Replacement Rims for XJ550 Maxim 1981

Hi everyone!
Quick questeion, are there any rims out there for purchase (maybe aftermarket) to replace the Original Rims on a 1981 XJ550 Maxim?

(e.g. Chrome Rims, Aloy Rims, etc.)

Any input is greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

 

... I guess No One has yet installed different rims on their XJ's? Hard to believe :-(

Hopefully someone can still help with an idea?

Thank you guys!

 

It's "parts room engineering" and a bunch of us are all working on it at the same time, trying to figure out which wire-spoke Yamaha rims can be substituted and at what cost, mod-wise. There are two or three threads running.

I've been working on it too, but then I realized it might be a "backgrade" so until I can WEIGH a Yamaha wire wheel and a cast one of the same size I'm kind of holding off... I may just get my cast wheels powder-coated overall gloss black.

One of the members just posted about trying to POLISH a set of cast wheels, that could prove interesting. Or possibly have them powder-coated "chrome" or gold?

 

Hi Bigfitz52, thank you so much for your reply to my question I guess Power Coating sounds like a nice Idea, if there are no other rims outhere that fit the XJ's!! Thanx again and I guess time will tell!

 

I would thing the 550 being chain driven, would make it a whole lot easier to find a match.
Same diameter and width, then it's just down to the number of teeth on it.
I could be wrong?

 

Seca 550 rims should be a direct swap,although the Seca rear rim is an 18" unit.

 

You would think that's the case, but not quite. The 550 Max has a different rear brake, you'd have to swap the whole assembly.

The XS650 "Heritage Special" from about 82 or 83 (right at the "end of life" for the XS650) LOOKS to have a virtually identical rear brake assembly (but with wire wheels.) The front looks close too.

The other concern I have is the cush-drive in the hub, and the effect swapping with a bike that had a rear hub NOT designed for the 4 cylinder mill's power ouput. Dunno about the disintegration factor.

Like I said, the more research I do the more I'm beginning to think that while they LOOK cool as all get-out, wire spoke wheels may be a giant step BACKWARD and are losing a bit of their appeal to me.

 

I didn't think of that, the brakes would have to be compatible.

 

This is a Virago 750 wheel. It needed a bit of tweeking to work and I have an XS650 rear that I need to cut spacers for. The rear brakes are identical but because of wheel width I have to bend in the rod that holds the brake assembly. Not too difficult but not a bolt-on.

 

Very nice gys, thanx for all the input!! If I find simething I will Post it, gotta do also some more research on this!