Wheels?

[scduc]

I've been doing a little searching on the forum and cannot find a whole lot about wheels (rims). My dealer says that for the dollar, they can make a huge difference in performance\handing. Are there any weight charts on the stock rims that Ducati uses. And what are the best options for the street. I know that Carbon Fiber is super light, but I am not sure I can justify big dollars for the risk of damaging them with all the potholes. What are most of the stock rims made of. In perticular 08' S2R. I've been told that for 1K I can get some rims that will make the bike perform much better than many of the other engine mods. What do you think?

[kopfjäger]

The 08 S2R has Cast aluminum. Forged aluminum would be lighter.

 NEW Marchesini Alum Forged 10 spoke: Front: 7.64 pounds; Rear: 9.98

Original Marchesini 5 spoke magnesium: Front - 6.80 lbs, Rear - 8.70lbs

NEW 10 spoke forged magnesium wheels : Front: 6.04lbs, Rear: 7.76lbs

Ducati OEM aluminum 3-spokes, 11.5 lbs front, 13 lbs rear

Ducati OEM aluminum 5-spokes (996/998), 9.25 lbs front, 12 lbs rear

REDUCING THE WEIGHT OF YOUR WHEELS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PERFORMANCE CHANGE THAT YOU CAN MAKE TO YOU MOTORCYCLE!

Lighter wheels will make a major difference in the handling of your bike. They will also greatly improve the acceleration and deceleration “braking” of your bike for the following reasons.

Static Weight: Each ounce of reduction of the wheels weight is equivalent to 4 ounces on the sprung 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.

Dynamic Weight: This is the weight reduction on the rim of the wheel and this is where the action is. EACH OUNCE OF WEIGHT REDUCTION ON THE RIM IS EQUAL TO ABOUT 24 POUNDS OF WEIGHT AT 100 MPH!

[scduc]

Excellent response. I was not aware that there was that much difference in weight. I always thought that people did it for the look.

[kopfjäger]

And obviously if you went with CF, there would be even more weight reduction.

[Statler]

completely experience changing addition.

I will not be able to buy a bike again without budgeting for BSTs.

On the street it feels like a light dirtbike...I would swear if I didn't know the bikelost 80 pounds.

On the track it changes direction easily even at high speed (like 150 plus speed...the 'kink' at VIR is really a turn).

http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=98.0

the running joke here is that I would paint them pink and still run them......it's not for the looks.

[Statler]

I should ad that this is not something a brand new rider would be in a position to take advantage of.      Ride for long enough until you feel like faster turning would help in aggressive riding.  The point at which you muscle the bike with countersteering almost as hard as you can in quick transitions....the type where the front lofts between left and right....then it's more than worth the high cost.

[ducpainter]

I'll let you know.

I just put some Marvic mags on my 996.

[Statler]

I'll let you know.

I just put some Marvic mags on my 996.

are they pink yet?

[ducpainter]

are they pink yet?

Fry gets a pink bike...

you get pink wheels.

I'm not man enough to pull either of those off.