speccing a GS - cross spoke or no?

  • Thread starter Thread starter mdales
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mdales

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Hey there,

I'm currently the less than happy owner of a Ducati 907 IE, which I got with the hope of touring, but has been very unreliable, so I'm looking to replace it before summer arrives. Nice bike, but if I can't ride it, it's no good, alas.

Anyway, one of the options I'm seriously considering is a R1200GS. Looking at the options I'm looking at a potential GS with:

* ABS
* Alarm
* Oil warning computer dohicky
* White indicator lenses
* Heated grips
* Cross spoke wheels

Now, I suspect the bike will go round the highlands of Scotland and around bits of mainland europe, but that'll probably be on roads, as much as I like the idea of some off piste fun. The Motorrad place I called yesterday to ask about price/availability was very anti the cross spoke wheels. He said they'd make no difference for the road, and they're a pain to clean.

He may be right, but I just like the look of them :) And 260 quid isn't nothing, as a propotion of 10k, it's not much.

So, I guess I wondered if anyone here had any thoughts for or against cross spoke wheels? Other than cleaning and cost is there any negatives to the CSW?

-- Michael, a potential GSer :)
 
Cross spoke wheels are fantastic to look at, real clever engineering to have spokes and a tubless tyre, they are worth it for the cool factor alone. Yes they are a pain to clean, so dont clean them, GS's look way better when dirty:thumb

Alloys, they ain't so easy to clean either and they just don't look right on a GSIMO:nenau

There will be no difference to feel when riding with either IMO.

Shep
 
Spoked wheels any time, imho.

They have multiple times more strenght and also nice looks no alloys can mach up :thumb
 
Cross-spoked wheels are also repairable / upgradable, whereas alloys are knacked if you happen to dent one.

Cross-spoked wheels are more foregiving if you do go off-road as they allow a bit of flex.

Alloy wheels are difficult to repair / re-paint if you get stone chips or a careless Tyre Fitter (as I know to my cost).

I have both types - Cross Spoked on a GS and alloys on an RT and a GT. The alloys are easier to clean !
 
if you're not bothered about the money, buy spokes. looks much better IMO.
 
Spokes are heavier and will therefore increase the unsprung mass of the bike. This will have a negative impact on handling/ steering.
 
Mike Oszywa said:
Spokes are heavier and will therefore increase the unsprung mass of the bike. This will have a negative impact on handling/ steering.
Click to expand...

If you want fast flighty steering, if not then the spoked ones will provide more stable / planted feeling. :nenau

Plus spokes look good, alloys "common", IMHO
 
John Armstrong said:
If you want fast flighty steering, if not then the spoked ones will provide more stable / planted feeling. :nenau

Plus spokes look good, alloys "common", IMHO
Click to expand...

If you can detect the difference in weight and steering reponse between the spokes and alloys on a bike which will weigh around 340Kgs with fuel and rider in gear then I suspect that you are a far superior rider than I'll ever be:)

Of course that wouldn't be difficult anyway:P
 
Thanks for all the replies - I'm glad I'm not alone in having a spoke fetish. I was just suprised by the strength with which the motorrad sales dude was trying to put me off them.

If I go for a GS, then I'll opt for the spokes I think.
 
As I bought a cancelled order, I wasn't afforded the choice of what wheels I got (cast BTW). I really wish I'd got the spoked wheels as I'm a clean bike freak and they would have given me hours of pleasure.....:mac
 
Alloys! :D

If I was serious about off roading or had opted for a GSA I'd have gone for spokes, but for the average day to day stuff and a standard GS I decided to opt for alloys. It's all a matter of personal taste, I think alloys look more functional on the GS ....... IMHO!
 
Mike Oszywa said:
Spokes are heavier and will therefore increase the unsprung mass of the bike. This will have a negative impact on handling/ steering.
Click to expand...

Front spoked and front alloy both weigh the same so no difference there. Only back is heavier in spoked, which really only affects suspension response ie: unsprung weight. Spokes are vastly stronger though and I agree they just look right on a GS.
 
I bought alloys, but now wish I had bought spokes. Had spokes on my 1150. Slightly more difficult to clean, but looked much much better.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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