One of my passions in life is wheel building. While some people say I have a bike problem, the people with true eyes for dysfunction notice that I really have a wheel problem with a secondary need for bikes to bolt onto the wheels. While I build plenty of wheels for myself, I really get to have fun when I build a wheel for a friend or customer. Sometimes we get some out-of-the-ordinary combinations that push the boundaries of what is traditional. Since acquiring a spoke machine, I am allowed to build any wheel without hesitation. Not only does this satisfy immediate gratification (a horrible addiction!), my learning has accelerated greatly and I constantly look to find the next set of wheels needed. Enjoy this small gallery of the wheel builds I am fortunate enough to create.
All wheelbuilds are now built through our sister company Volt Riders LLC, so contact us there for your custom wheel needs http://voltriders.com/
JRH
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Here was a fun little lace job with a Crystalyte x5 motor. The original wheel had a BMX tire and rim laced radially.
While it did the job, the customer wanted something a little more rigid. I used a 16″ moped rim with a TW9 dual sport tire. DOT rated pleasure and not much heavier than bicycle parts!
I wish I had one of these for myself, I can only imagine the ripping good times!
Here is a similar wheel that I built for myself. I picked up a proto Maxi Mite motor and laced it into a 17″ motorcycle rim with a good old Gazelle tire.
While it isn’t my favorite motor wheel of all times because of the weight, it was still a good practice. It now has home with a larger rider that needs the extra thermal mass to avoid overheating on hills.
Now for something a bit more nimble! This wheel is for a Honda Hobbit. The original wheel had been trashed by the owner.
He is a solid 280lb guy, so we needed something a bit beefier than stock.
I swapped the 13ga spokes for 12ga and slapped a fancy new rim on too. So far so good, he has put many miles on this one.
Here is another Moped wheel, something for a rear. I don’t even remember anything about this one, except that I laced it up.
Looks like a 16″ rim and tire.
This build was quite the challenge! What you see below is a light trials motorcycle hub laced into a fat bike rim. I put nipples on both ends of the spoke to allow a strong build without using washers or oversized spokes.
This wheel is destined for a ultra light electric motorcycle. Minimal impact off road vehicle delight.
Good old standby- the 9c hub combined into a classic moped rim. I have built many of these wheels! They work very well with both 13ga and 12ga spokes. When lacing the 9c hub into a bicycle rim we always use 13/14 butted spokes.
The following wheel is a 17″ moped rim laced into a DMR Revolver QR20 hub with 13ga spokes and oversized nipples. I drool over this wheel, and have built quite a few. I keep wanting to build one for my stable, but chase too many projects at a time to have it float far enough up the list.
Yep, I’m in love.
Just me messing around with a Puch rear hub and 16″ rim. I thought it looked cool.
This is a roller brake/ generator hub a customer sent me to lace up with black spokes and silver nipples. I like the combo, it looks pretty hot. The hub is just plain slick!
A wee little Bafang motor hub laced into a wee little rim! If I recall properly it was for a recumbent front wheel using a 16″ bicycle/ wheelchair tire.
I don’t even know what this build is, just some big hub motor laced into a Chinese rim. Maybe a Golden Motor hub? It looked very pretty and shiny!
Somebody needed more spokes than I did on this day! They will be busy building wheels!
A rear Puma 500w motor laced into a DX32 rim with 13/14 spokes. This is MY wheel that I love to rock on light ebikes.
This customer needed a custom wheelset for a classic moped show bike. He provided the painted rims, and hubs. I provided the black spokes, gold nipples, and labor. They look sharp!
Another DMR hub and moped rim! Extra beautiful!
DMR hub laced into a DX32, I need this for my street bike!
We have another electric moped wheelset built with the Cromotor and DMR revolver hub.
I installed Gazelle moped tires on this for the customer.
Next up is a set of wheels built for a chain drive electric bike. He wanted something really stout so we settled on Worksman Cycle rims mated to Paul Disc hubs with 13ga spokes.
Plenty of stretch to keep the hubs happy, and plenty of strength to keep the rider happy!
Here is a one day marathon of lacing. I hired some help for this day to do the loose lacing while I made spokes and tightened, trued, and cold set the wheels.
It was pretty cool to compare all the different builds at the same time. Cromotor + Large Marge rim is my new favorite!
Some detail shots of the Cromotor with Large Marge. Only 26 pounds 12 ounces for such a beast!
We used 12ga Sapim Spokes with head washers and an angle drilled rim.
BEEF!!
