Whats about that Z-Rim hyp? (2024)

Hi there,

looking through the pages I can see a lot of Z-Rim Wheels.
As long as I can remember, those Rims/Wheels where too flexible for serious riding, jumping or even freesytle. Everybody I can remember having a z-rim wheelset in those days said they same ...for us it was even a game to make them flex in 90 degree and after the first "hysteria", nobody got fooled by them anymore.

So, in my opion they might be "area-correct", but for riding not useble...so, what`s the deal?

cu, Ladis

not sure there was an official hype on Zrims, but they were a nice alternative and very cool looking for the colors. remember that we also thought nylon addicks sprockets and nylon hair swivel hair triggers were cool, too.

these are my own survivors from the early 80s freshly restored.
They still work just fine but I wouldn't try to abuse them nowadays.

In the past, the flex in these rims kept me from cracking or bending a Kuwahara on several occasions.

nowadays, if they are slightly bent, you have to be careful adjusting the spokes so you don't pull a spoke through the nylon. and in some cases you have to live with a bit of wobble, whereas a real rim would be "true-able"

on the other hand, this yellow set was NOS never ridden. and they are dead true.

Last edited by BridgeCity (2008-01-14 9:07am)

I remember a friend of mine and me doing some lakejumping and the way to the ramp was going down a hill ( for speed..).

As he speeded down that hill , his rear Z-rim bent and so he started sliding up the ramp with that bent rim. Just befor he came to the end of the ramp, the backrim straightend again and catpult him into a kind of "front-loop-desaster-no control"-jump.
Luckily we were doing lakejumping, so nothing serious happend.

From that day we were friends of alloy rims!

we always made a game out of it called Z-Flex.
We would do kick-outs to see how many spokes we could break. The guy who broke the most spokes won.

Here's how you play:
1) Get some friends with Z-rims
2) Find a parking lot or similar paved surface
3) When feeling pumped, yell out "Z-Flex" and then proceed to performing a massive kick-out with all of your weight over the rear wheel
4) Count your broken spokes
5) After all players have had their turn, the winner (most broken spokes) gets to punch the loser (least broken spokes) in the nads
6) Game over for now: Go home and lace up some new spokes.

Seriously, we played this. Big time fun (unless you're the loser

Z-Rims are great, though. Thanks to them, I learned how to lace and true wheels very well.

Last edited by jmc-brad (2008-01-14 12:38pm)

---------------------------------
VA state ABA #2 13X 1981

jmc-brad wrote:

we always made a game out of it called Z-Flex.
We would do kick-outs to see how many spokes we could break. The guy who broke the most spokes won.

Here's how you play:
1) Get some friends with Z-rims
2) Find a parking lot or similar paved surface
3) When feeling pumped, yell out "Z-Flex" and then proceed to performing a massive kick-out with all of your weight over the rear wheel
4) Count your broken spokes
5) After all players have had their turn, the winner (most broken spokes) gets to punch the loser (least broken spokes) in the nads
6) Game over for now: Go home and lace up some new spokes.

Seriously, we played this. Big time fun (unless you're the loser

Z-Rims are great, though. Thanks to them, I learned how to lace and true wheels very well.

was doing a simular game bitd and i actualy snapped the z-rim! i couldnt believe it!

rc

I sell used parts! If you are looking for nos or dead mint parts, dont buy from me. If you are looking for used, usable parts. Im the guy ya want to buy from.

BUY- SELL + TRADE

WILL TRADE FOR

snafu mobus or simular gyro , gold, red,or blue, sealed threadless headset gold, red, anno chain tensioners red, gold, or blue, anno v brakes gold or red, anno u brakes blue,gold, or red anno colored spoke nipples gold, red, or blue

williwoods wrote:

m having a terrible time trying to keep a set of tires mounted on my 26" z-rims. I am about to give up, I love em and yes they flex a bit. The problem is my comp 3 tioga blue and green label 2.125 tires, I tried all kinds of tubes and even 24" tubes I can only run 30 psi or the tires pop off the rim. The fron one is perfect but the rear I have pop off every ride just about mostly under heavy torque or a little air like 1 foot. Anyone wanna trade for a set of black arayas or pro class rims?

i have a set of silver araya 7x bands i would trade for ya z bands. if ya interested.

rc

I sell used parts! If you are looking for nos or dead mint parts, dont buy from me. If you are looking for used, usable parts. Im the guy ya want to buy from.

BUY- SELL + TRADE

WILL TRADE FOR

snafu mobus or simular gyro , gold, red,or blue, sealed threadless headset gold, red, anno chain tensioners red, gold, or blue, anno v brakes gold or red, anno u brakes blue,gold, or red anno colored spoke nipples gold, red, or blue

!Looking for nos gold parts for my mini sting build

Ladis that musta been a site to see.

Z's are era correct and look friggin cool.

Last edited by BMXROB (2008-01-14 7:26pm)

!!!!!!!!!!!WANTED 20" LittleJohn forks in chrome !!!!!!

common sense is not that common any more

there's a pic here somewhere of the dude testing z rims in front of ACS and torking a rim into a taco . . it's a classic pic . . .

looking for it now . . .

saylor wrote:
damn bunch of end users. why do we even bother. so you can get email ?

ffs.

jmc-brad wrote:

we always made a game out of it called Z-Flex.
We would do kick-outs to see how many spokes we could break. The guy who broke the most spokes won.

Here's how you play:
1) Get some friends with Z-rims
2) Find a parking lot or similar paved surface
3) When feeling pumped, yell out "Z-Flex" and then proceed to performing a massive kick-out with all of your weight over the rear wheel
4) Count your broken spokes
5) After all players have had their turn, the winner (most broken spokes) gets to punch the loser (least broken spokes) in the nads
6) Game over for now: Go home and lace up some new spokes.

Seriously, we played this. Big time fun (unless you're the loser

Z-Rims are great, though. Thanks to them, I learned how to lace and true wheels very well.

sucks to be the loser,i broke a rear jumping a big snow pile.

I need an orange chain.

It is what it is!

haha - jmcbrad- very nice game!!!(still holding my stomach...) I wont forget that game you played....Well that, that shows me at least, that Z-Rims were good for one thing: improving the creativity of kids - thank you ASC for making this world a little better place to have fun!

Ladis

My pal had them BITD, and loved them. I always thought they were cool as hell as a novelty, though some racers complained that the flex reduced momentum in racing, making them a little slower than they'd have liked.
Presently I'm enjoying owning and riding three sets of them. One set in 20" (Hutch), one in 24" (Redline PL-24), and one in 26" (Kos Kruiser).

When I first mounted them to the Kos, the 26" did indeed allow the inner tube to bulge. I've since corrected it, and so far, so good - no splippage or bulging. I've also had that issue with Tuff wheels after some abusive riding, though, too, so haven't bothered to complain. WilliWoods, how are those OS tires? I'm using new 26" Comp III copies, and they're holding.

"I'll have the roast duck with the mango salsa."

I was born on crest of wave and rocked in the cradle of the deep.
RIP Perron

Geoff4130 wrote:

How much pressure can be run on Z-Rims?

I run 45 PSI on mine max! Anything over that pops the bead!

Im loving the neon ,flourescent colors on these newschool bikes and Its makin me like the newschool rides more

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