Wire wheels have a number of disadvantages, including they aren’t stiff enough under side loads, suffer from fatigue and their concentricity may be poor. Advantages include they require minimal materials, are often strong, resilient to road bumps and, most importantly, are light. Apart from their lightness helping minimise a motorcycle’s weight, it also minimises the unsprung weight of motorcycles with sprung front forks and rear suspension, key to good roadholding.
In the past we’ve looked at wheel rim types and choices – now we examine spokes.
Materials:
Traditionally, spokes were manufactured in steel, then cadmium, nickel or chrome plate finished or painted. Today, most spokes are manufactured in stainless steel, with options of finish including polished and dull, bright mild steel for finish by the customer (e.g. paint, nickel plate,…
