Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Technical, Bike forums > BMW Tech
R1200 GS Beemer Mag or Spoke Rim? R1200 GS Beemer Mag or Spoke Rim?
Register FAQ Calendar Today's Posts
BMW Tech BMW Tech Forum - For Questions specific and of interest to BMW riders only.
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 2 Mar 2004
jv3 jv3 is offline
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Kelowna, BC, Canada
Posts: 55
R1200 GS Beemer Mag or Spoke Rim?
Hello, I have ordered a new R1200 GS and was wondering on your thought's about the new mag wheel that's availible versus a spoke wheel. Is it going to be strong enough for the RTW travel. It sure would be easy to clean...plus look's pretty cool.

Thanks for your advice...John.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 2 Mar 2004
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Estonia
Posts: 787
Surely would recommend spoked wheel if you do often bad- or offroad ride. Magnesiums are more tarmac oriented stuff, one rougher jump and they're broken or twisted :-( Also some specialists say that spoked wheels somehow make the bike more smooth, forgiving and controllable too in critical situations.

And sure i think the spoked wheels look ~2X more stylish and more original than magnesiums under a enduro bike!

[This message has been edited by Margus (edited 02 March 2004).]
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 3 Mar 2004
Grant Johnson's Avatar
HU Founder
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Dec 1997
Location: BC Canada
Posts: 7,313
Margus is right, the mag wheels are more pavement oriented. Think Suzuki V-Strom, or super moto.

For bad road rtw I think that spoke wheels are better, BUT will require more maintenance and are heavier iirc.

MOST people will be fine with mag wheels on a rtw trip. MOST people do very little serious off-road that would be a real problem for mags, especially on something the size and weight of an RxxxxGS. IF you go for mag wheels, just go a little slower on the rougher roads, take it easier. 99% of the time you're on pavement and it doesn't matter.

Remember that if you do bend a spoke rim, you will probably end up replacing the whole wheel anyway. Yes, "spoked wheels can be trued", but these spoke wheels are so hard to true that BMW says it can't be done and recommends replacing the wheel. (It CAN be done but is difficult and expensive - it is NOT something your average mechanic is going to have a lot of success with, especially if it's dented)

If you're a very good rider and want to visit all the bizarre off-pavement little places in the middle of nowhere, then spoked wheels are the way to go.

ymmv...

------------------
Grant Johnson

Seek, and ye shall find.
------------------------

One world, Two wheels.
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com
__________________
Grant Johnson
Seek, and ye shall find.
------------------------
Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997!
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 3 Mar 2004
jv3 jv3 is offline
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Kelowna, BC, Canada
Posts: 55
Thanks guys for your input. I'm still undecided on the new bike which way to go. I just did a 13000k ride thru Mexico on my 650Gs with spokes and all went well, but often wonder what would have happened if I had mag's instead...you know hitting thoses hidden topes (speed bumps) at 100k per hour. Would I have bent a rim with a mag hmmm who know's?
John...
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 3 Mar 2004
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Estonia
Posts: 787
That's one of the advantages of spoked wheel - it has many spokes and anyone of them has ability for some elastic movement, in the end, if you force the wheel roughly (i.e. jump or hit a small barrier on the road) they have a free space to move and to they "soften" the hit, i think they can deform few millimetres or even more at the time and gain their normal position back after the hit again. That's why the spoked wheels are as de-facto status in motocross - they're more forgiving for the rider's "mistakes" and they're lightweight too compared with full magnesium ones. Meanwhile, i think magnesium wheels doesn't even resist on 1 millimetre of deformation - they'll bend or crack!

But yes, spoked wheels do need a maintenence for some time intervals. Especially the BMWs cross-spoke patented wheels are very hard to manipulate with and sure they need a special mechanic with previous aknowledge with those type of wheels to "fine-tune" them again when the spokes have gotten too loose...

But those time intervals for maintenance are very long i've heard, but also fully depends how hard you ride your bike.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 3 Mar 2004
AliBaba's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Norway
Posts: 1,379
Well after 155.000 km on my R80GS I have never done any work on the spokes, but I always carry some spare.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 3 Mar 2004
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: London
Posts: 161
Using spoked wheels on the road may have saved my life. I was on my 1100GS on a very good road in Portugal. I had a passenger, camping gear, everything...and at 110 mph I hit a granite cobblestone which was sitting in the middle of the road, on a slight bend. I never saw it because it was in the shade of a tree and I was a bit busy overtaking a car.

The front rim was so badly dented that there was a gap of 1 cm between it and the bead. The back one didn't get dented ao much - it fractured from the edge of the rim to one of the spokes. The bike went up in the air but after it landed it stayed under control without me doing anything except hang on with my jaw on the floor. We missed the car and came to a halt without any fuss. We were able to continue our trip after getting new wheels Fedexed. If we had had cast wheels they might well have shattered, in which case I think we'd have had a very nasty crash - the road was lined with dry stone walls. OK, it wasn't just the wheels that saved us - the strength, stability and balance of the bike were also vital I reckon. But I'm a fan of spoked wheels on tarmac - they give you a little bit more of a safety margin and you never know when you'll be grateful for it.
__________________
If a thing is worth doing, it\'s worth doing to extremes.
Reply With Quote
Reply

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

ALL Dates subject to change.

2025 Confirmed Events:

  • Virginia: April 24-27 2025
  • Queensland is back! May 2-4 2025
  • Germany Summer: May 29-June 1 2025
  • CanWest: July 10-13 2025
  • Switzerland: Date TBC
  • Ecuador: Date TBC
  • Romania: Date TBC
  • Austria: Sept. 11-14
  • California: September 18-21
  • France: September 19-21 2025
  • Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2 2025

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

Your ad could be here, on EVERY page of the HUBB, or the whole website, or as many as you like!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 13:48.

Contact Us - Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers Website - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top