Alpina Spoked Wheels

[Travman]

I've always liked Alpina tubeless spoked wheels, but they seemed like they were out of my price range.  I think they used to cost something like $2,600.  I see they are listed on MonsterParts.com for $1,599 now which seems more reasonable.  Does anybody have any first hand experience with these wheels?  Does anyone here have them on their bike?  Are there any problems I should know about?  http://www.monsterparts.com/pc/ALP1/Wheels/ALP1.html

I keep coming back to this picture of a JVB Moto Ducati with Alpina wheels.  This is the look I want.

[MotoCreations]

I haven't "ridden" on a set -- just carefully inspected a set of them while visiting Jeff / MonsterParts in late 2007.  I was highly impressed by the quality of the Alpina spokes wheels. (Enough so that I almost acquired his from the showroom floor but didn't have a Ducati they would fit -- everything I have is singlesided) I dislike the factory Sport Classic wire wheels as they are heavy, not sealed and aren't that very nice cosmetically.  I wouldn't have a problem recommending the Alpina wheels at all.  If they had a singlesided rear wheel version, I'd be running a set myself.

[Travman]

Mark, Thanks for your thoughts on these wheels.  You mentioned the factory Sport Classic wire wheels are heavy.  Are the Alpinas lighter?  I know these are tubeless, but this will only save about 1 lb. right?  Do you think these Alpinas will be any lighter than the stock Ducati 3 spoke cast wheels?

What wheels will you be using on your upcoming custom Sport Classic?  You could use these Alpinas which would also allow the larger 4 caliper brakes. 

[xcaptainxbloodx]

threadjack: I want that tank.

[Travman]

threadjack: I want that tank.

http://jvb-moto.com/rocknroll/  Maybe JVB Moto can sell you one.  I like the headlight too.

[Privateer]

i love the wire spoke look, but the thought of keeping them clean makes me not want them.

[dlearl476]

I got these from Jeff, and I'm still working on getting them on.  If you have a 25 mm axle bike, go for it.  If you've got an older bike, I'd be more than happy to share my tale of woe and misery.    Suffice it to say that in the end, the easiest and best solution, for me, was to go to 25mm SS forks, and I found a nice set of adjustable ones for a good price.

Mark, Thanks for your thoughts on these wheels.  You mentioned the factory Sport Classic wire wheels are heavy.  Are the Alpinas lighter?  I know these are tubeless, but this will only save about 1 lb. right?  Do you think these Alpinas will be any lighter than the stock Ducati 3 spoke cast wheels?

What wheels will you be using on your upcoming custom Sport Classic?  You could use these Alpinas which would also allow the larger 4 caliper brakes. 

The ASystem wires are heavier than the OEM cast ones, but IIRC are lighter than SC wheels because I think the SC wheels use a steel rim.  The ASystem uses alloy rims.  I may be wrong.  For me, on this bike, the cosemtics outweighed the weight. 

[dlearl476]

i love the wire spoke look, but the thought of keeping them clean makes me not want them.

No trouble at all.

[Travman]

The ASystem wires are heavier than the OEM cast ones, but IIRC are lighter than SC wheels because I think the SC wheels use a steel rim.  The ASystem uses alloy rims.  I may be wrong.  For me, on this bike, the cosemtics outweighed the weight. 

Thanks for sharing pictures of your bike and your experience with the Alpinas.

The GT1000 has chromed steel rims.  All of the other Sport Classics including the Sport 1000s and Paul Smarts had aluminum rims

[Travman]

No trouble at all.

I often hear people comment about how hard spoke wheels are to clean, but I've never thought of them as difficult.  It's not like you clean every spoke individually.  I just run a sponge over them.  If the spokes are stainless steel (like the ones on the Alpinas) they should look good and not corrode.  Cheaper spokes are coated with some sort of zinc coating that will eventually corode no matter how much you clean them. 

[teddy037.2]

mmmmm... want! 

[TheoRex]

I like the color options Alpina has and now they have a carbon rim...

http://jcpakbikes.com/nakedcarbonmatrix/index.html

now i want them more

[lazylightnin717]

I like the color options Alpina has and now they have a carbon rim...

http://jcpakbikes.com/nakedcarbonmatrix/index.html

now i want them more

whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
















did you have to show me those?

[uglyducky]

that's a great looking bike man.  love those wheels on there.

[BlackKat]

For those of us with the single sided swing arm, D.I.D. made the spoked wheels on the Hyper 1100 evo sp. I haven't done any research as to how to obtain a set. I can say that you can't get them through Ducati...