Chris Willis is probably one of the few people remaining in the world that can do this kind of precision work the way that he does (with basic hand and eye measurements, math, angles, pencil, paper, and lots of experience). Bravo!
Anyone who has ever just tried to true a spoke wheel will sit in amazement at the skill and knowledge displayed here 😃👍. (And the project bike is coming along nicely too 😉!)
Sir Paul McCartney in the background @Willis Wheels… I like it! Watching the wheel rim being punched and then straightened was pretty interesting. I’ve never seen this before. Thanks for showing the process. It’s amazing to see how he keeps tweaking the spokes until perfect. To me, the length of the video was no issue. Educational entertainment takes what it takes. Well done! The new tire looks great! Happy riding.
Great video. As a bicycle mechanic and wheelbuilder myself, I was watching that (as I do all your content ) with great interest. Wheelbuilding is a craft, something between a science and an art. You need to decide on what sort of spokes and rim you want, measure, cut and thread spokes. The higher the number of crosses the spokes make, the stronger the wheel - as long as the angle isn't too acute. And finally, trueing itself has three components - lateral, radial, and dishing. Again, great video and full marks to you for going with a hand - built wheel, and to Willis Wheels for their craft.
That thread rolling machine gave me goose bumps, wouldn't want to get my fingers too close, though! Very informative video, Tony, thank you. It didn't seem long at all.
Great to see such skill and craftsmanship at work here, this lovely gentleman is an absolute master at his game and not a computerised machine in sight. Reminds me of the consequences as kids when we decide to tighten your bike wheel spokes, especially when you have to tell your dad that you've just knackered your bike wheel. Never tightened a spoke since that day. Loved this Tony thank you.
Excellent video Tony, it's definitely an art form. I've never been able to live with the rapidly corroding spokes fitted as standard on various bikes I've owned, and always get them rebuilt using heavy duty stainless spokes, rims anodised etc . Your Enfield is looking great, the new size rim is spot on! Cheers, Steve
Very nice Tony! It's a joy watching someone apply their craft to create something that leaves you wondering how they did it. I am glued here and await anxiously for all your upcoming vids!
wow Tony what a great idea to film the process of wheel building, bike is coming nicely together, but have to tell the wheel builder is par excelant, what a craftsmanship in full display, always appreciated "how its made" stuff, looove it, cheers V!
Loving the series Tony and can’t wait to see what more you do to your interceptor. I did something similar to my interceptor but went slightly more extreme 17” rims front and back with 3” 150/17 tyres 😬😬
@@daveinwla6360 on the 17” front?…it made it turn in slower and for the first 30-40min it felt very odd but it didn’t take long to get used to it. For me, the fatter front end has given me a bit more confidence in the front end. Not a big fan of the standard Pirelli’s ..HTH.
@@madhouse074 - Not unexpected from a standpoint of basic physics. In this case, the fatter tires give greater angular momentum - resulting in more resistance to turning and being harder to slow down and accelerate.
Always fascinating, watching an accomplished expert at work. Is he a mechanic, an artist or a craftsman? All three perhaps? plus he can easily mix inches and millimeters.
yes, i think mixing inches and millimetres is a traight of English people of a certain age. Mind you Chris is normally working on wheels from the 1920's to the 1960's!
@@mancavemoto I did not like the Pirelli Phantoms on my 2017 Triumph Bonneville Street Cup. They would follow uneven cracks filled with tar to correct the road surface. I installed Conti Road Attack 3's on the bike and ran over the same roads with the tar snakes and the Road attack 3's were just great. I have confidence in the Contis that I never had with the Pirellis. When it first jerked my wheels the handlebar all most came out of my hand. Scared the shit out of me. HaHa. Nice choice, I like the new wheels and tires. Take care and ride safe.
Hi Bill, yep I had the phantoms on my street twin and didn’t like them. The problem is that they are an OEM tyre that’s not as good as a Phantom you’d buy off the shelf. They are made in a different factory to a lower cost. Seems a strange thing for Pirelli to do
Great watching the wheel builder at work..Sure is an art truing the wheel.... No wonder cast wheels are predominant nowadays..Just one question, namely because I went for a wider rim on my Triton years ago. Did you check the available space between the swinging arm before deciding on a wide profile tyre....
Indeed it is. Yes I measured up to make sure the wider tyre cleared the chain and would have no issues with the swingarm. I had the benefit of seeing a bike with a 150 rear tyre, although that retained the 18 inch rear rim
This is fascinating, equal parts science and art. Thanks for sharing the process. I wonder if he'd take work from US customers? Love the idea of a wider 17 inch tire
Interesting, having built wheels for bicycles it's very similar process is involved except I didn't have to punch holes in the rims or cut spokes and make the treads on them. Definitely looks good on the bike interested on how the bike feels now with more rubber on the back.. Cheers mate
Lovely work there both on the bike and in making this video. Glad you retained the workmanship and no problem at all about the longer video. Have subscribed, guess I posted a question on your other video already about height and ground clearance. This video made me ask another question, is the rim width the same or more than the 18"? Cheers!
Wow great job done by you and your team. Now what is your riding experience on different speed as there are so many persons have change the stock dimensions but they aren't successful specially in the higher speed the bike have wobbling issues. s
It really does make a big difference to the looks. I had an inkling that building up spoked rims was tricky, but if it takes 100 or so tries to get the knack of it, it really doesn't make sense to DIY, does it?
I haven't found any so far, but you could try Fastec Racing in Newmarket, who could probably build one to your spec. I've seen their CNC work and its incredible!
Guess im ditchin my hole punch&hammer idear 😥😭...just kidding,great vid mate,shows what a pro will do&talkabout in a shop convo to you if you wanted a shop in say aus or us/euro ..vs a jocky chasing $$ talking crap just to get some money..
You can use tubeless rims, they are just more expensive and a little bit more work when it come to lacing apparently. If you switch the front to a 17, you'll have to ensure the speedo still reads correctly
You’d need to speak to Chris for current prices as the rims would have changed since the video was made. At the time rim and work plus tyre was about £450-500
Great job Man… unfortunately you can’t do this job in Italy.. 😢 Local law don’t allow to change tyres size different from the motorcycle registration document… 😢
Lovely, just having better quality rubber has made a big improvement. It still feels manoueverable, but a little more planted and it rolls into bends much nicer now
The rim could possibly squeeze a 150 on it, but then the overall diameter would be larger, which changes the bikes angle and more importantly gearing. Moving to a 17 inch rim allows the wider 150 tyre and retain the same overall diameter.
@@mancavemoto ah, yes, so in order to retain the overall diameter you would need a smaller Rim. But why do you need to change the gearing with bigger wheel?
Correct, if I put the 150 tyre on the 18 inch rim the overall wheel would be taller, effectively changing the gearing slightly. The rear wheel has to rotate further, which would give a higher speed for the same revs. So 70mph would now be 74mph. It’s not much, but it also robs acceleration a little. Secondary to that is the availability of certain tyres in 18 inches and there would be some clearance issues too 👍
Thanks for your reply. I am trying to buy 17x3.50" (120/70-17 front tire) & 17x4.25" rear (for 150/70-17 tire). Can you please advise, these setup will work on interceptor 650 without any issues?
The rear is the same as on mine, so no issues with that, just keep an eye on the clearance on the chain guard. It appears that they don’t all fit the same on these bikes, but it’s easy to trim. Not sure about the front, sounds like it will be ok
@@mancavemoto Had problems in the past, or just suspicious? I'm about to replace my tyres and thinking I might try the kit. Everyone I know that is running the kit is pleased with the results..
So many people spending too much time and way too much money on overcapitalising their interceptors with what they consider their preferred aesthetic. Also everything a bit technical gets done by some expert at great cost, do it yourself Obviously you blokes spend far more time looking at your bikes rather than riding them. I've been riding here in Australia for 45 years and always do all my own work including making custom parts. I have a near new interceptor with which I hunt down and blow away Triumphs on the many great bike roads around Armidale NSW. So stop looking at your tyre size or getting the brat stance and get out and ride the thing! Regards, Brian
At any point have you checked the milometer on this bike? Brian maybe you’re spending too much time writing these type of comments on RU-vid videos instead of riding your bike? Wheel building is also a highly skilled speciality and one which is rather entrust to an expert.
I understand English, I'm a native speaker, but ol' mate might as well have spoken Arabic or Mandarin. I would have understood just as much. 😆 Love his passion and competence!
@@Tomasz.P___b I think what Jimmy B is saying is that the technical explanation of it all is not easy to grasp. I heard every word also but not being wheel builder it was all gobbly gook to my brain.
