Wire Wheel / Cast Wheel Swap

[pekingduck]

In doing my swap, it looks like 2017 EX wire wheels and 2014 DLX cast wheels can be easily swapped using OEM parts. 2014 DLX and 2017 EX use the same rear disc. Others use a different part number that may work fine, or a new disc will be needed. 2013 models also have a rear axle issue addressed below.

This is a list of 2017 EX wire wheel parts for the 2014 DLX. Use your old F & R calipers and axles, rear disc, sprocket and dampers. Prices were found online at well below suggested retail from hondaparts-direct.com:

Front:
wheel assembly ...........$523
pulser ring and bolts ........22
L & R disc rotors ...........610
12 disc bolts ...................17
tube/rim strip................. 25
L & R wheel spacers ........15
------------------------
Front subtotal ...........$1212


Rear:
wheel assembly ...........$615
tube/rim strip .................28
L & R wheel spacers ........26
caliper bracket ................97
brake hose .....................37
drive flange ..................128
pulser ring and bolts.........55
speed sensor..................116
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rear subtotal .............$ 1102

If you have a non-ABS 2013/2014 model, you may need to shim the right front disc outward 2mm because a pulser ring isn't used. On a 2013 ABS, the speed sensor is mounted into the right caliper bracket, and later bikes have a separate bolt-on bracket. The front pulser ring has a different part number, so the speed sensor location/spacing may be different. But there are ways to check or compensate.

At the rear wheel of either 2013, the 25mm axle causes problems compared to the 20mm on the later bikes. You would need to use the later 20mm axle and chain adjusters, and make spacers where the axle passes through the swingarm - with a 2.5mm wall thickness, they would be a little fragile. Or use a later swingarm.

I went the other way, putting 2014 DLX cast wheels on my 2017 EX. It was a bolt-on using OEM parts. Only slight problems were caused by speed sensors. The rear speed sensor wire was shorter than the original, and needed to be carefully routed and secured. The front had too large an air gap, but I didn't check it beforehand. I was able to put 0.5mm shims/washers between the separate speed sensor bracket and the fork leg.

The cast front wheel weighed 20.2 lbs with discs.
The wire-spoke wheel weighed 16 lbs with discs - add 1 lb for the tube.

The cast rear wheel weighed 18 lbs with disc.
The wire-spoke wheel weighed 17.5 lbs with disc - add 1 lb for the tube.

Net weight reduction is 2.7 lbs. I used my shipping scale, so only fairly close.

This applies primarily to US 2013, 2014, and 2017 models, and probably Canadian models. Check with your local parts department to be sure.