Power Kite Forum

bug rims

lucky_13 - 31-12-2011 at 01:18 PM

hey all if you were to want new rims for your bug what size would you want ? ( height and width ).. would u want aluminum or chrome ? just trying to get a general ideal ... in the process of making a plan to make some ... so any ideals or suggestions would be awesome ... :singing:

AD72 - 31-12-2011 at 01:48 PM

Send a PM to Flexiblade. He was thinking about making some and is in the Sacramento area.

John Holgate - 31-12-2011 at 04:27 PM

Split rims. Std 8" by 4" width. Mick333 has some alloy split rims on his bug at the start of the Speed Week 2011 video - but I believe there is a problem with wear on some of the bolt holes.... good split rims that would take the standard 20mm bearings and be easy to take apart to make changing tires would be very handy. The Sysmic alloy rims are really nice (see pic) but if something like this could be made in a split rim, they'd be awesome.

When I changed my wheels over from the plastic rims, I cheated and took them into the local tire supplier. They reckoned putting the tires on the plastic rims was easy (it had taken me quite some time and effort) but putting the tires on the alloy rims took 2 guys and levers......hence split rims would be great!

Axle and wheel.jpg - 150kB

BeamerBob - 31-12-2011 at 10:46 PM

I had to change tires on my rims like that and the tire store scratched them all to pieces. They sent them to a rim shop and had them polished. they look better than ever now with mirrow finish. The aluminum rims seem to be much harder to get the old tire off of. I wonder if the diameter is larger or something.

lucky_13 - 1-1-2012 at 01:24 AM

i think alot of the problem with the rims ( getting tires on and off ) is being that they are so narrow that the indent were you pull the tire bead to is in the middle of the rim which is what makes it a pain to get them on and off.. lol i worked in a tire shop and it would take two guys on some little wheel barrow tires from time to time ... the split rim would work or what about wider rims like you find on 4 wheelers .. we can make them so you can run atv tires on your buggies .. the atv tires will be cheaper and more durable ... i have access to a machine which can take a chunk of aluminum and cut it out to what ever we want..

cheezycheese - 1-1-2012 at 04:02 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by lucky_13
i have access to a machine which can take a chunk of aluminum and cut it out to what ever we want..

But at what cost....? Aren't those chunks of aluminum pretty expensive...?

cheezycheese - 1-1-2012 at 04:13 AM

The current widths for most rims available are 2.5"(barrows), 4"(midis), and 8". The midis are the "wide" tire you might find on a PL XR+. The 2.5" are the skinny barrow rims, however they will hold even the BF tires. The 8" rims are sweet, however most forks can't accommodate them. They would probably do well with an ATV Tire.
these are 8''

rocfighter - 1-1-2012 at 07:34 AM

Mounting and dismounting is a major problem with centered rims. Off set is far easier to work with. It's all a give and take. With this size alloy I would go with center split. Just use a tube instead of O-ring as it is easier and less chance of deflation.

lucky_13 - 1-1-2012 at 12:05 PM

@ cheezy ... im not sure on the cost yet its my wifes family shop... plus i got him addicted to our sport lol.. that is the good thing about going split rim.. it will have less waste .. 2 smaller pieces vs one big piece less wasted material will cut down on cost a lil :smilegrin:

BeamerBob - 1-1-2012 at 08:44 PM

My Hero buggy has barrow smoothies on the 4" wide size. I have changed many tires on the plastic rims even some with no tools. I couldn't even break the bead on these ally rims and gave up after a half hour. Then the same picture of 2 guys in the tire shop wrestling with them.

You might be able to make something affordable in the family shop but milling from billet aluminum is going to be tough to cover variable costs not to mention making a profit.

There is a longtime PKF member that started a thread on here 3-4 years ago about wanting to order rims from Europe that were going to have a final cost of over $2500, so there are buyers willing to part with large amounts of cash for some bling. I'm interested to see what you come up with and for how much. I would like to upgrade my Apexx wheels before NABX.

RonH - 2-1-2012 at 10:44 AM

I know how tough it is to mount tires on those rims Bob! Especially if you don't want to scratch them with levers...

The drop center is not deep enough and you have to really stretch the tire. Not bad if you are using ribbed barrows but the smoothies are tough.

John Holgate - 2-1-2012 at 03:30 PM

I used this as a reference when I put the midi's on my cheap plastic rims....


Cerebite - 3-1-2012 at 08:17 PM

:thumbup: that is a nice little demo video John. I may be using that soon as I discovered that I have a cracked rim so I may "have" :singing::wee: to get some bling rims [incremental step to bug upgrade]

lucky_13 - 3-1-2012 at 08:21 PM

:bigok: im working on some bling .... im working on what cost would be.... what would be a good price that you all would pay for some nice bling ... im trying to figure out if its worth doing or not any input would be awesome..

BeamerBob - 3-1-2012 at 10:43 PM

Well the Sysmic rims in the video are $95 each, so you'll have to come in around that or have something that looks better or performs better in some way to charge more. You'd sell more if yours look better and/or cost less. It depends on how many you want to make I guess.

lucky_13 - 3-1-2012 at 11:00 PM

not wanting to get rich at all i just came up with a design that i think looks sweet .. so we are going to try and make it ... i dont know what the cost will be .. i do know that the first ones we make will be stupid expensive for us to make tell we get it down then our target would be around $100 we are even looking into going way custom in the way that you send us your design and well make you a set... :cool: who knows it just might work lol or ill have one sweet a$$ paper weight :spin:

lucky_13 - 3-1-2012 at 11:04 PM

:eureka: hey van maybe a cobweb design for your black widow bug lol :cool:

DAKITEZ - 3-1-2012 at 11:14 PM

When you get a sick looking wheel done don't forget me. I love some nice polished wheels :singing:

lucky_13 - 3-1-2012 at 11:17 PM

@ Dino only if you get them dirty in 5mph wind lol :D

DAKITEZ - 3-1-2012 at 11:40 PM

ahh man thats horrible. I can join the .. "I buggy in 2mph club" with you and Alex.

lucky_13 - 3-1-2012 at 11:47 PM

:singing: yeap ... lol great way to get a tan !!!!!