Ferris wheels – Lightweight Wheels-Why They Make Such A Big Difference

May 4th, 2008

Tip! After WWII, auto racing enthusiasts introduced new technologies and materials to every aspect of race cars to reduce weight and improve speed and handling. One of those improvements, ‘mag wheels’ remains in the vernacular to this day.

One of the best performance modifications you can do to your motorcycle, is to put on lighter wheels! I know, you see that these wheels weigh like 10 pounds less than stock, so you’re thinking, 10 pounds isn’t gonna justify paying all that money for nice light rims. But the question is not how much weight are you saving, it’s where is the weight you’re saving?

Lighter wheels will make a tremendous difference in the handling of your bike, acceleration and deceleration “braking” of your bike for the following reasons.

Non-Rotational Weight: One ounce reduced from the wheels total weight, is equal to 4 ounces taken off another part of the bike. Magnesium wheels will normally weigh at least 10 pounds less than your stock aluminum wheels. This is equal to 40 pounds of weight reduction on the bike, not too bad…

Rotational Weight: This is the weight reduction on the outer rim of the wheel and this is where the weight reduction makes a HUGE difference. At 100mph, each ounce of weight reduced here, is like having 25 pounds of weight taken off the motorcycle! This is real weight that must be turned, accelerated, and stopped, and likewise, it will improve turning, acceleration, and stopping. At any speed the reduction is relative to the velocity of the bike. As you increase your speed the weight savings will increase exponentially.

There are many types of lightweight wheels out there, made in a variety of different materials, such as aluminum, magnesium, and carbon fiber.

What to expect: Most people who upgrade to light wheels, experience better acceleration, better engine braking, “lighter feeling” in motion, and easier turning, with no noticable stability loss. Due to their ability to start spinning so easily, many riders report being able to “break loose” with the rear tire around corners, but without any loss of control.

Tip! Manufacturers often describe black wheels in the following manner: painted black, chrome and black, gloss black, matte black, flat black, powder coated black, satin black, charcoal, hyper black, iridium black, black with a machine lip, black paint with polished stainless lip, black with a diamond cut face, chrome with black spoke caps, chrome with black inserts, carbon, graphite, anthracite, and black chrome. However, black and hyper black are the most popular descriptions used by manufacturers.

Conclusion: Although they may be expensive, I truly feel that lightweight wheels are an incredible upgrade for anyone looking to get more performance from their motorcycle. What other part can you get for your bike that gives you better handling, better braking, better acceleration, and better looks for that kind of money?

I am the webmaster of Custom Fighters – Everything About Sportbikes and Streetfighters

Entry Filed under: Custom Wheels

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