Author Topic: V-Strom spoked wheels or caste? (Read 3291 times)

Keith60 · « **on:** April 23, 2020, 09:54:33 »

I’m looking to buy V 650/650XT and wondered if anyone had some good cleaning tips for the spoked wheels. Do Vulcannet Wipes do a good job? I’m sure they will be a pain to clean, whereas caste wheels are so much easier to keep clean. So would people recommend the Caste wheels against the spoked wheels?

Mark Shelley · « **Reply #1 on:** April 23, 2020, 10:16:22 »

Definitely cast unless you love cleaning or intend to do serious off road riding (if that is the case you are probably buying the wrong bike anyway)

hotbulb · « **Reply #2 on:** April 23, 2020, 10:54:18 »

Another vote for cast!

Brockett · « **Reply #3 on:** April 23, 2020, 12:07:06 »

It's your money and you'll be riding it. So I say do what you want. Cast are easier to clean, wire wheels are a pain but look very nice when polished. Suzuki spokes do not have a good reputation for always being corrosion free. I don't know how much each type weigh. Being an oldie and brought up with wire wheels I instantly liked cast wheels for their practicallity. I think the modern Suzuki cast wheels look very nice. This topic needs owners with wire wheels to chip in with real life experience.

SuzukiSte · « **Reply #4 on:** April 23, 2020, 12:08:04 »

Another vote for cast! My KLE 500 had spokes what a pain to clean.

Fat Rat · « **Reply #5 on:** April 23, 2020, 12:10:55 »

Rusty Nuts · « **Reply #6 on:** April 23, 2020, 12:12:39 »

I'll CAST my vote for the wireless version.

Dark-Strom · « **Reply #7 on:** April 23, 2020, 12:43:18 »

Cast

tallpaul · « **Reply #8 on:** April 23, 2020, 12:45:29 »

Cast wheels.

Mr Nick · « **Reply #9 on:** April 23, 2020, 13:17:44 »

Having 2 bikes each cast & spokes, I'm happier with cast if it's something I'm cleaning all the time, but spoked for anything with an off road slant. It also comes down to imagining what a 21" front on the KTM & TS would look like cast - just feels wrong...

Keith60 · « **Reply #10 on:** April 23, 2020, 13:40:45 »

Brockett you mirror my exact thoughts! Come on the XT brigade, what's it like having the spokes to clean and how do you do it.

Fat Rat · « **Reply #11 on:** April 23, 2020, 13:43:19 »

I have spokes on my Africa Twin, it is a 17 plate and they have all been replaced under warranty, twice!!

I would say that it is near on impossible to clean spokes effectively, unless you have four hours a day.

old git · « **Reply #12 on:** April 23, 2020, 13:51:58 »

Cast unless you're doing serious off-road and as has been said already it's not the bike for serious off roading. More to spoked wheels than just cleaning. Spokes come loose, the adjusters seize, spokes break. Loads of things that aren't even a consideration with one piece wheels.

SuzukiSte · « **Reply #13 on:** April 23, 2020, 16:39:26 »

what old git says

Keith60 · « **Reply #14 on:** April 23, 2020, 16:49:57 »

Quote removed

From one Old Git to another..........I think

you are absolutely right!

RoadWarrior1978 · « **Reply #15 on:** April 23, 2020, 18:45:22 »

Your bike your choice, but for what it's worth Old Git is right on the money.

Asmith61 · « **Reply #16 on:** April 23, 2020, 20:19:38 »

Cast

timangus · « **Reply #17 on:** April 23, 2020, 20:33:05 »

I have in my garage 2 old cast wheels. One a Lester Alloy Wheel from 1982 replaced the spoke wheel of my 1980 BMW R100. The hub is distorted due to me hitting a french lorry at 60mph on a bend. The original wire wheel would have collapsed, but I was able to ride my bike home next day. The second is from my DL650 which hit a pothole so large in Kazakhstan that I shudder to think how a spoked wheel would have coped.

Rusty Nuts · « **Reply #18 on:** April 23, 2020, 20:59:47 »

Lester - there's a blast from the past. They used to do some lovely multi - spoked cast alloy wheels for Harleys.

Steady Freddy · « **Reply #19 on:** April 23, 2020, 22:01:26 »

I have spoked wheels on a brand spanker 650.
They have corrosion already at 7 months old.
I have never knowingly ridden in salt....but must have.
Suzuki don't want to know so far......but it's far from over at present. Can't say too much as I am building a "fit for purpose" file. .....
Had a quote of £120 per wheel to rebuild with proper stainless.