Yea there are definitely Graphite Z rims out there.
Kind of like the difference between Graph-Skyways and non-graph-Skyways. (except no hub on the Z's obviously) Just seen'em never had one though they come up on Ebay once in a while.

Oh yea... To answer the original question I am guessing that's a severely faded black regular Z-rim.

I have a set of NOS Graphite Z-rims...I can post a pic if you want. They are black with white "Graphite ACS Z-RIM" stamping on the side walls.

I doubt that a graphite would have a reflector and a cheap hub on it.

Yes there are graphite z rims. I used them bitd, and they were my all time favorite rims. They were about 50 bucks a rim bitd, as I recall.

1 They were much stiffer.

2 They were also HEAVIER than a regular Z.

3 They had a sticker that said Graphite on it. ( I have not seen the real sticker in 20 some years when my bike vanished. As I recall, it was yellow and black, and all it said was "Graphite" on it. It wasn't the usual ACS sticker. My decal is missing on my nos one, so if anyone has a pic of the original "Graphite" Z rim decal, I'd LOVE to see it posted here.)

Later versions were stamped Graphite along with the rest of the stamped z rims.

I still think that if you take the hubs out of Tuff wheels, and weigh the "Plastic" only, you would find the graphites Tuffs are heavier too. The Graphite Tuffs had the alloy hubs as opposed to the steel ones, and they had titanium axles. That is why they are lighter overall. (I have yet to disect a bunch of OS collectors wheels to prove it though)

I have one lonely NOS graphite here (unstamped), still waiting for a buddy. (If anyone has one)

It weighs .14 pounds more than the regular Z rims. (I think that is the number, Id have to weigh them again.)

Graphite is heavy. The light weight from carbon fiber products comes from using "Less Material" to get the same strength. Since they came out of the same molds, they used the same ammount of material, so they got stiffer, but heavier, by filling the molds with CF/Graphite. The nylon strands are heavy too, so they didn't gain much weight, but got a LOT stiffer.

[ September 07, 2006, 02:24 PM: Message edited by: Ted Carl ]

Hudson,

If you have an accurate digial scale, or digital postal scale, you can weigh yours up and post it, and I can post the weights of a regular and unstamped graphite if you like.

first off boys thats not grey your looking at that rim is oxidized blue from sitting out in the sun i had a set that I thought were grey but when i took the tire off it was blue and there was no way it was comming off tell the guy to take off the tire and look at the back they never made gray iam pretty sure thanks

I had an NOS pair of 2nd gen graphite Z's that are now owned by a famous freestyle collector.

2nd gen have side markings. 1st gen just had a sticker i believe.

Here are a couple pix of 'em from the archive:



[ September 07, 2006, 05:05 PM: Message edited by: akcuda ]

Ya learn something new everyday.

yah, as I was sayin' ... the later ones are obvious enuff

the early ones were only distinguished by the decals and the flex test ---- i botched the heavier/lighter thing, but like i said I never actually wieghed one

why-i-awta .....


to da moon, Cook !

[ September 07, 2006, 06:42 PM: Message edited by: Dr.Frankenripper ]

The first set of complete wheels that I built were Graphite Z's. Purchased them new in December-ish 1981 for Christmas. They were the 1st generation with yellow "GRAPHITE" and the foil "ACS Z" stickers like were posted above; no markings on the sidewalls of the rims at that point. They were laced with red Asahi spokes and Phil Wood BMX hubs. I picked out all the components, went shopping, and picked 'em up 3 hours later. I will never forget the assembled price...$235.00 total. The rims were $33 each if I remember correctly and the hubs were about $120.

Hey, I love it when I find out my memory isn't completely shot! It was a yellow and black graphite sticker! (holy time warp batman, that's 26 years ago already! doh!) ......Amazing how getting a simple memory correct becomes something to get elated over!

I think the only reason I remembered it was because the sticker didn't match the bike, and it tormented me leaving it on, but I didn't want to take them off either bitd.....

So...... Mr. AKCUDA.....Is your unstamped graphite lonely? (or is that a matched set?)... I have a real sexy mate for one, that would gladly invite a guest over to stay...

BTW, I removed a tire from a regular blue Z-rim that a friend/team-mate gave me from his garage.

Our local was Tonka Schwinn, Owned by Kraemer's hardware. It still had the Kraemer's hardware price sticker of 16.99 in it.

Twice as much for the graphite bitd. Sounds about right.....

Hey Ted--those are just pix I thieved from old ebay auctions for my photo archive. I do have a nice used set of unmarked graphite Z's (not for sale).

You can see that they're not dark black like regular black Z's. Funny, I always thought graphites were lighter than regular Z's. My wheel set sure seems light...

TZ has a set on his PK. What was the question again?


Oh, he wanted to know if the grey one on Ebay was a graph. My vote is no.

Yes I have a set... sorry I am guilty for not boasting... However, I knew I would get some good history... and as we all know there are some true experts here and are always willing to feed my brain...

Thanks!

Sorry to break the news but its not a graphite and its not a grey z its a well weathered blue z rim i have a set that did the same thing..there are no uv inhibertors in the formula so hence faded to kinda grey...ask for a pic with the tire removed....its gonna be a pritty blue....