Honda-SOHC
SOHC.co.uk Forums => CB500/550 => Topic started by: Johnny4428 on January 08, 2026, 09:48:54 AM
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Central wheels at it again, ordered for two 550 wheels front fine, rear nipples wouldn’t go through rim holes. Checked old rim with new same size holes. This is not the first time this has happened to me. They didn’t like being told to check spec for correct size before advertising these sets for the 550. To be fair they have replied and are going to sort it f.o.c.
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I don't know what has happened at CWC - I've had fantastic service from them in the past but that incident with the CD175 sloper for Colin (via Stevie) really put me off. Quite a few have had problems recently and CWC have been far less than helpful. Hope you get satisfaction Johnny, there's nothing worse than oversized nipples.
Ian
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Considering how long they have been trading is it "new" owners?
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Same here, used them twice and both orders were wrong
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I assume they have some new staff in their order despatch department who haven't been trained very well, or
don't give a monkey's!
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It’s Britain, everything is just too hard.
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I’m sure they will sort it, have sent the nipples back for exchanging. Fingers crossed the right ones come back!😳
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My son had a problem with CW's, it was the young lady who answered the phone. No idea, but thought she knew everything. In the end, he had to ask for the workshop manager to explain what he wanted.
He was requesting an 18" MT3 rim with spokes for a Suzuki rear hub that was originally a 17" rim.
She had argued there was no such thing, it must be a WM3 and he was making a mistake with rim sizes.
Following his chat with the workshop guy, the resulting spoke set was spot on.
Laced up with all the spoke heads 1mm below the driver slot. Perfection.
I find too many firms employ first-contact staff who are like that.
The thing is to specify every little detail from rim size, number of spokes, spoke diameter, spoke qauge , nipple diameter etc etc,
That's what they will supply.
Regards all.
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Just thought haven’t heard from CW since I posted nipples back to them exactly a month ago. Time to get in touch and see what excuse they come up with. Absolutely no communication in that time. They are not getting any better.
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That's very bad to hear Johnny but not surprising for this day and age. I don't know why but since the pandemic everywhere appears to be going the same way, massive price increases but no longer offering the quality of service they once did.
CWS used to be a good company, even appearing on the motorbike show showing Henry how it was done. Sadly another example of what was once a good customer focused company falling into the trap of believing their own publicity and failing to look after customers.
I was at Phillpotts earlier and was told although they are still really busy not so many people are now using their services for bikes because restoring motorcycles is now so expensive coupled with the over regulation of the platting industry pushing their prices ever higher. Apparently the water company visit once a week ad-hoc to check on what they are discharging into the sewers. I find it amazing water companies can sit on the pollutant high ground when they discharge how many tonnes of untreated raw sewage into the rivers and the sea!
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They sit on the high ground because it’s above the water with all the crap in it they put there.
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Sad indeed guys! Sent an email yesterday morning first thing and never heard anything. Dave I was going to make contact with Phillpots as I have forks to refurb but now I’m not sure. Anywhere else that would return a similar standard of service or should I go there? Possibly consider replacing?
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I called Brooks Suspension last week Johnny to enquire about them rebuilding the rear shock of the NC30 (apparentley its not worth doing they said, I'd be wasting my money refurbing a shock that wasn't very good when it was new! They are trying to steer me in the Nitron £700+ route, err.....no!). I asked about replating the front stanctions and they quoted £200 but it would be an 8 week turnaround. They don't do them there, they are sent out although they didn't say to who (Dynasurf???).
I stuck with Philpots in the end as their work is really good quality (I've used them five times before) and I was able to drop them off myself. Price is £330 for both and includes posting back to me when completed. Turnaround time is 4 weeks but likely much sooner.
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Dynasurf told me they’d stopped doing bike forks. Said it was too much trouble and they had enough work already so wouldn’t miss them.
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Just an update on CWs, ended up sending the spokes back to them as they couldn’t supply spoke nipples small enough to fit the holes in my new rims, despite the fact that they are the same size holes as in the old original rims. Still awaiting return of butted spokes with appropriate nipples. And as yet still no acknowledgement for making a mistake. I would at the very least be slightly appologetic.😡
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It's a shame as they seem to have been good once going by recommendations on here but I had similar experiences both times I've ordered
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Back in the late 70's they were excelant supplying good rims and everything but i guess the owners/management has changed
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In defence of CWC I take my bare hubs to them to build,having obtained a quote by email for rims, spokes & tyres.
That way any issues are their problem.
Only issue I had with my 400 was the front tyre was fitted the wrong way round, they collected the wheel by courier and delivered it back f.o.c.
PS For the relatively modest labour charge for building a wheel I have peace of mind.
Hats off to those who build up their own rims, respect.
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Just to Finnish up on this, spokes for rear wheel arrived today. First ordered on 11th Dec. I’m afraid I cannot recommend Central Wheels to anyone unless you can be sure that they are sending the correct spec parts to you first time.