Spoke vs. Cast. Again.

[daisyk]

Hi all. I know this has been discussed on here and other forums at length but am about to purchase a new GS and wanted to get opinion on particular thing.

I'm considering spokes because the look better. I've read that cast might handle slightly better and that they are easier to clean, etc. But a GS looks right with spokes and the smile when I get on each morning is worth the money (and the cleaning).

But.. long term reliability is important. I'm unlikely to go seriously off road but unfortunately (and historically statistically) very likely to hit a pothole.

Can readers who have spoked wheels comment on whether there's any truth that spokes do actually go out of shape ? Has any long term rider actually ever had to have them 'trued' (sp?).

Basically, ignoring all the handling, weight and cleaning issues - are spokes going to go out of shape under normal usage (with the odd pothole).

 

[JayC]

Anything that has an adjuster incorporated into its design, in this case spokes, for tensioning, needs adjustment at some point or another.

I have cast wheels but spokes will always look better imo.

A 'wired wheel' will have 'spring' inherent to its design and so if it irreversibly deforms in any way (potholes) then you will have a bent spoke at the point of impact. Both the rim and the spokes will cushion shock.

A cast wheel won't give, and so it absorbs all of its shock within itself and leaving the shock nowhere else to go. The result of a heavy impact is more likely to be a broken cast wheel.

Horse for courses...

 

[Giles]

.... so on the back of what JayC says .. at least if you dink a spoked wheel you're more likely to be able to repair it. If you crack a cast wheel then it's fecked.

More important than that though, is that you need to open your garage door and have an instant love affair, so I say get the spoked wheels ...

 

[JayC]

.... so on the back of what JayC says .. at least if you dink a spoked wheel you're more likely to be able to repair it. If you crack a cast wheel then it's fecked.

More important than that though, is that you need to open your garage door and have an instant love affair, so I say get the spoked wheels ...

Cast wheel repairs.

http://www.stmotorcycles.co.uk/index.php?p=1_13

Mind you, a dink in a rim will be far easier to spot than a hairline crack in a casty.

 

[daisyk]

I guess what I'm really getting at though is that is there anyone (or does anyone know anyone) that has actually needed to repair or maintain a spoked wheel under long term normal usage ? Maintain perhaps being the important bit.

Appreciate that on proper trails/travels that might be the case but I'm talking about regular European type road/light gravel use ?

 

[Giles]

Cast wheel repairs.

http://www.stmotorcycles.co.uk/index.php?p=1_13

Mind you, a dink in a rim will be far easier to spot than a hairline crack in a casty.

Ummmm ...

yes I'd buy into straightening out a dent in the rim, but I wouldn't get a hairline crack repaired. It would always be in the back of my mind (hoisting the front over that slight rise in the road in third .... )

 

[Giles]

I guess what I'm really getting at though is that is there anyone (or does anyone know anyone) that has actually needed to repair or maintain a spoked wheel under long term normal usage ? Maintain perhaps being the important bit.

Appreciate that on proper trails/travels that might be the case but I'm talking about regular European type road/light gravel use ?

Not one problem in the three years I thrashed my GSA ....

 

[daisyk]

Don't think I'll be doing that but you never know. Might get the bug...

 

[Sleepy]

I guess what I'm really getting at though is that is there anyone (or does anyone know anyone) that has actually needed to repair or maintain a spoked wheel under long term normal usage ? Maintain perhaps being the important bit.

Appreciate that on proper trails/travels that might be the case but I'm talking about regular European type road/light gravel use ?

I've had my 1150 for twelve years.. (since new), I've done just over 56000 miles on it, virtually all on tarmac, but often well loaded up with luggage, wife and/or camping gear.

Other than checking the spokes when I clean or service it, the wheels have not had (or needed) any 'maintenance'.

 

[richardbd]

I guess what I'm really getting at though is that is there anyone (or does anyone know anyone) that has actually needed to repair or maintain a spoked wheel under long term normal usage ? Maintain perhaps being the important bit.

Appreciate that on proper trails/travels that might be the case but I'm talking about regular European type road/light gravel use ?

I have a friend in south Africa who runs a rental fleet of R1200GSs. In SA because the roads are so poor, all GSs are supplied with spoked wheels as standard. In ten years, with and average fleet of 10-12 bikes, he says he has never had to deal with a spoked-wheel issue beyond genuine damage and regular maintenance.

If you think they look better, go for it...

 

[Sgt Bilco]

In the real world, it doesn't matter and it's personal choice. My spoked wheels corroded badly on my GSA after 80,000 miles so I had them rebuild last year and powdercoated. They have since started to run out of true so I've chucked a set of black powdercoated cast wheels on. I can feel the difference and the bike does seem to handle better and seems smoother on the tarmac.

I'll be running the Dalton Hwy in Alaska in July with them so will report back with damage. I don't expect any because a few guys last year had cast wheels with no worries and the road is very very hard on the bike

 

[Swiss Mike]

I got wire wheels, last weekend went throught a few pot holes and have a large dent in the back wheel. :-(

Dealers say that it can not be repair, must have a new back wheel.

Not cheap but looks nice.

Mike

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I got wire wheels, last weekend went throught a few pot holes and have a large dent in the back wheel. :-(

Dealers say that it can not be repair, must have a new back wheel.

Not cheap but looks nice.

Mike

A cast wheel would have suffered the same fate

GS's look crap with cast wheels

 

[GS TRV]

It looks crap with cast so spoked wd be the only option for me

 

[paul08]

I'll throw my hat into the "cast" corner. I especially like the look, colour and finish of the ones on the new LC.
But if you, personally, prefer the look of the 'spokes" then go for them

 

[Sgt Bilco]

GS's look crap with cast wheels

Oh I don't know, they look OK in black

 

[Neil W]

Had my 1150 for 9 years and no problems with the spoked wheels, but my 1200gsa has had problems with the front wheel.
It has never been off road or bumped but at 12 months old when away on holiday 2 up (4000 miles on the clock) it started to develop a wobble on deceleration.
It got worse over the holiday , when I got home it was horrendous, the wheel could not be balanced and was showing in excess of 2 mm lateral and 3.5 mm horizontal (egg shaped) run out.
I put standard 1200 gs cast wheels on and it handled much better but did not look as good.
I got the wheel re trued by the Devon Wheel Company

 

[Old Wobbly]

Not one problem in the three years I thrashed my GSA ....

Great Picture!

 

[Old Wobbly]

Had my 1150 for 9 years and no problems with the spoked wheels, but my 1200gsa has had problems with the front wheel.
It has never been off road or bumped but at 12 months old when away on holiday 2 up (4000 miles on the clock) it started to develop a wobble on deceleration.
It got worse over the holiday , when I got home it was horrendous, the wheel could not be balanced and was showing in excess of 2 mm lateral and 3.5 mm horizontal (egg shaped) run out.
I put standard 1200 gs cast wheels on and it handled much better but did not look as good.
I got the wheel re trued by the Devon Wheel Company

Loose spokes/knackered bearing?

I race enduros and one of the few 'scrutineering' checks that are done is checking for loose spokes by sound. As a matter of habit I regularly tap the spokes with something light and listen for a loose one. As you clean your bike it's a good habit to get into. Wheel bearings and a returning throttle at each lock also a good quick & regular check.

As quite rightly said earlier in this thread wire wheels are just cooler and the fact you can hit them back to straightish on the trail with a lump hammer could on rare but important occasions be really quite useful!

 

[Lunepilot]

Same here as someone who does Classic scrambling/Motocross I check my wheels before every meeting and probably have to adjust the odd spoke or two 3 times a year.
I dont basically think you have anything to worry about your GSA is not going to go through anything like an Enduro or Motocross bike,unless you plan on doing the Paris Dakar.
Enjoy your spoked wheels