wire wheels or cast wheels?

[mbp]

I have a deposit down on an R1200GS. One has come in with just the configuration I wanted, except with wire spoke wheels rather than cast wheels. The dealer says it will take just a few days to get some cast ones (with RDC) to swap over, so the time isn't a problem but it's making me reconsider whether I really want cast ones or not. There's no cost difference in Australia.

From what I see here the main difference is that the wire wheels are harder to clean, but more likely to stand up to a hard bang without cracking. And the cast wheels are lighter, but I'm not sure if I'd notice the difference.

Any advice?

 

[Pukmeister]

You are exactly right. Most 1200's sold in UK have alloys, spokes are an option at extra cost. Mine has alloys and I wish it had spokes, though I ride mostly on road.

 

[cookie]

function aside, spokes look much nicer IMO & clean up fairly easily.

 

[nick]

I have alloys and wish I had opted for spokes.

Didn't really think about it at the time unfortunately.

 

[GS TRV]

spokes are well cool and more true to the GS heritage as well as being better off-road

casts just seem a bit too TDM for my liking

 

[garfield]

I'm getting spokes on my 12GSA when it arrives, think it looks beautiful that way

 

[John Armstrong]

I think the GSA in particular, looks better for having the spoked wheels.

 

[cookie]

i thought you just got spokes on a gsa, no cast option

 

[garfield]

i thought you just got spokes on a gsa, no cast option

yeah maybe you do....I sometimes don't pay as much attention as I should

 

[cookie]

yeah maybe you do....I sometimes don't pay as much attention as I should

having spokes as standard saves the inattentive purchaser from doing something daft

 

[garfield]

having spokes as standard saves the inattentive purchaser from doing something daft

numpty insurance, I get it.....

 

[Dee Tee]

Mine was ordered with Cast Wheels but i had em changed for 17"s at the first service.

 

[Foto John]

Hello Martin, firstly welcome to the UKGSer's forum, it's a top place for info and a bit of fun too!
I'm happy with my choice of cast wheels and think they're more than strong enough for everyday riding. I have actually ridden hard (the force loosened the left hand mirror) into a large pot hole on the ring road around Brussels (I just didn't see it in time ) at 120 km/h without any known damage.
I find them a lot easier to clean than wire spokes, although I no longer look at my bike (standard black 1200GS) as a dual sport bike, but an extremely capable sports tourer that can do a bit of gravel roads and gentle off-road.
If you could choose with the Adventure model, then that would be another case, as the 1200GSA is a lot more off road biased and really only warrants wire spoked wheels.

HTH and hopefully you don't have too much longer to wait! You can have another look at mine in the meantime!

 

[Wreford Miles]

GS = spoked wheels

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

I didn't know they made em with casts