bike. im sure someone has done it before, maybe at fbn. they are already kinda dished, just need some ingenuity to create hubs.

 

[Spincycle]

Lucky! I didn't get around to ordering stuff from Choppers US untill a couple days after the sale started and I missed out on those 2.5's, oh well. Here's my two cents. I would get the Surley tube (26 x 3-4") from Choppers US. Then I would go to the hardware store and buy a rubber gromet to put in the valve hole in the rim. This should accomodate the presta valve quite nicely. Having said that the gromet would be black most likely and you have silver rims. If that doesn't float your boat I would reccomend contacting Gary at 3g bikes. I saw at Interbike that they have some nice 26 x 3.45 tires the "Boa-g". I'm sure they'll also be able to provide a tube as well. http://www.3gbikes.com. You can see the tires on this website http://www.newportcruisers.com/featured-bikes/3g-newport-boa-g-3-speed-glossy-black.html. I would be interested to know how wide the 26x3" kenda is on those 2.5's as this is the setup I'd like to try on my cruiser. Looking forward to more pics.

 

[Uncle Stretch]

Thanks for reminding me about those. We had a discussion about them when they first came out.
http://www.ratrodbikes.com/forum/viewto ... 8&p=236107 They were a little sketchy about the size back then. They supposedly make a 26x3.45 and call it a slicky g . They are cheap too if they still have them.
http://www.3gbikes.com/components/boa_g_tires.html I will have to get in touch with them after turkey day and check them out. The tread pattern looks way better than the endomorph and if they really are that cheap , I will be buying a set.
I should be able to put the 26x3 kendas on the 2.5 rims today and post some pics of them too. My wife saw the 4'' wide ones when I unpacked the boxes and said "I want those on my bike" (the basman style bike) I tried to explain to her that I spent 3 days doing the rear triangle on that frame and I wasn't going to cut it off to make it wider. She said why not? Now I have never hit a woman.. Anyway I'm hoping I don't have to cut that frame for 4'' wide rims too. Chopping the one off my orange frame will be enough. Gonna have to change my name to Uncle Rebuilder if this doesn't let up.

 

[Uncle Stretch]

Upon reflecting on all this , the 2 1/2'' rims would have been sufficient . All this cutting frames and buying more tires has gotten a little out of hand. Sometimes you let yourself make decisions , that may be a little out there , just because you have always wanted something. Might have been the same with that first wife deal ....Oh well I guess you only go around once and you might as well get what you want in life. One thing ,this bike ought to look really cool with 4'' wide tires ,in the garage sale she will have when I die. :wink:

Ok here are the 26x2 1/2'' black alloy with a nexus 3 speed. They look plenty big. It doesn't flatten out the tread on the Kendas , but looks really good.

 

[Uncle Stretch]

Here is a before and after on my wife's bike.

After with one 2.5 on the back

 

[Markm]

Beefy!!!

 

[outskirtscustoms]

:mrgreen: I envy you, Sweet bike!

 

[Uncle Stretch]

Thanks guys its going to make a couple bikes look better. :wink:

 

[user 135]

That looks great on the wife's bike.

 

[Uncle Stretch]

Thanks Clancy. The only problem now with that one ,is you can't stuff a 3'' wide tire in a Monark springer. Hate to not use that other wide rim , but it might kill the look If I change forks and stick a big one on the front. Who knows.

 

[Spincycle]

That tire and rim combo is perfect in my opinion. Wish I'd got on line earlier. I really like the look of the wider wheel in the back with the matching narrower tire in the front on your wife's bike. The tire does seem to have squared out enough that I bet it wouldn't handle as well as the narrower one on the front. Now all you've got to do is paint the fork and handle bars black. :wink: What is the final width of the tire on the 2.5"?

 

[Uncle Stretch]

If you tried to shove it in something 3'' wide it would be tight....looks like 2 15/16 ths.
I guess if worse comes to worse and I can't use the 2.5 rim on the front of her bike ,I can always lace the almost new 3 speed nexus hub to the other one and make another wide rear wheel. :roll: