SWEET, odd, 1973-1975 hub cover & hybrid front wheel ???

[DogBunny]

Discovered this unusual, but really nice 1974-1983 front wheel hub cover. Top is the late style crappy plastic cover, bottom left is the better early stamped chrome-steel cover, and bottom right is a super-sweet cast aluminum cover.

Crappy plastic, better stamped steel, and uber-nice cast aluminum. I've seen plenty of the other two, but I assume the cast aluminum is rare. Anyone else have one, and on what year bike?

It was on a normal 1974- and later 36-hole hub.

Here's the other side of the wheel, and this is where I am really confused. The rim is the early 1970-1973 chrome steel type (NOT the late 1980 and later chrome-steel type). The rotor is the 1974-76 two piece type (NOT the complicated 1972-73 two-piece type). The hub is the common 1974 and later type. I have never seen or heard of this hub being matched with this rim, and the parts diagrams corroborate this (it "should" be an aluminum-alloy rim). Does anyone else have a wheel like this, and what year is it?

Adding to the mystery is this 1975 parts bike I own. It has the exact same hybrid wheel on it, except the hub cover is the usual stamped chrome-steel type. Note the 34mm forks, forward-mounted caliper, two-piece rotor, all as expected, but matched to a chrome-steel rim. It should be an aluminum-alloy rim. Thoughts?

 

[angus67]

5t has pointed out that cast cover before.

 

[5twins]

I think maybe you're just dealing with P.O. swaps? Does the front rim match the rear on that '75 parts bike? Maybe the P.O. didn't like the flanged alloy rims and swapped on '73 chromed steel ones?

The alloy disc hole cover I think I can help with. It's from the TX750 twin. Search eBay for "TX750 front wheel" and you'll see they all have it. I guess it's also possible it was fitted on some early 650 wheels but I look at them on eBay too and have never seen anything but that stamped steel cover.

I got my 1st one many years ago when I acquired a set of TX750 wheels. Polished up, the thing is beautiful .....

I also like to use the TX750 speedo drive. It's natural alloy and polishes up nice as well. Combined, the look is so much nicer than the black plastic ring and black speedo drive, in my opinion .....

Yes, that alloy cover ring is pretty rare. I've watched eBay for years after getting my 1st on that 750 wheel. I've only seen one up for sale alone as an individual part, and I bought it, lol. The 750 speedo drives, on the other hand, are pretty common. I've managed to score a couple of those reasonably priced (about $10).

 

[DogBunny]

Thank you, that is some really interesting and helpful info. It doesn't completely clear up my mystery, but it helps.
It occurred to me that someone may have swapped a 73 rim onto a 74 hub, except that I now have two wheels like that, and also the hub-rim-spoke patina is consistent on each wheel. But, I guess that's the best explanation, unless someone else has similar wheels.
The first wheel in my pics was paired with a rear wheel that had an XS650 drum and an early-style chrome steel rim. So, the rims are consistent, but not much more can be concluded.
The second rear wheel in my pics was paired with a wheel that I swapped out long ago, now forgotten.

 

[gggGary]

1973 TX650 uses that front wheel and aluminum cover, 73 has the bolted on rotor, only the 72 has the weird floating rotor. (the factory parts fiches tend to have this wrong). pics from 2 of my 73's

 

[DogBunny]

Cool! Thank you! And all is right with the world again. Sure enough, the first wheel in my pics came off of a 1973 TX650 (I had kind of forgotten that), so that wheel now seems to be completely correct. So, this means that it is a one-year only wheel. And yes, the factory fiches, which I agree must be wrong, are what totally confused me.
BTW, thanks too for the recent info on the one-year only 1973 TX650 tank shape.

 

[5twins]

Yes, I thought the '73 wheel had the bolt-on rotor. Looks to have the alloy cover ring and raw alloy speedo drive as well? Another interesting info tidbit has to do with the alloy rim supplier. My 750 rims are made by D.I.D. All the 650 flanged alloy rims I've seen were made by Takasago. Gary, got any early ('74, '75) flanged alloy 650 rims you could check for a manufacturer's name? It would be stamped or cast in near the valve stem hole. The D.I.D. rim might also have a sticker but that could be long gone by now .....

 

[650Skull]

From the Parts Files manuals downloaded from theXScafe.

Same hub used from the 73TX to 80G........ 341- 25111-01
72.....306-25111-00..............................................73......341- 25111-01 .............................................74.....341- 25111-00


80G ........341-25111-01

 

[DogBunny]

Yes, good find, XScafe has a correct 1973 parts catalog. Takes a little searching to find, that site is huge. They also have a combined 72-73 parts catalog with the wrong 73 front wheel info.
My usual go-to parts catalog is the old biker.net files because they are so easy to navigate, but, as seen, they are not perfect. BTW, biker.net is now a commercialized, mostly spam site that has nothing to do with XS650s.

 

[gggGary]

Yes, I thought the '73 wheel had the bolt-on rotor. Looks to have the alloy cover ring and raw alloy speedo drive as well? Another interesting info tidbit has to do with the alloy rim supplier. My 750 rims are made by D.I.D. All the 650 flanged alloy rims I've seen were made by Takasago. Gary, got any early ('74, '75) flanged alloy 650 rims you could check for a manufacturer's name? It would be stamped or cast in near the valve stem hole. The D.I.D. rim might also have a sticker but that could be long gone by now .....

I found the same thing, The TX750 rims were DID the XS650 were tasago. I recently sent the 74 TX650a on to a good home. JRP is picking up littlebill's 74 tomorrow, I'll have him look.

 

[5twins]

Yes, I think we lost the 650Motorcycles.com site too. Wish I would have saved more stuff from it instead of just bookmarking the pages. I try to download and save the 650 info I run across now because I realize it may not be there forever. I think I got all the manuals from the xscafe but I should probably check again. They are kinda spread around on there.

 

[DogBunny]

There is currently a front wheel listed on eBay that I believe is mis-labeled as an XS650, but which I think is actually a TX750. It has the DID aluminum alloy rim and the cast aluminum hub cover. Link here:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/332559964215

 

[5twins]

Yes, I suppose it's possible. Personally, I've never seen or had an early 650 front wheel. The TX750 was produced in '73 and '74. That could make that wheel a '74 650 one I guess. We need Gary to verify the brands on some of his, lol. Boy, those alloy wheels are getting expensive.

 

[JRay77]

Any new ideas on this hub cover? What's the latest and greatest? This is my current predicament.

 

[willis]

JRay, have a look at this one that forum member Beags64 made. Don’t know if he has any more but they are suweeet! He made 3 and 6 hole covers. I have them on both my xs’s.

Or if you just want a stamped one let me know. I think I have a few of those laying around.

 

[Beags64]

JRay, have a look at this one that forum member Beags64 made. Don’t know if he has any more but they are suweeet! He made 3 and 6 hole covers.

Fresh out but should prolly make up another batch

 

[willis]

First hand testimonial here for Beags. And a repeat customer too. Your units are sooo nice. Fit and finish is superb and very reasonably priced. He’s a standup seller too. Can’t give a better recommendation. If he makes another batch I’ll be first in line to order another for my spare wheels.

 

[JRay77]

Fresh out but should prolly make up another batch

Make some. Sell me a set. That's two. Thanks, bye now..... get in the shop....haha.

 

[2XSive]

Interested in a set. Cost?

 

[Jim]

Interested in a set. Cost?

Here's Beags' ad.
For Sale. Hub Covers.