The iconic 80's AMA Superbike, the 18" Dymag CH3, is back!

As previously reported, DYMAG, a long-established wheel manufacturer from the U.K., and Doremi Collection, a Japanese custom parts brand, have teamed up to develop a new set of 17-inch wheels for the Kawasaki Z900RS, which went on sale on February 1. The two companies will also be reissuing the 18-inch CH3 (also known as the H Section) wheels that were used by AMA Superbike works racers in the early 1980s and catapulted Dymag to the top of the Dymag brand. The news came to us that Dymag will also be reissuing the 18-inch CH3 (a.k.a. H-section) wheels, which were worn by AMA Superbike works racers in the early 1980s and made Dymag a top brand.

Limited edition of 30 units. These legendary wheels were used on the KZ1000S1, a fantastic production racer!

The AMA (American Motorcyclist Association) first held the Superbike race in 1975. The AMA (American Motorcyclist Association) first held Superbike races in 1975, and the series began in earnest in 1977. The AMA Superbike series began to flourish in 1977, when a class for production bikes was added to the American road racing history, which had been dominated by two-stroke production racers until then. In 1981, Eddie Lawson, riding a US Kawasaki KZ1000J, won the AMA Superbike series championship. As a commemorative model, Kawasaki began selling the KZ1000R (1) in 1982, which was also called the Lawson Replica after Lawson, who was a rider. Based on the R1, the KZ1000S (1), the production racer shown in the photo above, was built using the '81 winner as a reference, taking measurements of every part and using reinforcement methods as a guide. In 1982, 30 units were produced as complete vehicles. The engine is said to have been made from 200 kit parts for the KZ1000J.

The KZ1000S1, such a rare car, was equipped with Dymag CH3 wheels, so-called H-section wheels, made of cast magnesium (modern forged wheels had not yet appeared). The origin of the term "H-section" comes from the H-shaped cross section with ribs on the three spokes. At the time, the mainstream cast wheel designs in the motorsports scene were 5- to 7-spoke wheels or hollow 3-spoke wheels, so the Dymag's design was unique. During the customization boom that took off in Japan in the 90's, the S1 look was admired, and in order to make the KZ1000R look more like a "Lawson replica," the Dymag CH3 wheels were used on the production KZ1000R.

More examples of 80's Superbike mounting can be found on the Spencer CB-F and Aldana Katana!

Also used on KZ1000S (1), 1982, AMA The Dymag CH3 quickly spread to other manufacturers' vehicles on the superbike scene. American Honda's CB-F, number 19 Freddie Spencer's car, was a prime example. Spencer also started full participation in the World GP that year, and the only time he raced an AMA Superbike was at the season-opening Daytona 100-mile race, which he won, but in that race, American Honda's CB750F dominated the podium with a 1-2-3 finish (2nd place - Mike Baldwin, 3rd place - Roberto Pietri). Roberto Pietri). The CB750F was "the strongest and the fastest. Perhaps due in part to this impression, Spencer replicas abounded in the domestic custom scene, with the standard being the '82 North American-spec FC color (also known as the Spencer color) + Dymag CH3.

Yoshimura GSX1000S (homologated to AMA Superbike) '82

Yoshimura's '82 GSX The Dymag CH3 was also used on the GSX1000S (1000 units produced as a homologation model for AMA Superbike), which was ridden by Wes Cooley and David Aldana in the AMA, but did not win a race. However, at the Riverside round of the AFM (American Federation of Motorcyclists), which featured then up-and-coming rider Fred Markel, Eddie Lawson + KZ1000R marked the AMA Superbike of the year at the same circuit! The team won the race, shaving more than one second off the course record set at the same circuit. This is also a story for Yoshimura and Katana freaks.

Spring, 2024! And the new story of the Dymag CH3 begins!

Although the Dymag CH3 was chosen to be a part of the legendary AMA Superbike lineup, in fact, it was only used as a works machine for one year, in 1982. The following year, '83, it was only seen on Wayne Rainey's Mazie Kawasaki GPz750. As seen with Honda's Comstar wheels, all manufacturers were moving in the direction of in-house development of all body parts. However, the Dymag CH3, with its lightweight and high-strength H-section spokes, must have been a step forward from the wire spoke wheels of the past. Meanwhile, in Japan, as mentioned earlier, during the explosive customization boom of the 1990s, popular models such as the Kawasaki Z, Honda CB-F, and Suzuki Katana were customized with motifs from AMA superbikes. Of course, the overwhelming majority of riders chose the Dymag CH3. The innovative and timeless design was a perfect match for the air-cooled 4-cylinder Japanese models of the 70s and 80s. However, from the mid-2000s, aftermarket wheels for customization were replaced by forged aluminum wheels, and the very popular Dymag CH3 disappeared from the scene for some time. Although the times have changed, it must have been disappointing for custom freaks who wanted to enjoy the atmosphere of the past.

And this spring, DYMAG and Doremi Collection released 17-inch front and rear aluminum forged models for the Z900RS using the latest technology. However, riders who enjoy the cars of the '80s naturally crave the reissue of the 18-inch model in the CH3 lineup, which was also available in 17-inch size. What is different from the customization boom of the 1990s is that many fans have come to enjoy the authentic stock form of the '70s and '80s cars, rather than the full customization that was popular at the time. In other words, light customization. However, they are very particular about the bike they choose and the parts they install. If so, he would have 2.75 or 3.00 width wheels on the front, and 4.50 on the rear. Rear wheels should be around 4.50. This would be enough to fit the latest radial tires without any extra customization, and it would not ruin the atmosphere of his beloved bike. The colors are black, which was used in the racing scene, and gold, which was popular during the customization boom. Nowadays, we would like to have a lineup of products dedicated to each type of car and bolt-on compatibility. Perhaps Doremi Collection will reissue Dymag's legendary CH3 wheels in 18-inch size, taking such needs into consideration. Owners and fans of 80's air-cooled 4-cylinder motorcycles should look forward to seeing the Doremi Collection booth at the Tokyo Motorcycle Show, which opens on March 22 at the earliest.

18-inch DYMAG CH3, the icon of 80's AMA Superbike, is back!　Go to  (4枚)

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