Just bought this 1980 ironhead a couple months ago and it has this front wheel on it. Looks like the middle piece is removable and it is aluminum. I have no idea what it is looked up all the numbers and cant find even a picture of it anywhere.

 

welcome............and take off the wheel, remove that horribly cut hubcap and see whats hiding behind it.........looks like a home made wheel to me, im no engineer tho, experts incoming


, crap, i am an engineer

 

Never seen one like that before.

 

i know for a fact its not a hubcap. Its solid aluminum in the middle .its just an anodized coating because i took some sandpaper to it and the coating comes off but with some time.

 

Not homemade but definitely a one off custom from before CNC machining centers became common, Sun brand name where common bare rims from back in the 70's & 80's, you'd see similar wheels mid to late 70's in the chopper mags.

 

Whatever it is just make sure you don't ride it until you replace those cracked tires. You do know how to read the date code on the sidewall right? My guess is they'll be way older than the 5 yr max recommended by manufacturers.

 

yes i know. Just got the bike

 

alright cool thanks man. Im gonna sand all that gold coating off and hopefully polish it to chrome. Si we will see how it turns out.

 

That style of fabricated wheel construction was common some years ago, although it is the first I've seen with a full disc. That disc IS the wheel! Honda made zillions of bikes using the same basic construction, but using pressed 'spokes' as a sort of budget cast-styled wheel. This is a Hesketh bike with rivetted wheels, using the same principle:

 

Sanded down all of the gold and gave it a brushed aluminum look. I think it looks a million times better .