Best Budget Rim Brand

[gregwils]

This is about my fourth rim/spoke question, so hope I don't get banned from the board. I am working on a Monza Jr with original 16" rims. The current rims are about a 4 on a 1 - 10 scale because the front one is slightly out of round. I feel like I need to invest in new rims, so am going to upgrade to 17" - 18's aren't suppose to fit a Junior. I have an opportunity to buy two 17 x 1.60 rims in either D.I.D. or Radaelli for about $200. My Junior came with 16 x 1.60 front and 1.85 rear, but it seems as though most of the singles of the era had the same size front and rear so I think it will be fine as long as I have the correct size tires for the 1.60 rims - 2.5F and 2.75 rear.

My question is if it were your $200, would you buy the Radaelli because that was the OE brand or would you buy the D.I.D. because they may be a little better quality (both rims are steel)? Thanks.

[Single duck]

If it were my bike I'd fit neither. Radaelli were OE fitment but they are still at the budget end of the market even now (and THAT is being kind to them). DID are better (OE on some Hondas I believe so must be better quality), but still not what I would choose to fit to one of my own bikes.
IF I had the $200 and IF I had to make the choice I'd keep it somewhere safe and save for a better pair of rims. But hey, I have a vested interest, I sell rims - steel, chromed, stainless and aluminium, even Borrani replicas. So I can pick and choose what I fit to my bikes.
When you think of Radaelli rims, do you ever hear the following description? "Show winning, triple plated Italian chrome" and "durable, long lasting quality chrome"
But it's your bike and you do with it as you will. Hope that helps.

[lumbee]

...I'll give you the 'cheap bastard' take, which is, I would go with DID, seeing as how they were the manufactures choice on many major brands.

I am interested in hearing more about your sourcing of rims and spokes. I also have a monza jr. that I am doing a resto on. I was considering moving to 17's, but I fear clearance issues between the tires and fenders, especially in the rear, and the current 16 seems awful tight.

Where are you getting your spokes?

[gregwils]

Single Duck - thanks for the response. The 45 year old chrome on the original 16's is surprisingly good for 45 year old chrome, however, I keep reading that I should expect to be sweeping up chrome flakes after 2 or 3 years so I trust that there would be issues with the Radaelli.

If $200 for the set is way too low, what it the price point for a rim at the low end of acceptable quality? Buchanan's sells D.I.D. prices seem to start just north of $200/rim which seems about the same price point as the few Akronts that they have listed. I have read that they are decent quality. (I know it can be tough to interpret the writer's tone in an e-mail, not trying to be smart, just learning.)

Keep in mind that bike will struggle to be worth much more than $2,000-2,500 in near perfect form, so I am just trying to manage the budget.

[gregwils]

Lumbee - Tom Bailey's book says 17's will fit the junior frame and swing arm. Others have told me the same. Tom says an 18 will fit but the rear fender needs to come off. I have measured and am confident the 17 will fit. I will let you know what I come up with on the rim source, will make my decision in a week or two. Thanks.

[Single duck]

£ for £ I would put the DID streets ahead of the Radaelli. For the kind of money you are talking about there are very few comparitive products. Like I say, as OE suppliers to The Mighty Hodna empire, has to mean something in terms of quality.

Trust me, I KNOW what you mean about being on a budget I reckon I have about 3 years worth of disposable income needing investment in various Ducati projects.

Exhibit A.

[DesmoDog]

Proof (almost) positive that 17" wheels/tires will fit a Monza Jr.



I say almost positive because these are not stock fenders... However when I was looking for the picture I recalled I even pulled the front fender closer to the tire than it was with the "stock" (for an 85cc Bronco?) mounts, though again it's not stock to the Monza Jr so that doesn't mean much I suppose. I'm 99% sure the stock fenders would work just as well though. Also now that I think back, those are shocks off a 250 Monza which are a tad longer maybe? But that fender is on the stock mounts.

Here's a shot with a non-valanced fender to give a better idea of how much room there is with the larger wheel (and stock shocks)




There is a lot of room above the stock wheel so I highly doubt that would be an issue.