Replacement DID wheel rims

[Laverda Dave]

I need to replace the existing wheel rims on the rat bike as the PO fitted a wider wheel rim on the back and a replacement rim on the front, both rims are rusty and the one on the back is much to wide (it was part of the chopper/cruiser look).
I notice DSS has replacement rims for £45+VAT for the front and similar for the rear. He is also selling DID rims for both but they are much more expensive at £110 for the front.
The description of these DID rims is the are from the OE manufacturer. My question is are these rims of the same design as the original DID 400/4 rims or are they so different to the extent paying double over the cheaper rim isn't worth it?

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

IIRC CWC do English Chromed Rims as well.

[Nurse Julie]

The cheaper ones are made by Tagasako (not sure of spelling 🤔🤔🤔). I have found personally that the DID's are very good wheels. They have the scripting around the side of the rim, where the originals had the little DID diamond logo between a couple of spokes. We have fitted the current DID's with stainless steel spoke from CWC on about 15 bikes now, including our own personal bikes.
Edit........ Forgot to answer the question, the really expensive one Silver shows is 100% identical to the mid price ones, except, the expensive one comes wrapped in Honda paper, the other one comes wrapped in DID paper.

[Laverda Dave]

So are the cheaper rims made by DID Julie and branded as Tagasako (despite being wrapped in DID paper) or are they stamped as DID?
I've been told to fit S/S butted spokes but looking at my original factory 400/4 front wheel I noticed it doesn't have butted spokes (I assume here butted spokes are 'waisted' with the thicker end at the hub).

[Nurse Julie]

No, the really cheap ones are Tagasako wheels, the mid priced are DID wrapped in DID paper, the expensive ones are DID wrapped in Honda paper.

[Laverda Dave]

Great, thank you Julie, I'll go mid price with S/S spokes👍

[TrickyMicky]

Dave, this is what the DID rims look like. Purchased from Silvers in 2020.

[Laverda Dave]

Oh very blingy Mick. That will suit my bike

[AshimotoK0]

Original spokes definitely single butted Dave both front and rear.
I have always resisted fitting those DID Indonesian rims with the horrid deep side scripting but having said that, I have literally  had to scour the world to find the original Japanese DID ones for my bikes with just the DID diamond and size stampings, which are not on the outside.
Some of the early Honda's (like the CD175 sloper and C110 in my case) had KAGA rims fitted as standard.

[mickwinf]

for future reference I ordered a cheaper rim for my 550 and it was #rap, rusty when it arrived so went straight back. Also for us amateurs better ones are easier to true up. I vote DID.

[DomP]

Having noticed I have a Takasago front rim and DID rear on my 550 the Takasago does look a cheaper less well finished rim, absolutely fine from a distance but not for a restoration project.