Front Wheel Rim - 1997 Valkyrie

[sawdustar]

Greetings,
It's been a while since I last posted here but due to life changes and work changes, I've been distant from most things.  

I pulled a set of front wheel bearings out of the front rim of my Valk and find that one side has a place where the bearing seat of the rim is broken/cracked and the opposite side of that is what I would call "blown out"....as it is raised out toward the outside of the rim. So I'm asking here is...is this normal or should I be looking for a replacement rim?
If you say a replacement rim, what do I need to look for?
I miss riding my baby and I have new OEM bearings, seals, and spacers to put in but this deal with my rim at the bearing seat has me a bit puzzled.

Please advise.

In short, the East / West side of the bearing seat in the rim are perfectly fine. The North side is cracked/caved in a bit, and the South side is swelled out (protruding proudly of the normal seat but not broken).

[Chrisj CMA]

Sounds bad, pictures would help.  You can use any Valkyrie front wheel, but if you want to use them new bearings you have...they will only fit in a '97 wheel.

[sawdustar]

Let's see if this pic post works.....

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1j1MrIOW4xcsMElH0gRz37K_3iMYb0mJf/view?usp=sharing

[longrider]

The bearing seat looks bad to me.  I wouldn't ride it.  One has to ask what would cause that.  Was the distance collar installed in between the two bearings.  Replace it with a 98 or newer rim.  Be sure the collar or spacer is installed correctly on the next one

[da prez]

  I am not sure what I am seeing. Maybe clean and repost. If in doubt , replace . 98 and newer will give you the bigger bearings.

                                                        da prez

[Chrisj CMA]

I would be looking for a new wheel.

[Attic Rat]

Looks like to me when someone drove the old bearing out and they didn't get their punch on the bearing but on the wheel that is what has caused the crack in the bearing seat. It is just a bearing seat it won't hurt anything the pressure is on the be pipe inside the wheel. I would run it not a problem. I have seen several like that even worse.

[indybobm]

If you decide to go to a later wheel, I would keep the 97 distance collar and mark it '97'. 98 and later front wheels have bigger (slighter wider) bearings. To compensate for the wider bearings, it has been said that the 98 and later distance collars are a little shorter to compensate. Not much shorter but enough to affect side loads on the bearings if you put the 97 distance collar in a later wheel (or a 98 and later distance collar in a 97 wheel). 1997 distance collars are no longer available Honda.

post from BonS back in June 16th, 2015
http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,78976.0.html

[sawdustar]

Well, I broke down and ordered a used '97 rim from a place in TN. Price was fair and the cycle shop said it was straight and all was in really good shape. Just needs a good cleaning. I guess I'll see when it arrives on Monday of next week.

[Bighead]

I had a similar issue on the rear of my IS. I notice during a bearing change and as Bob said above,had no problems with it. That was about 4 yrs ago and it still is having no problems. I dont own the bike anymore but know where it lives.