New Durrani Magnesium wheels

[Travman]

These wheels sound exciting.  $1298 for a set of Magnesium wheels would be a breakthough.  Estimated weights: Front: 6.8 lbs. / Rear: 10.8 lbs. including cush drive and integral sprocket carrier.   Supposedly they use a new production methodolgy that reduces production costs.  It will probably be a while before we know if this will be a quality product.  I'll wait to see some long term tests.

Here is their site: http://www.durraniracing.com/index.html

[Buckethead]

Interesting...

I'll be keeping my ear to the ground about this one.

[Slide Panda]

i'd be a bit wary.  Hit google and search Durrani Wheels.  They 1st appeared a couple years back touting low cost mag wheels and then smashed into all sorts of production issues.  Perhaps it all worked out, but for some time, there were a number of angry folks out there

While it's totally possible that they have things sorted out - a little due diligence is in order.

[DucHead]

i'd be a bit wary.  Hit google and search Durrani Wheels.  They 1st appeared a couple years back touting low cost mag wheels and then smashed into all sorts of production issues.  Perhaps it all worked out, but for some time, there were a number of angry folks out there

While it's totally possible that they have things sorted out - a little due diligence is in order.

+1  I recall reading that they had real technical production problems. 

[Buckethead]

If you click on the "news" tab and scroll down, they delineate a lot of the issues they have had so far. They get a bonus in my book for transparency.

However,

While it's totally possible that they have things sorted out - a little due diligence is in order.

[Slide Panda]

If you click on the "news" tab and scroll down, they delineate a lot of the issues they have had so far. They get a bonus in my book for transparency.

So they do, good for them.  IF they had pretended like this issues and events had never occurred that'd be a big red flag.  But putting out there that they had problems and had to go back to the bench is a good thing to see IMO.

In a vaguely related note anyone else peep at the clip-ons they are now offering?  I'm digging them - they offer bar down-angle adjustment while using a generic bar tube.  At $228 MSRP they are cheaper than any other clips (that I know if) that offer those sort of adjustments AND use a generic bar tube. 

[Buckethead]

I saw those.

I also saw that you can send them pretty much whatever you want off your bike and they'll machine a new one to match out of magnesium.

Wonder how much weight I could save with a magnesium seat cowl?   

[Slide Panda]

I saw those.

I also saw that you can send them pretty much whatever you want off your bike and they'll machine a new one to match out of magnesium.

Wonder how much weight I could save with a magnesium seat cowl?   

Seriously?  That's neat... totally out of my budget... but neat.

The real weight savings is in the mag flux capacitor housings...

[Buckethead]

I keep forgetting my bike has a FC. I just use it for a helmet hook most of the time.

I honestly have no idea what they'd charge for their machining services, but in line with the rest of their offerings so far, I would guess they'd be reasonable. I know that's a relative term, but given their prices for other bits, I'd guess they'd be happy to have some piece-work with the engineering already done for them.

[Speeddog]

Here's some history, it's a long read....

http://forums.13x.com/showthread.php?t=138691

[ducpainter]

I'm having a conversation right now with a paint customer that is supposedly receiving his Durrani rims soon.

[Speeddog]

Short history, AFAIK:

They were going to make the wheels by thixomolding the center, spokes, and a thin ring, which was then going to be laser welded to a rolled rim.
The rolled rim wasn't round enough for lazer welding.
Then they were going to TIG weld them by hand.
All this time, while they're developing the manufacturing process, they're taking orders and money from people.
People got pissed because they had paid for wheels and didn't receive them in any reasonable time frame.

Apparently, they've overcome the manufacturing issues, and are referring to a 'fully thixomolded' wheel.
Not clear if it's a one-piece wheel now, or still welded.

My concern as a consumer would be that their last news update on the wheels was 5/23/08, where they say that 'certification testing is well underway'.
That was almost 6 months ago, and they haven't updated....

[Travman]

Speeddog, Thanks for the summary. 

I wouldn't buy from a new wheel company for several years after they had been producing a product.  I just wouldn't want to put down big money and then have a defect pop up a year later.  I'd also like to see a major magazine put them on one of their long-term bikes and then abuse them for a year.  I'd still probably wait until my local shop started to recommend them.  My local dealer seems to really like the Carrozzeria wheels.  They seem to be quality product with a good cost to weight savings value.

Hopefully in five years we will all be sporting magnesium wheels for under $1500, and maybe Norton will finally bring their new Commando to market, and maybe the Monster will return to more tasteful styling...

[Speeddog]

Perhaps Durrani has all of the manufacturing kinks worked out now, and it's just a matter of spooling up the manufacturing.
Would be good if they updated their 'news'.

I like your optimism! 

[Travman]

I took another look at their site and noticed the rearsets under their news section.  Look good with lots of adjustability.  Hopefully these become a good option for us.