Are Lighter Motorcycle Wheels Better? Cast Vs. Forged Wheels 

I've had carbon fiber wheels on all my sport bikes since 2002. Once you ride a sport bike with light wheels you never want to ride a bike with the standard "heavy" wheels again. Transitioning left to right in s-curves so effortless with light wheels compared to a standard wheel. My newest bike is an S1000RR with the M packaged that comes standard with CF wheels. One of my other bikes is a K1300S that is all stock. After riding the S1000RR for a week and then switching to the K1300S, the K1300S feels like I have to pull it down in a a corner because of the noticeable difference gyroscopic effect. When all you have ever rode is ride a motorcycle with standard wheels you don't notice the gyroscopic effect but once you do ride a bike with light wheels the difference in gyroscopic effect is very noticeable right away. I know lighter wheels are a lot of money but if you want the biggest performance enhancement for the money, lighter wheels are the best option. However, the best money you can spend first is for professional instruction at a reputable track school. Forget the titanium exhaust, ECU flash and dynotune and Ohlins shocks, and spend the money on track days and professional instruction. $0.02

The scooter ride was epic!

I’m in the middle of switching my stock 3-spoke ’02 R1 cast wheels out for stock 5-spoke ‘04+ cast wheels (I think I got ’07’s) I got off eBay. They’re supposed to be a fair bit lighter. I’m even more excited to feel any difference they make after hearing your conclusion. Thanks! (In case anyone is curious, I said, “in the middle of,” because although it’s pretty much a straight swap in back (that part’s done), it’s a much bigger project up front: new forks, new calipers, etc. The ”new” eBay ‘07 forks are currently being serviced and re-valved/sprung. I just hope it all fits together when I’m done!!!) Thanks again, great video!

Oz wheels on my panigale make a significant difference in the twisters. Much better investment than an aftermarket exhaust.

I could just watch you with that fpv camera cruising around the track with cool tunes all day.. nice..

Great eccentric info...wow are we way too much alike. I have a Daytona 955i w/ SSSA..so I know that feeling when your lifting, holding by straps, jeck..Hey, to spread the eccentric clamp MVAugust offers a nylon 'wedge' in their tool kit, IIRC you can buy it separately ..otherwise you can use hard wood wedge to spread it -w/o causing swinger damage ..Moving on ..I had a 999 for years , FBF race spec engine BCM 102mm overbore aftermarket Ohlins, Fast by Frank lightened internals ..all the goodies...but it was 80% road going. When I swapped OEM Marchesini w/ with aftermarket Marchesini 'forged' Kompe wheels...it was a definite improvement on track .however most of my riding was.road going...where my 999 became 'darty' not as 'planted'. Your just not riding on primo macadam when you are on the road...great video tutorial on eccentric R&R.. YES Ducati does 'hate you' which is hilarious , ..give Triumph a try, they 'love you' ..and you can actually get parts w/in 5 days, and hugely cheaper !!!! SUBSCRIBED !!!!!

I have always hated Ducati for the "hassle" of maintenance but THIS video you made Dave, is bringing me back to "wanting" a single-sided swingarm Ducati. If I am your neighbor, I will every day, knock on your garage door to ask you if you are doing a bike and if I can help or just simply stand in a corner and observe. I will load your stuff and I will drive for you. I will even be your cameraman or a chase bike. I'll pay your phone bills just so you let me. Kidding aside, thanks for this nice video, Dave. Now I am dreaming of owning a Ducati (who hates us) again.

I love these types of videos. great work

I ride an 848 You just gave me a great Idea for upgrading. Awesome. Love your channel

For anyone without that pull-up bar and straps he used, you can use a car jack stand under each foot peg if they aren't foldable. Or put a longer metal pipe on each peg if you have clearance issues with the top of your jack stands and the bike.

great video, first of yours I've watched I think you must be quite the sceptic, only believe something when you've felt the difference for yourself kind of person. Which is cool, but my point is I've only ever read from all different sources that lighter wheels is basically the single best mod a sport rider can make, that they improve every performance aspect of the bike.. That being said, I was absolutely shocked at the difference it made to my 996 when I switched to BSTs.

Found that out donkeys years ago. Light gyroscope easy flick heavy one hard to flick 😉

Quality content as always..❤❤❤

Nice thanks for sharing that. So that's why the Ducati S & R versions feel so different ... I gotta get some of those large spring clip pliers! ;-)

Great video I just ordered a tire changer to do my own swaps and didn’t know I could flip the rear tire to get more life out of it (pirelli SC2 and TD tires ) I was going to get rid of them but now I’m thinking I can flip and get at least one more trackday out of each (fast B group pace) before mounting the new set

Nice presentation. If I change just the front wheel with a forged one and keep the rear cast stock, what do you think? Will I have the agility or what?

Miller is the best track in America!🇺🇸

You DID NOT say “Bob’s your uncle”. Burt Munro is surely smiling down, if not Anthony Hopkins…

Thanks ✌🏻

As someone whos been riding aprilias for years, and have been highly debating going ducati, but never gave the single swingarm into thought... yikes.. so much work needs to go into simply adjusting chain

Enjoy your content. What's your take on carbon wheels placed on 700lb cruisers?

Circuit? Think I’ve ridden it virtually in Ride 4.

Would love to put a set of these on my next build... just a little pricey.

Awesome video and good advice on lighter wheels. Seeing you working on the Ducati was eye opening.

Hey Dave. A quick question and maybe a topic for a video. May be not. I change my own tyres but don't have a balancer. What's your view on balance beads? Cheers

Upvoted for using kilograms in the US.

Should have gone with a carbon fiber wheel 🤤

what tire changer is that? Thank you!

any difference in lap times

"Little bubbles" are not why forged are stronger than cast. Google it.

I went with lighter wheels for racing. Everyone asked me why. Fatigue. With lighter wheels I was able to get 2 to 3 more fast consistent laps out of my race. Before I was getting gassed at the end of my races. Now I am finishing my races with very consistent lap times near the end of my races where before I was loosing seconds.

"rotational weight"

Second!!

This is the first time i've seen in depth working on a single sided swingarm, that's very interesting, I always wondered exactly how the concentric chain adjustment was implemented, I'm more surprised by the fact that you can swap out the whole hub and not have compatibility issues, seems very un-ducati to me lol

Enjoyed every second of this video and LOVED how you showed clips of each tool used in the process

How many people did an internet search for lightweight wheels for their bike after watching this? I did for my 899!

Your thoughts on carbon fiber Wheels if we could all afford it?

Nice!! We have the same bikes. I had to drill and relocate the rear brake mount bolt back 10mm to make room for the 180/60 slicks. Works like a charm! Now I thinking if I should swap the rear hub to the large hub to run the 190/55’ on a 6” wheel too!

Holy crap, he dropped a video. Your videos are awesome man, just wish you'd post more often. 🙏👌

I agree with you, it is the best mod you can make. I put Carbon Fibre BST's on my Aprilia RSV4 Factory and the difference was huge🙂

Great video. Must say, I’m jealous of your workshop set up.

I really enjoyed watching the work involved. I am a mechanic so I appreciate when someone goes through the process and shows how to do it. I don't race, but I am going to find a set for my 1999 Supersport 900 and do this!

yup, wheels make the bike. And tire sizes are BS... I couldn't agree more.

Did I spy, with my little eye, a ball cap with the WY flag? Shout out from a Cody fam!

Yep, best money you can invest upgrading your bike.

Nice video! Seems like your content is getting better and it was already good.

I had BST wheels on my Multistrada 1200S. They transformed that bike.

Man, I wish I could have found those. Ive been hunting for a mint set as well. I have the Marco/Brembo "Ultralights" in that style for my MV and they are insanely light for even forged aluminum.

absolutely true! I swithced to OZ forged wheels on my Tuono V2 1000R and it changed completely

Going from cast to forged removed fourteen pounds of unsprung weight from my ‘09 rsv1000r . Thats huge

Your videos really good for me an ex mechanic. Get tired of the superficial homeowner type videos. Thanks for your work. Ducati to my dream bike. Riding 83 cb1100f and 2000 zrx1100 currently.

I bought BST CF wheels a few years back... they were easily the biggest seat of the pants performance change I've ever made to a bike.

Reducing the weight of unsprung mass is for sure one of the best upgrades. Anyone who’s done this with their mountain bike can attest to this. The results are astounding obvious.

Do you think the new tire shape (less squished) had a lot to do with the handling?

I'm not surprised. Reducing unsprung mass is always beneficial. It's why upside down forks are great. Less weight allows the suspension to work more efficiently and, on motorcycles, lighter wheels generally allow for better turn in. Less rotational mass means easier accel and better braking. "Make a great car (or motorcycle) and add lightness" as it's been said. Can ever go wrong with losing weight.

Great vid! I was kinda surprised you didn't though lighter and stiffer wheels would help. Like you said un-sprung mas close to minimum is always better, but more importantly for wheels is to get the centrifugal force down :) F=ma is a easy introduction to that discussion. Great to hear that the bike was better in acc, brakes and especially turning after the change. You know have much, much less resistance to combat every-time you are changing your directions and speed ;)

Did you have to adjust the ........ DAMPENING? Lol. I'm getting OZ on my R1. Would like to know ahead of time to nip it in the bud.

Looks like you enjoyed that project :) Was Mike expecting you? He looked calmly surprised. Nice cnc machine.

Hey which tire changer is that? NoMar? Great video by the way. Not even halfway done and already loving it.

Where did you get that tire removal machine?

A simple equation, 20% bet wheel’s for 200% more money thus why bikes that cost upwards of $100k have them and bikes nearer to $10k don’t 🤷‍♂️

If you can’t afford both, then just start with front. Really helps with turn transitions. Great Video!!!

the key tuning things that everyone knows on bike is less weight in the wheels and a good pipe with optimazed software settings ..that is the most important ...and pads and brake master cylinder (if you want more bite)

Very cool result, thanks for sharing the process as well! I have 2 special Ducati tools for my Monster just for that rear wheel/hub BFN combo but I never thought about it being that Ducati hated me. I just figured they needed more of my dollars than I do so they were doing a favor by lightening my bank account a bit more.

Great episode. Thanks so much for inviting us in.

Lighter wheels = lighter wallet! At least for the shirt term as the money comes back in much better fuel economy too.

Looks like an easy swap as long as you have all those special Ducati tools, lol.

Nice background music, reminds me of Big Country.

Great job on showing us the whole process, I think it will help a lot of people. Keep up the great content!!

Very entertaining and informative video !

19:15 this is great hahahaha Should i go with forged wheels or carbon?

When you mark forged wheels as fragile 😂

Can I clarify that this is the M10RS forged Magnesium wheels isn’t it? Is there a 10-spoke forged aluminium wheels that marchesini produce?

So, Weight reduction-wise; the forged stock wheels on my 2021 Hypermotard 950SP are fine.

I am not 100% convienced that lighter is always better. Sure, removing 2kg of rotating mass will have dramatic effect on the behavior of the motorcycle, but this is an act of balance between flickability and stability, so different requirements have to be met for road and racing driving. Spinning motorcycle wheels is what keeps a motorcycle moving and not falling while rolling, since the wheels are two big gyroscopes, and the heavier, the better for stability. For track, where everything is predictable, sacrificing some of that stability in favor of a more flickable handling can be beneficial, but not of the road. The real question for me would be, for ''better'' track handling, if it would be preferable to opt for a faster chassis geometry (call me shorter wheelbase, more triple clamp offset, higher rear/lower front end height, different weight distribution) or lighter rotating mass.

You should be properly torquing the axle and wheel nut. using the impact is way too much torque.

Which tire changing rig do you use?

I don't know about reliability...but omg...this bike is a jewel...Greetings from Athens,Greece!

Better.. as in how many percent?

Chris’s lifting do-hicky = my next welding project.

1:51 whoa i know that track, its in Malaysia

@canyon chaser Were the gold wheels magnesium or aluminium?

GREAT video! Sub'd!

I love seeing people at work!😂

Now go for carbon wheels.. 😉

Great informative vid as always - Thanks. So would lighter wheels also be a worthwhile upgrade for road riding?

Your shop is my wet dream.

I bet ur an awesome dad. Adopt me

Of course they are 🤣🤣🤣

This is why I went with the 899. Done with single sided swingarm shenanigans

What i would like to add is that mass moment of inertia and the mass (weight) of the wheel are two different things. It is possible to have two wheels that have the same mass but have two different mass moments of inertia. The one with the mass concentrated closer to the axis of rotation will have the smaller mass moment of inertia and as a result will perform better.

Very informative - thanks - watched till the end.

Great project, superb equipped garage.., so how many peoples tools do you have? 😃 But that's ok, If I was your friend I would also chip in some pliers, just let me also work on my bike inside! 😋😉

What are your lap time differences?

Awesome video and cool thing to see a rear wheel swap on a 1098, learned something new! You need to get an Abba Skylift especially for your bike. I have a one for my single sided VFR800 and it's the best investment I've made. I would love to find lighter wheels for my '06 R6 if I can only find them cheap

hi.. i have the 848 also... just wanna ask do you swap/change the 848 eccentric hub to bigger one(the 1098) or drill the axle hole bigger???

Yes. Yes they do! Coming in to make this comment a year later! I switched from cast to forged aluminum and shockingly I felt a difference on my Multistrada.

Beautiful Ducati!

Great video, more than I would want to tackle though. You're the second person who changed to lighter wheels and raved about the positive results. I finally did it and I immediately saw the difference you spoke of. Thanks for the nudge, keep up the great work!

street bikes suck