XS650 cafe project

I'm using All Balls wheel bearings on the '75. If working on an XS650, note that the rear wheel has a second spacer/reducer in the drive side bearing that needs transferred to the new bearing before installation. The spokes are the standard plated sets from MikesXS. I almost went with stainless, but for $32 a set these are very nice. They come 40 to a set for some reason, even though it is a 36 spoke wheel.


The short hook spokes are inside, and long hook outside. I place both inside and outside spokes in one side of the hub, and then inside only on the other, then point them all in the proper direction. After setting the rim over the hub and getting the nipples started on those, I then drop in the outside spokes on the remaining side and install the nipples.


Here they are loose laced, out in the sun to see how they will look.






I'm really liking the brushed look I did on the rims and hubs.


For truing I sometimes just clamp an old swingarm in a bench vise, but since the engine stand I made out of a Suzuki lower frame section still had the swingarm pivot, I just used it.