Wire Wheel / Cast Wheel Swap

[Cormanus]

[jtopiso_imp]

This bracket is not a porous sand casting, but a low-pressure die casting, as are the components of an aluminum frame or swingarm, or wheels and calipers for that matter. Aluminum frames and swingarms are welded together from cast and extruded pieces.

I am not saying it can't be done. I am saying it has some risks. And it can be tricky.

Today, more and more automotive components are made by welding together Aluminium cast parts. But they know exaclty what materials they are using, they can do thermal treatments to stress relieve after welding, they do crack inspection, they test sample parts for strength and fatigue, and they avoid, by design, tensile loads on the welds.

If done properly it can be safe, of course. I just say I wouldn't do it (specially as I don't have a welder )

[pekingduck]

This bracket is not a porous sand casting, but a low-pressure die casting, as are the components of an aluminum frame or swingarm, or wheels and calipers for that matter. Aluminum frames and swingarms are welded together from cast and extruded pieces.

I am not saying it can't be done. I am saying it has some risks. And it can be tricky.

Today, more and more automotive components are made by welding together Aluminium cast parts. But they know exaclty what materials they are using, they can do thermal treatments to stress relieve after welding, they do crack inspection, they test sample parts for strength and fatigue, and they avoid, by design, tensile loads on the welds.

If done properly it can be safe, of course. I just say I wouldn't do it (specially as I don't have a welder )

I am not saying it can't be done. I am saying it has some risks. And it can be tricky.

Today, more and more automotive components are made by welding together Aluminium cast parts. But they know exaclty what materials they are using, they can do thermal treatments to stress relieve after welding, they do crack inspection, they test sample parts for strength and fatigue, and they avoid, by design, tensile loads on the welds.

If done properly it can be safe, of course. I just say I wouldn't do it (specially as I don't have a welder ) I don't think the modifications affected safety, but you're right, it's not tested. Where I removed material on the front, I had the welder reinforce it on the back. Also, I was incorrect before, as these pieces were sand cast, not die-cast.

[michael1954]

2017 EX with 2014 DLX wheels and 2014 standard tank and seat, Arrow exhaust.

Hi, did you swap out the spokes for the DLX wheels just for looks, or the difficulty of finding tube-type tires for the 2017EX? I do not like cleaning spokes at all, but have read about how difficult it can be just to find good tires for the EX model. Also is safety an issue at all, tube-type versus no tube wheels? Just curious, that is a lot of money to change out wheels.
PS..the bike looks better with the 2014 wheels to me.

[pekingduck]

2017 EX with 2014 DLX wheels and 2014 standard tank and seat, Arrow exhaust.

Hi, did you swap out the spokes for the DLX wheels just for looks, or the difficulty of finding tube-type tires for the 2017EX? I do not like cleaning spokes at all, but have read about how difficult it can be just to find good tires for the EX model. Also is safety an issue at all, tube-type versus no tube wheels? Just curious, that is a lot of money to change out wheels.
PS..the bike looks better with the 2014 wheels to me.

Hi, did you swap out the spokes for the DLX wheels just for looks, or the difficulty of finding tube-type tires for the 2017EX? I do not like cleaning spokes at all, but have read about how difficult it can be just to find good tires for the EX model. Also is safety an issue at all, tube-type versus no tube wheels? Just curious, that is a lot of money to change out wheels.
PS..the bike looks better with the 2014 wheels to me. Hi Michael, I swapped for all those reasons. I have a couple other bikes with wire spokes, certainly a pain to keep clean. I don't think it's a lot of money compared to $1200-1500 to put on a Moriwaki or Yoshimura full exhaust.

[Frulk_imp]

Are we at the point yet were pics can be posted?

[pekingduck]

Are we at the point yet were pics can be posted?

There's a picture of my bike with the cast wheels in post #2.
Or did you mean for the wire wheels alone?

[michael1954]

2017 EX with 2014 DLX wheels and 2014 standard tank and seat, Arrow exhaust.

Hi, did you swap out the spokes for the DLX wheels just for looks, or the difficulty of finding tube-type tires for the 2017EX? I do not like cleaning spokes at all, but have read about how difficult it can be just to find good tires for the EX model. Also is safety an issue at all, tube-type versus no tube wheels? Just curious, that is a lot of money to change out wheels.
PS..the bike looks better with the 2014 wheels to me.

Hi, did you swap out the spokes for the DLX wheels just for looks, or the difficulty of finding tube-type tires for the 2017EX? I do not like cleaning spokes at all, but have read about how difficult it can be just to find good tires for the EX model. Also is safety an issue at all, tube-type versus no tube wheels? Just curious, that is a lot of money to change out wheels.
PS..the bike looks better with the 2014 wheels to me. Hi Michael, I swapped for all those reasons. I have a couple other bikes with wire spokes, certainly a pain to keep clean. I don't think it's a lot of money compared to $1200-1500 to put on a Moriwaki or Yoshimura full exhaust.

Hi, did you swap out the spokes for the DLX wheels just for looks, or the difficulty of finding tube-type tires for the 2017EX? I do not like cleaning spokes at all, but have read about how difficult it can be just to find good tires for the EX model. Also is safety an issue at all, tube-type versus no tube wheels? Just curious, that is a lot of money to change out wheels.
PS..the bike looks better with the 2014 wheels to me. Hi Michael, I swapped for all those reasons. I have a couple other bikes with wire spokes, certainly a pain to keep clean. I don't think it's a lot of money compared to $1200-1500 to put on a Moriwaki or Yoshimura full exhaust. I would rather have the wheels than the exhaust. I do not want to hop up my CB. That is what the Z900RS is for.