March 12, 20251 yr Hi, I have a Cotton Starmaker trials bike and need to have the wheels rebuilt. Can anyone advise me as to what sort of rims I should fit - S/S , Alloy or chrome ? Also should I fit chrome or s/s spokes? Thank you.
March 13, 20251 yr What's your intentions? Build a genuine replica, or a modern pre 65? If you have the original steel rims you could get them reconditioned and keep the bike original. Regardless of the rims I wouldn't waste time with anything other than SS spokes. Expensive but worth it if you intend to keep the bike for any amount of time.
March 13, 20251 yr Author Faussy, thank you. The bike is actually a replica built by "fluff" Brown in 1997 of a 1966 Cotton Starmaker and yes I am planning to restore it although I suspect availability of parts may make that difficult. Thinking about what you said then I should fit steel rims and i agree with S/S spokes. Thanks again. Stephen.
March 13, 20251 yr I’m rebuilding a Beamish Suzuki and going Alloy rims with SS spokes, I’m going to trial it, I’ve done older stuff for show and have used Stainless Rims which are nice and shiny and don’t tend to rust like the chrome option.
March 13, 20251 yr 4 hours ago, kevin2306 said: I’m rebuilding a Beamish Suzuki and going Alloy rims with SS spokes, I’m going to trial it, I’ve done older stuff for show and have used Stainless Rims which are nice and shiny and don’t tend to rust like the chrome option. I haven't heard of trials bike stainless steel rims previously. Where did you source them from?
March 14, 20251 yr 10 hours ago, feetupfun said: I haven't heard of trials bike stainless steel rims previously. Where did you source them from? Not used SS rims on a trials bike just older Road Bikes that I have restored.
March 14, 20251 yr 10 hours ago, feetupfun said: I haven't heard of trials bike stainless steel rims previously. Where did you source them from? you can get them here https://www.central-wheel.co.uk/products/classic-rims/stainless-steel-rims.html I have a pair of ss rims on an old greeves.
March 14, 20251 yr On 3/12/2025 at 6:22 PM, stephen555 said: Hi, I have a Cotton Starmaker trials bike and need to have the wheels rebuilt. Can anyone advise me as to what sort of rims I should fit - S/S , Alloy or chrome ? Also should I fit chrome or s/s spokes? Thank you. Think y´ll be happy with alloy rims and shiny S/S spokes with chromed brass nipples, as per Central Wheel. Edited March 14, 20251 yr by carl ekblom
March 14, 20251 yr Remember to get the rims properly drilled for your hubs and spokes. Have a look at for instance Villiers Services homepage Lots of interesting stuff.
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