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When spoked or cast wheels? When spoked or cast wheels?
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Equipping the Bike - what's the best gear? Anything to do with the bikes equipment, saddlebags, etc. Questions on repairs and maintenance of the bike itself belong in the Brand Specific Tech Forums.
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



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  #1  
Old 13 Feb 2002
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When spoked or cast wheels?
Having seen quite a few bikes on the net lately that have had their original spoked wheels replaced with cast( ie. Tiger and 1100gs), I would appreciate some info on what are the benefits or problems of both for long distance traveling. I will be limiting my riding to two-track fire roads as the most challenging I would ride. What I am really asking is,when are spoked wheels a real necessity, and why?
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Old 14 Feb 2002
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In most third world countries it's simply more easy to repaire a spoked wheel. I don't even know if you can repair a non spoked one. You might have to find a whole new one, wich will often mean flying one in...
For ex.: My friend has been to Indonesia and had a spoked wheel with ceramic layers. This in combination with the right brakeshoes makes the whole thing last a lot longer and is more reliable. (but then again, he is speaking from a mountainbike perspective, but hey, that's a two-wheeler too!)
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Old 14 Feb 2002
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You say that the Tiger and the GS are cast wheels - dunno where you got that - the latest info I have is that both are still spoked.

A spoke wheel absorbs the shock better and is somewhat less likely to dent as a result.

Ease of repair is, as Maarten says, much better. Easy to replace a spoke, very tough to repair a cast wheel at all.

Spoke wheels on the other hand (with the noteable exception of late BMW GS's) require a tube-type tyre which isn't as safe as a tubeless.

Note that all "world-tour" type bikes (that I can think of off-hand) are spoke wheel.

But in the end you get whatever comes with the bike of choice. Normally way too hard / expensive to change either way.

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Old 14 Feb 2002
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Forget cast wheels. I have some on my 1150GS. They're from an 1100S. But I'm definitely putting the spoked wheels back on when I go RTW - the cast ones are way too soft, and are easily bent even on British roads. (My front one got buckled last month in Croydon.) The only good reason for using cast wheels is so you can fit soft compound road tyres for fast road or track use. Dunlop 207 RRs on a GS at Donington are a lot of fun, and a great way to humiliate R1 riders, but of no relevance to this bulletin board.

A few years back I broke both the spoked wheels on an 1100 GS when I hit a granite block at 110 mph in Portugal. The bike continued rolling in a straight line and I stayed on it. If I'd done the same thing with cast wheels I reckon they'd have been destroyed and I'd have been spread all over the road.
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Old 14 Feb 2002
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I think what you're talking about is the pic's of some specials that have been floating about on various boards on the net. It's fairly easy to change the wheels on a GS for one of the other BMWs but this has been done mainly for looks & road handling - as a track tool!
If you're thinking of travelling far or anything off road forget cast wheels. They dent too easily. On the other hand they're very rigid (good for handling) & come in sizes you can get sticky (road) tyres for.
Stick to the spokes that they came with unless you're sticking to good tarmac.
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Old 14 Feb 2002
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Thanks eveyone,that's the info I was hoping to get! I knew I could count on this board to clarify any questions I have as I check out bikes and equipment to put together my travelng rig. I prefer tubless tires so I guess I will be looking further into BMW and the new caponord. Steve
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