Customising Your Bike - Rims
Bike customization is about making your bike reflect you as an individual. This can be done by simple bolt-on replacement modifications, or the more advanced custom paint-scheme and custom stickers, right the way through to major frame and hardware modifications such as street-fighters and extended swing-arms etc. This morning I want to introduce and identify the availability one simple but expensive modification that will amke your bike feel completely different, as well as make it really stand out from the norm - aftermarket rims.
Aftermarket Rims:
As well as providing additional styling options and colours, aftermarket rims generally have an additional use - Reducing mass. Now this may not seem like much, but as these actually affect the rotating mass of the bike this has an additional effect - its makes steering / tip-in quicker and also gives quicker acceleration. Inversely, you will also lose speed quicker when you roll off the throttle and the bike will stand-up quicker when you accelerate out of a corner.
Speaking to those that have bought aftermarket rims for their bikes, despite the cost, they have almost all said that they would buy wheels to improve the performance of their before doing any other modification to their bike...... If only everyone had the money to afford aftermarket rims
Manufacturers:
The following are the different manufacturers who currently make aftermarket rims for most model bikes. Most generally only offer two or three different models, which they then change the hub to make it fit your specific model bike.......
I have tried to include a pic of their "trademark" rim design for the pictures below, but other designs are generally also available.
Dymag Wheels
BST Wheels
Marchesini Wheels
Galespeed Manufacturing (couldn't find the manufacturers website)
Marvic Wheels
Performance Machine Wheels
RC Components
PVM Wheels
Carrozzeria
For those that have the extra $$$$ available, nothing makes your bike unique or handle better like a set of after market rims.....
Cheers
Simmo
Cafe Racers"
