| Author | Message | ||
     Duggram |
Does anyone make carbon fiber wheels for the 1125 (or any other Buell)? Could a wheel from another brand of bike be adapted? Neighbor told me that the greatest performance improvement for a road racing motorcycle is carbon fiber wheels. So I did some research on other forums and manufacturers Web sites. Sure enough it looks that way. Check out what BST says. http://www.blackstonetek.com/Inertia.htm I understand that they are expensive. But hopefully they wouldn't void your warranty. If they do make that much improvement then they might be a smart option for a rider that wants to trackday and improve the ride. | ||
| Zac4mac |
Buell's wheels are already pretty light. Especially the front with the ZTL brakes. Their racing wheels are even lighter, they are magnesium instead of aluminum. They also are not DOT and are a REAL BAD IDEA for the street. Z (Message edited by zac4mac on September 18, 2008) | ||
| Jaimec |
Your ZTL2 front wheel already weighs about as little as a conventional brake setup on a Carbon Fiber wheel. By the way, when a CF wheel fails, it fails BIG TIME... like it disintegrates. Okay if you're a racer and can afford replacing the wheels after every weekend (and a sponsor PAYS for it), but otherwise it's money that could be put to better use in my opinion. | ||
| Pridayr |
No personal experience, but I looked at this issue as well. 1. Fragile. 2. Expensive. 3. Reportedly leak air. Not rapidly, but steadily. Need something like Fix-a-Flat inside to hold air like a metal rim. Good performance advantage, but at some significant expense, on several fronts. Your decision as to the cost/benifit makes sense to you. Rob | ||
| Duggram |
If you look at some of the other forums (i.e. R1) there are riders that have used the same set of CF wheels on the street for more than two years. Durability and air leaks are not an issue. Besides I don't plan to use them on the street. The real issue is availability. You're right Pridayr. If the cost benefit is there I would be interested. Sounds like it is to me. | ||
| No_rice |
my question becomes, are you at the top of the game? are you trying to shave that last 1/10th off of your lap time to get the podium? if not there is no way the benefits for you will out way the cost. you talk about doing track days, not racing. if you can ride your 1125 ALL THE WAY to its full capabilitys in its current state then i think you should go for it. if there is even an instance where you could be leaned in harder and on the gas more or brake later, then i think you would be wasting your money. thats just my thinking on it though. i personally am more just looking at upgrading to race rubber n the stock rims. | ||
| Duggram |
I appreciate the replies. But you guys are missing the point. Forget the money and cost/benefit ratios. No I'm not wealthy but I am in a position to spend a little extra on my hobby. Back to my questions. Does anyone make them? Is there another make of bike with wheels that could be adapted? Thanks for all info. | ||
| Xnoahx |
Contact someone that makes them for other bikes and see if they make them. I would guess probably not because of the relatively low number of Buells out there | ||
| Duggram |
I appreciate the replies. But you guys are missing the point. Forget the money and cost/benefit ratios. No I'm not wealthy but I am in a position to spend a little extra on my hobby. Back to my questions. Does anyone make them? Is there another make of bike with wheels that could be adapted? Thanks for all info. | ||
| Zac4mac |
In that case, just have your dealer contact Henry Duga's group(BMC Racing) and get the magnesium race wheels. I forget the details, but I believe they are several pounds lighter than their street equivalents. No fitment issues, made for Buell, by Buell. Z | ||
| Duggram |
Sorry about the double post. I'm using a Google page that's new to me, that delivers just the text of any page to small devices like iPhones. Its a little confusing. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Does anyone make them? Is there another make of bike with wheels that could be adapted? Had a tire changing party on Sunday, where we changed my front...took the opportunity to give the wheel a good cleaning since it was off the bike. For the first time, I noticed that the wheel, due to its perimeter rotor mounts, seems to be a very unique configuration. Be surprised if anything from an existing non-Buell could be adapted. | ||
| Duggram |
Fresno, thought about that but had to ask. Z, that may be the best answer. I saw the mag wheels in the online catalog. They would be about half the cost. | ||
| Hitman44139 |
I wouldn't take the chance with the carbon fiber reading the some of the posts here. I would however spend the money on the magnesium wheels. The thought of a carbon fiber wheel disintegrating is not very appealing to me at +100 mph on a turn..... | ||
| 2kx1 |
To fit CF wheels ,I believe you would have to change the front brakes,axle,and possibly the forks. On the rear ,I believe a chain drive conversion and or brake conversion along with the axle. | ||
| Rsh |
Just as Zac4mac posted, the magnesium XBRR wheels are available in the Buell catalog, and are stated to be 4Lbs lighter than stock wheels, they also already have the bearings and spacers installed. You need a current race license. $1011.00 for the rear and $954.00 for the front. | ||
| Zac4mac |
Be advised - if you run these on the street. The first decent pothole you hit, the wheel will explode/implode. They are meant for a well maintained racetrack. Z | ||
| Duggram |
Rsh, if you talk to Henry Duga at BMC you'll find out that the only item sold by them that requires a license is the race ECM. BTW I'm not saying anything is wrong with the mag wheels, but CF wheels a lot stronger and lighter. I can't find anything about exploding wheels. There are a lot of people out there that are using CF wheels on the street (I don't want to). They definitely sound like they're more durable to me. But there is a ton of resistance to them here. Not sure why? | ||
| Pridayr |
Well, as unencumbered as I am by facts and experience, that has never stopped a wild-a$$ed speculation from being launched. One thing is the Money. If they were cheap, more people would try them. They might be the greatest thing since, but for most mortals the cost/benifit isn't worth the exploration. Rob | ||
| 2kx1 |
Two of my friends have BST's on their bikes and they have both said that it was the first mod that should have been done. | ||
| Rfischer |
For what it's worth....lighter wheels do make a noticeable difference. When I replaced the stock wheels on my S1 racebike with Marchesini forged race wheels, the difference in turn-in was dramatic. However, to fit the BST CF wheels to current Buells with perimeter brakes, will require changing the whole front end as the CF wheel cannot accept the perimeter brake system. The net result will be a similar unsprung weight to the stock 1125R set-up thus Zero improvement in handling. The "bling" factor is for you to decide... | ||
| Mikellyjo |
The "bling" factor is for you to decide... Well said. I think we have all done things just because of that factor. Can't ever fault anyone there. I say if you have the disposable income and can make them work...then do it. Then take pics so the rest of us posers can get them after we realize how sweet they look.  | ||
| Duggram |
2kx1, thanks for the comment. This issue is very divisive everywhere it's debated. The fact that they work is over looked by other reasoning. We're not talking break-through technology here. These wheels have been in development for more than 15 years. Now if I could get everyone to focus on how to get this done I could get what I want. I'm thinking the chain drive swingarm will allow for mounting the rear CF wheel. The front is a problem. I just happen to have a set of R1 forks that I was going to put on my XR1200 (sportster streettracker). It already has the R1 calipers on it. All I would need is rotors and wheel. This is not the way I would want to go but will if that is the answer. | ||
| Duggram |
Rfisher and Mike, you can take the bling factor out of this discussion because I can't see it. Literally I don't recognize the fact that an otherwise stock looking bike has custom wheels. What I think about is getting all the performance without hacking on the motor and preserving your warranty. | ||
| Jaimec |
You can probably get a better performance improvement by using the money you would spend on CF wheels to talk to Mssrs Keith Code, Kevin Schwantz, Reg Pridmore, Jason Pridmore, Freddie Spencer or the folks who run the Penguin Racing School in New Hampshire... | ||
| Rfischer |
 What he said.... | ||
| Slaughter |
I am assuming you have already done ALL the suspension re-work and tuning/setup BEFORE even considering $5K on carbon wheels. You have already done an Ohlins fork upgrade or re-valving/re-springing and AK-20 gas cartridge upgrade - and swapped the shock to a Penske or Ohlins. That basic setup will take you a couple days on a track to get properly setup. There aren't any carbon wheels setup for the ZTL - unless the factory is keeping it a secret. I think the catalog has magnesium listed in their racing parts section. Carbon doesn't crash well. You'd really have to consider the fact that damage that will slowly grow with time isn't detectable visibly. You need to have ultrasonic testing done to define the damage. You'd really need to do a fork swap and machine adapters to change front and rear over to a GSXR or more common bike but if you haven't already pushed the suspension to the limits with upgraded components and setup/tuning, you're wasting your hard-earned money in my opinion. I work in this stuff for a living - and frankly would NOT want it on a bike in a structural application (bodywork - OK, Frame/Wheels - not OK) unless I could afford to throw it out ANY TIME I had a wreck of any kind. And in answer to your original question, there are no known carbon wheels for the stock XB setup without machining adapters - and changing to "conventional" front end. (but I am by NO MEANS the final answer on that) | ||
| Duggram |
Slaughter, thanks for the comments. You make good sense. But here's the problem. How do you improve performance and stay in warranty? Would using CF wheels accomplish this? I sent an email to the BMC raceline asking if racing or trackdays would void my warranty. I got a reply. It is spelled out in the warranty that racing voids the warranty and there's a line in there about making certain performance changes will too. The good news is that if you maintain a basically stock bike and only trackday the thing you won't void your warranty. My 1125 is bearly a month old. So I thought maybe just changing wheels would be acceptable. Of course the mag wheels out of the catalog would be the sensible option. But I am a newbie to this type of performance bike. So I asked about CF and I'm learning. As I pointed out before I'm not wealthy but could find the funds for the wheels. But then again if it involves changing the forks that's gotta void the warranty. BTW this last weekend we had the AHMRA race here and I got a chance to talk to the Race Tech suspension guys. When it's time I'll probably start my suspension mods with them. The bottom line is that I will go with the mag wheels. I'll keep them setup for the track and only use them there. If you have any other suggestions that will improve my bike and keep me in warranty please let us know. Also at some point this warranty issue is going to go away. I'm just not sure how to determine when to accept that it's going to cost money to maintain the bike on my own when it breaks. When should I quit the warranty game, go full race, and pay the bill myself? I'm getting older fast and don't want to wait too long. But this is not the issue I wanted to settle. The issue was using CF wheels and I think that issue has been settled. | ||
| Duggram |
Jaimec, I'm signed up for lessons with Doug Polen at Laguna Seca. Would suggest someone else? | ||
| Fresnobuell |
What kind of instructional schools at Laguna? Probably mucho dinero, but I have to get on that track some day... |
