Forged Wheels on Road Bike - Worth it ?

[Charliecloud]

Specifically relating to the BMW S1000R

I am looking at picking up a 2017 model and have seen a couple with the 'HP' wheels. I know that they save about 2kg in weight.

Is this really noticeable in normal road riding ?

Are there any other benefits to them, such as strength ?

Thanks

[2Btoo]

Not strength but stiffness; you'll notice it immediately. It means less compliance through the wheels so a fractionally harsher ride but much more direct feel on the road, which is helped further by the lightness.

Others may differ but they are well, well worth it in my book.

[ash reynolds]

Less compliance on really st roads and someone paying for the privilege!? If you get the bike for no extra £'s and it has these wheels then great, if not I certainly wouldn't lose any sleep in not having them.

I'd say you need to be a track 'god' to notice these even on a track.

[FazerBoy]

Well, I put carbon wheels on my Speed Triple, and although completely over the top for road use and definitely not an economically wise decision, you can definitely feel the difference. The bike accelerates quicker and is much easier to flick onto its side. They also look stunning.

I got a decent year-end bonus and was happy to splash out on the wheels regardless of cost and I don’t regret my choice. Furthermore, when I sell the bike I will sell the wheels separately and should recoup at least half of the amount they cost me.

[Tango13]

Definitely worth it! Less un-sprung weight is always a good thing.

I have forged PVM wheels on my 1050 Daytona and they made a big improvement to the handling.

[bogie]

Yep 2kg lost off wheels is noticeable ...maybe not if you just get on a bike with them fitted already and you dont have a reference point, but if you rode a bike back to back and changed the wheels to a lighter set it you will notice

[Triaguar]

On a practical note they are a non standard tyre fit. A little difficult when or if touring having just spent what seems my whole life riding around southern Spain trying to get one.

[Ho Lee Kau]

IMHO one doesn't need to be track God or even be on track to notice the difference in less rotating mass. I remember I switched alloys on my long gone Golf GTI to OZ Racing, 4kg off each corner, can't say about acceleration, but braking was noticeably improved and also the way the wheels followed the bumps on the road, noticeably better response from suspension.
1% less mass, rotating suspended mass, must be noticeable on a bike.

[2Btoo]

ash reynolds said:

Less compliance on really st roads and someone paying for the privilege!? If you get the bike for no extra £'s and it has these wheels then great, if not I certainly wouldn't lose any sleep in not having them.

I'd say you need to be a track 'god' to notice these even on a track.

Don't worry about the fractional loss of compliance. The improvement in handling due to the lower unsprung mass is well worth the money - and better still if they are already on the bike.

You really WILL notice it. I did. And I ain't no track god by any measure.

[carinaman]

A video on lightweight wheels:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbo8oHZj93g

[Pravus1]

When I went from standard to forged OZ on my tuono the difference was massive. The first time you twist the throttle it seemed to pick up much faster and falls onto it's side at speed with ease.

Definitely the best mod

[knitware]

Just to note, albiet a small feature. You'll have the angled valves on the forged wheels too, easier to inflate.

[Pravus1]

Also the wheels are not "Stiffer". What you are feeling is the suspension having less forces to deal with so you need to change the settings to get the ride to where you want it. When you have sorted that it is a better ride than standard

[tom_e]

knitware said:

Just to note, albiet a small feature. You'll have the angled valves on the forged wheels too, easier to inflate.

Just get your tire fitter to chuck a pair on when they change your tires. Much cheaper way to do it

[bennyboysvuk]

Pravus1 said:

When I went from standard to forged OZ on my tuono the difference was massive. The first time you twist the throttle it seemed to pick up much faster and falls onto it's side at speed with ease.

Definitely the best mod

This is certainly my expectation of lighter wheels. I've had lighter wheels on an E36 M3 before and the difference of 2kg a corner was absolutely massive to me. It's something I'd love to do for my R1...at some point.

[Charliecloud]

Well the deal is done - HP forged wheels,levers and both sport and dynamic packs. Pick it up next week, roll on Spring.

[seveb]

A loss of 2Kg from the wheels will be noticeable, especially in the way the bike turns, assuming a kilo or thereabouts comes off the front wheel.

Don't be tempted by carbon wheels, not worth the hassle and risk but if you can get some official forged wheels cheap enough then go for it - but get used wheels checked out for cracks and straightness.

[f1nn]

seveb said:

Don't be tempted by carbon wheels, not worth the hassle and risk but if you can get some official forged wheels cheap enough then go for it

What hassle and risk?

I’ve ran BST carbon wheels for many years on multiple bikes, I’ve never had any hassle, And am not aware of any increased risk?

[Joelonghair]

I'd guess cheap carbon = catastrophic failure with no warning.

A moot point when considering high-end, well engineered carbon - and that alloy wheels can fail similarly.

[graylag]

Does it really matter that much when riding round on the road? Seems like a load of bling and Max Power style chav tat to me.