The Joy of lighter wheels..........
Discussion
So I got some 10-spoke Forged Aluminium Marchesini wheels for the 916 this week, got them fitted on thursday but just as I finished fitting them we had the mother of all thunderstorms. I was out all day friday (and it rained again) so today was my first ride on them.
First thing I noticed was that the suspension felt more lively over the crappy road surfaces around here, presumably this is because there's now less weight being 'suspended' so maybe I need to fine-tune the damping? but the main difference is in how it turns in....
Any 916/748/996/998 riders will know the bike is as stable as it gets in the bends but needs some effort to turn in and again to change line whilst mid-bend, I had previously improved the turn-in by raisng the rear/lowering the front but now with the lighter wheels it's a whole world better; it turns in with much less effort and although it is more 'lively' it is still very stable, although I did get a little more 'head-shake' than before but the biggest difference is how much easier it is to alter the line when leaning over; want a little more lean angle? just ask and the bike does it, want less? just think it and it's there - this is where I've noticed the biggest change.
To summarise; lighter wheels are probably the best upgrade you can do to your bike and if you haven't done them, it's well worth the effort & expense.
In the words of (IIRC) Colin Chapman "The best thing you can add is, less weight"
Some gratuitous pics.....
Before;
After;
First thing I noticed was that the suspension felt more lively over the crappy road surfaces around here, presumably this is because there's now less weight being 'suspended' so maybe I need to fine-tune the damping? but the main difference is in how it turns in....
Any 916/748/996/998 riders will know the bike is as stable as it gets in the bends but needs some effort to turn in and again to change line whilst mid-bend, I had previously improved the turn-in by raisng the rear/lowering the front but now with the lighter wheels it's a whole world better; it turns in with much less effort and although it is more 'lively' it is still very stable, although I did get a little more 'head-shake' than before but the biggest difference is how much easier it is to alter the line when leaning over; want a little more lean angle? just ask and the bike does it, want less? just think it and it's there - this is where I've noticed the biggest change.
To summarise; lighter wheels are probably the best upgrade you can do to your bike and if you haven't done them, it's well worth the effort & expense.
In the words of (IIRC) Colin Chapman "The best thing you can add is, less weight"
Some gratuitous pics.....
Before;
After;
Catso,
Looking good!
What width rear tire are you running, 180 or 190? Sounds like my bike is set up very similar to yours and fitting a 180 section rear made a significant improvement to mine
BTW If you haven't already done so, put a small cable tie through the ends of the clip on the rear wheel nut, or you may loose it.
Mark.
Looking good!
What width rear tire are you running, 180 or 190? Sounds like my bike is set up very similar to yours and fitting a 180 section rear made a significant improvement to mine
BTW If you haven't already done so, put a small cable tie through the ends of the clip on the rear wheel nut, or you may loose it.
Mark.
mtbr said:
Catso,
Looking good!
What width rear tire are you running, 180 or 190? Sounds like my bike is set up very similar to yours and fitting a 180 section rear made a significant improvement to mine
BTW If you haven't already done so, put a small cable tie through the ends of the clip on the rear wheel nut, or you may loose it.
Mark.
Looking good!
What width rear tire are you running, 180 or 190? Sounds like my bike is set up very similar to yours and fitting a 180 section rear made a significant improvement to mine
BTW If you haven't already done so, put a small cable tie through the ends of the clip on the rear wheel nut, or you may loose it.
Mark.
5.5" rim with a 180, bike originally had a 190 on a 5.5" but handles much better with a 180 so I got the 5.5" Marchesini. 190 is not neccessary and Ducati only fitted them for the 'bling' factor, besides 916 is not about outright power but nimbleness & handling.
Got the cable ties on both sides after having had a bad experience when I first got the bike and the dealer had not tightened the wheel properly
"To summarise; lighter wheels are probably the best upgrade you can do to your bike and if you haven't done them, it's well worth the effort & expense.
In the words of (IIRC) Colin Chapman "The best thing you can add is, less weight"
what a load of rubbish - £ for £ the BEST upgrade you can possibly do is . . .. . .
to cut down on your pork life - much less weight for not much ££££ - he he he he - and much cheaper than a set of forgies!
Khushy
btw - those wheels do look nice - enjoy!
In the words of (IIRC) Colin Chapman "The best thing you can add is, less weight"
what a load of rubbish - £ for £ the BEST upgrade you can possibly do is . . .. . .
to cut down on your pork life - much less weight for not much ££££ - he he he he - and much cheaper than a set of forgies!
Khushy
btw - those wheels do look nice - enjoy!
Edited by khushy on Monday 21st August 07:40
khushy said:
£ for £ the BEST upgrade you can possibly do is . . .. . .
to cut down on your pork life - much less weight for not much ££££ - he he he he - and much cheaper than a set of forgies!
to cut down on your pork life - much less weight for not much ££££ - he he he he - and much cheaper than a set of forgies!
My Aprilia has OZs and the quality of the ride on the bike is surprisingly good. Turns in nice and quick too - quicker than the R1, I reckon.
khushy said:
what a load of rubbish - £ for £ the BEST upgrade you can possibly do is . . .. . .
to cut down on your pork life - much less weight for not much ££££ - he he he he - and much cheaper than a set of forgies!
I agree but when you're a mere slip of a 15 stoner like me... I mean I might waste away to nothing if I gave up on the Pukkas
catso said:
khushy said:
what a load of rubbish - £ for £ the BEST upgrade you can possibly do is . . .. . .
to cut down on your pork life - much less weight for not much ££££ - he he he he - and much cheaper than a set of forgies!
I agree but when you're a mere slip of a 15 stoner like me... I mean I might waste away to nothing if I gave up on the Pukkas
Some would argue that it makes the suspension work more effectively as the unsprung weight is smaller as a proportion of the sprung weight.
catso said:
rsvmilly said:
Some would argue that it makes the suspension work more effectively as the unsprung weight is smaller as a proportion of the sprung weight.
I'll have to remember that one.......
* Added before vixpy could comment.
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