The tank I'm using is from Pandemonium. I still haven't made a call on my rear wheel yet. I'm going to get a price on having one built and see if it scares me. Be interested to see how that Triumph wheel works out for you nicky.

Does anyone have any experience lacing a 21" front rim to a stock savage Hub and running it on an otherwise stock Savage front end?  Wondering if there were any issues? How does the brake work?  I'm leaning towards having a rear wheel built with a savage hub and an 18" rim. Going to end up building a front wheel to match it. Thinking a 21" up front might work with the 18" on the rear.

Winter is finally giving us a break in the northeast and I've finally had a chance to get back to the bike project. I've decided to go the custom built wheel route. I couldn't bring myself to chop up the stock wheels that I'd already restored(not to mention I had a perfectly sized fender made for the rear) so I sourced a couple of other Savage wheels off eBay. I cut out the hubs, gave them a polishing and dropped them off at the powdercoater yesterday. When I get them back they're going to Buchanans to be laced to matching black anodized rims. Trying to find an appropriate used rim proved challenging. Most of the compatible rims I could find were a little bit on the narrow side for what I was looking for. So I'm biting the bullet and throwing down to get this done right. Here's a before picture of the stuff that's at the powdercoater. Looked so good after I polished it that for a split second I thought about leaving it polished but then the reality of what a nightmare that would be to maintain set in.

That's coming along great I like that tank.  I got my rear wheel back from Buchanan's not to long ago they did a great job. I got the Excel 18x2.50x36 spoke rear rim. Kinda pricey but they're the best in the business. What size width was the the rear rim you ordered? And the brand? It's a great rim but if I build another bobber I do a couple things different like order a much wider rim. I didn't go with a voodoo hardtail I wanted 3" of stretch too which is what voodoo advertised maybe it was 4" not 3"  but that is overall stretch with the backbone sitting higher and I just wanted 3" past the seat post. anyways, (voodoo's  look great though) I went with a custom hardtail from cycleone in OK. With the new hardtail my axle plates are close to a 1/2" thick so I had to find a longer axle that was 17mm(stock) then have the step up side machined down to fit. For the price of that and the rim relaced. I could have got me a wider 18" rim with tire and rear disk brake off a harley or something and save about 400 bucks and have that sweet disk brake instead off the stock drum. I'm having red at cycleone machine my wheel spacers now and darn if those rear spacers aren't gonna be long as hell. Got me kickin myself why didn't I go with the wider tire. For me it seems that the excel 18x2.15 rim is more for the cafe conversion it clears the swing arm I guess no problem but for a bobber hardtail if you got extra room go wider. It was hell trying to squeeze on a 130/70 on that 2.15 rim. That and most your 18" rear tires are for crotchrockets or knobby enduro tires. The sidewalls are smaller than your cruiser tires. unless it's like an 18" rear tire for a harley  which is gonna be a wider rim than 2.15" it's probly a sportbike tire. But I've drunkenly rambled long enough and I'm still gonna rock that excel rim it's so shiny . Can't wait to see yours done love the hardtail bobbers.

my bad supposed to read 2.50" rear not 2.15". That's my front rim width.

I picked up my hubs from the powdercoater and dropped off the front end. I am very pleased with the results. I'm glad I went out of the way to find someone that does lots of bike parts. First thing Monday morning I will be shipping them off to have the wheels built. I need to decide in the next couple of days what size rim and what tire I am going to run on the rear. I love the look of vintage style tires like the Firestone replicas but they get such horrible reviews for performance that I'm not going that direction. A lot of the other vintage style tires are on the narrow side. I'm thinking about going a completely different route and going with an Avon Cobra 150/70. Their website suggests compatible rims are 3.5-4.5 with 4.25 being reccomended. Since Buchanans makes a 4.25 in their Sun line of rims I'm leaning in the direction. I have also looked at the Kenda Challengers but am concerned they are cheap. They offer a 130 which would provide me with the most OD and therefore help most with the low frame clearance issues. I think just about any 18" is going to get me sufficient clearance though, especially if Nickythegreek is putting miles on his with the stock wheels.

The front end parts got back from the powdercoater yesterday. I couldn't be happier with the results.