weight of wheels

[ianran]

Anyone know the difference in weight between standard alloys and wire wheels for 1200??

 

[Pukmeister]

Anyone know the difference in weight between standard alloys and wire wheels for 1200??

Nope, but the alloys are both lighter and weaker.

 

[ianran]

Nope, but the alloys are both lighter and weaker.

Thanks for your reply, I thought they were lighter, I was just trying to gauge by how much.

As to weaker, not sure about that! More liable to stone damage and not as easy to repair I grant you but weaker??

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

Thanks for your reply, I thought they were lighter, I was just trying to gauge by how much.

As to weaker, not sure about that! More liable to stone damage and not as easy to repair I grant you but weaker??

Think about it, if cast wheels were stronger then they would use them on offroad bikes where they get a hammering. Spoked wheels are extremely strong, especially the BMW design.

 

[SpyInTheCamp]

I don't know the actual weight but the difference is definitely noticeable. I had spokes on my last GS but the new one doesn't have them and that suits me.

 

[Spanner]

Spoked vs cast wheels

It's not really about being stronger it's about the materials being tougher, less brittle and able to withstand sudden shock loadings from riding over rocks, potholes, ramps etc.
Spokes and alloy rims are softerand tougher than cast wheels and have a greater range of elestic deformation, meaning they can absorb the energy of an impact by deforming and still return to their original shape. So they are good at absorbing repeated large impacts without failing.

Cast wheels are strong, but relatively hard and brittle. They have a smaller range of elastic deformation before they will fail, often suddenly and usually by cracking. So cast wheels aren't as good at absorbing sudden, dynamic impacts.

Don't get me wrong, you don't have to swerve around every pothole if your using cast wheels, both types are fine for nornal use, but spoked wheels are always preferred for any use involving repeated high shock loading such as of road riding.

Right, I'll get me anorak...

 

[MikeP]

It's not really about being stronger it's about the materials being tougher, less brittle and able to withstand sudden shock loadings from riding over rocks, potholes, ramps etc.
Spokes and alloy rims are softerand tougher than cast wheels and have a greater range of elestic deformation, meaning they can absorb the energy of an impact by deforming and still return to their original shape. So they are good at absorbing repeated large impacts without failing.

Cast wheels are strong, but relatively hard and brittle. They have a smaller range of elastic deformation before they will fail, often suddenly and usually by cracking. So cast wheels aren't as good at absorbing sudden, dynamic impacts.

Don't get me wrong, you don't have to swerve around every pothole if your using cast wheels, both types are fine for nornal use, but spoked wheels are always preferred for any use involving repeated high shock loading such as of road riding.

Right, I'll get me anorak...

In other (fewer) words: one is stronger than the other.

 

[F104]

My understanding is spokes are much better for radial loads such as in off roading. Here the spokes don't get compressed, but the rim 'hangs' on the spokes in the top half of the wheel.
Cast wheel withstand axial roads better (they flex less in that direction) and are better for higher speed on road cornering.
Cast wheels must weight less, no one uses spoked wheels in automotive

 

[APE]

I seem to remember reading somewhere it was about 4kgs

 

[looney]

follow up on OP ...

... from ETK, front / rear wheels:

spoked, all model years: 6.18kg / 5.91kg

cast,
pre 2008: 6.3kg / 5.474kg
2008-09: 7.14kg / 5.568kg
2010 on: 6.575kg / 5.568kg

 

[daotoys1]

... from ETK, front / rear wheels:

spoked, all model years: 6.18kg / 5.91kg

cast,
pre 2008: 6.3kg / 5.474kg
2008-09: 7.14kg / 5.568kg
2010 on: 6.575kg / 5.568kg

Stock/OEM cast aluminum heaviest
Stock/OEM spoked less weight
Aftermarket forged aluminum lesser weight
Aftermarket forged magnesium even less
Aftermarket carbon fiber is the lightest

Most bikes come stock with very heavy and over built wheels because the manufacturer wants the bike to be street legal all over the world, and wants the bike and wheels to be safe and reliable at least until the warranty is up........

Almost any good aftermarket wheel is better and lighter.

As a general rule, spoked wheels will be lighter than cast.....but forged and CNC machined wheels are getting lighter and stronger all the time. Using computer models to assist designs have greatly improved the ability to save weight and keep strength......not just for wheels but for almost anything and every thing.

Just compare the weight of bikes over the years....they continue to get lighter and lighter, although they are getting close to their ultimate minimal weight.....the do need to be strong enough to be safe and last a long time......

The lighter the weight the wheel the better, but you do need to match the wheel to the bikes application.....I have carbon wheels on my street BMW.....but I would not use them on a dual sport GS for example....

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

My understanding is spokes are much better for radial loads such as in off roading. Here the spokes don't get compressed, but the rim 'hangs' on the spokes in the top half of the wheel.
Cast wheel withstand axial roads better (they flex less in that direction) and are better for higher speed on road cornering.
Cast wheels must weight less, no one uses spoked wheels in automotive

You are of course right but with one exception. The BMW design of spokes going to the outside of the rim rather than the middle increases the axial stiffness by a long way. I have no idea by how much or what the difference is between cast and this spoke design but for a bike like the GSA it will be more that stiff enough.