The Hodaka Club Forum

I picked up this 96 Dirt Squirt at Hodaka Days. It was missing cylinder and head and pipe which I was able to find at Hodaka days. The wheels are 18” rear and 21” front. The rims are not in great shape, fair amount of rust and pitting. I would like to replace the the wheels back to the stock 17” 19”. Size.
Does anyone know of a good source to find proper rims? I see Hodaka Parts, Inc has spoke sets but not rims.
Thank you,
Bob

Unless your real short, stay with the 18/21, handles great and its hard to find a 17 knobby

. . . and I pretty much lean the direction tether is going. The toaster tank Dirt Squirt is a mighty fun little bike to ride with the stock size tires. I just finished the Bad Rock Trail ride on one a little over a week ago. Yes, tire selection can be problematic -- but handleable. And a Dirt Squirt with 18 and 21 inch tires is an "Ace 100 Wombat(same frame as Wombat)" with a slightly shorter swing arm. The nifty thing is . . . there is no wrong answer on this topic.
Ed

You can find used rims on places like eBay. But things have really gone up in prices. A few years ago you could buy a complete rear wheel or front wheel with a used tire on it, respectable spokes and a fairly clean rim for $40-50 plus shipping. I would tell them to remove the tire to save weight because I was going to put new tires on anyway.

Now a front or rear wheel can cost you $100-125 easily, plus shipping.

If you are willing (and know how) to respoke a wheel, you can buy 17/19” rims for about $60-75 a rim and about $130 per wheel for a set of spokes. But there is a guy, named Kim, out of Thailand, who sells spoke sets for $75 for a front & rear set plus $33 shipping. I’ve had fairly good luck with him, and if he makes a mistake he makes good on it.

Here’s a couple of wheels I have restored & re-spoked for a Combat Wombat with spokes from Kim.

Victor

Thanks guys.
I like the idea of the fun smaller bike. I already have a Wombat and a modified Road toad. And some other non Hodaka stuff.
I am comfortable lacing my own wheels. I have used some of the spokes that come out of Asia through EBay. They were ok, correct size and bend. I’m not sure about the quality of the plating, time will tell.
The new Asian rims you find on EBay are priced ok but shipping is killer.
I will go ahead and build the Squirt with what I have for now and keep an eye out for the smaller rims.
Bob

David Ditcher has a few sets of wheels he will be selling. He posted on the Fan Page. Says he will take them to Mid-Ohio. So I would contact him ASAP if you’re interested. You can message me for his ph. #. Victor