Motorcycle Rims Reviews

Useful Selection Tips
for finding great Motorcycle Rims

Motorcycle rims and wheels, what to say. Either you stick with the factory version or you'll be into customizing them. Most important is the motorcycle wheel alignment, which directly influences your driving.

The most obvious change to wheels has been the old wire spoked to one piece cast constructed wheels. Motorcycle wheels are nearly always made of aluminum but on more expensive models (or factory race bikes) they are made from magnesium, which is very strong and light.

You do still see spoked wheels but it's mainly a look & feel aspect which designers want instead of efficiency. Often custom bikes have spoked motorcycle rims where more modern design bikes ride with the one piece cast.The standard size of wheels is 17 inch.

Wheels need to be aligned properly. Mis-alignment will result in a bike handling not so good. Place the bike on a center stand and place bricks behind and in front of the wheels. Now line two long poles along the wheel (let the pole touch the front and back of the back wheel. Check if the front tire is exactly in the middle of both poles.

Sizing
Bikers change the wheels on their bikes for a variety of reasons. Whether you want to make the wheels thinner, wider, larger or smaller, you will need to choose new motorcycle rims first. Also, be sure you take into consideration that large changes may require modification to the motorcycle as well.


Pricing
There is a wide price range when it comes to motorcycle rims. Style, size, quality and material still determine a lot of the pricing, but vendors vary quite a bit in price—so do your homework and shop around. You could save quite a bit of money.


Non-Rotational Weight
Wheels contribute quite a bit to the overall weight of the motorcycle. A lighter bike means better speed and acceleration, so one way to reduce weight is to use lighter wheels. Non-rotational weight refers to lessening the weight of the motorcycle by reducing the weight of the wheels.


Rotational Weight
Another way to reduce the weight of your bike is to use a lighter weight rim. This is called rotational weight. When it is reduced you improve acceleration, better handling and cornering of the motorcycle.


Magnesium Wheels
Magnesium motorcycle wheels weigh slightly less than other motorcycle wheels. And weight reduced from the wheels is equal to 4 times as much weight taken from any other part of the bike. So, when it comes to wheels, every ounce counts.


Chrome Wheels
Chrome wheels are often the choice for a cool, sleek, shiny look. Chrome motorcycle finishes are usually more expensive than polished motorcycle rims, but there's such a wide array of types and styles that you should be able to get the look you want for a great price if you shop around.


Laced Rims
Laced is the name for the traditional spoked motorcycle wheels we've all seen. There are good reasons why they are so popular: they are seriously cool looking, they can bend without breaking, they're more easily repaired than alloy motorcycle wheels, and if a rim is bent too badly to fix it can be replaced and re-laced with new spokes. They are made of aluminum and their structural strength is created by the spokes which are laced between the hub and rim.


Buying Rims
When you're shopping for custom motorcycle wheels or rims, don't forget to look at mail-order companies that advertise in motorcycle magazines and online. They usually don't have the overhead that your local vendors do, so you may be able to get a better price. Just be sure you check the return policy if you buy a rim based off a picture or webpage. It may not be as great in real-life as it is in the picture and you want to make sure you're not stuck with a rim you don't like.


Buying Wheels
Go to the authorized dealer who sold you your motorcycle to find motorcycle wheels to match your bike. They will also be able to install them for you.

We really appreciate tips from other riders. If you would like to add a tip to this list, feel free to send it to us using our contact form.

Every motorcycle has a different technique for removing it's tire. Check your manual for details. Wheels can be removed from your bike quite easily as long as you're careful. You will need to secure the bike in a very stable manner. Some bikes have quick detachable rear connections. In such a case you can remove the tire while all else stays in place.

Spoked wheel advantage - easy to rebuild, very strong and great looks but do need attention in maintenance.

A good habit is to check your spokes once in a while by tapping them with a metal tool and listening for a bright 'ding'. If is it's dull you'll need to tighten it.

Cast wheel advantages - light strong and no maintenance

Magnesium wheel advantage - very light, very strong but expensive and not suitable for daily weather conditions.

Composite wheel advantages - light, strong but difficult to make.

Balancing your wheel is best left to experts, it's easy and cheap. Wheel weights come in different shapes and size but sometimes do tend to fall off.

The most common customizations of wheels - wider rims, lighter rims & sticker tires. Please check into some good background info before you start out on this path.

If you encounter wheel lockup handle with care - front wheel lock ups should be disengaged ASAP whereas a back wheel lockup needs to be ridden out. Take care!

Larger diameter wheels are much more stable but less easy to turn, small wheels are more responsive and often found on sports bikes.

When removing your wheels refer to your manual for instruction and make sure to disconnect things like speedometers etc.

Wheel & tire maintenance should be a regular part of your service schedule - check and adjust tire pressure - check tire wear - check spokes and wheel rims - check wheel bearings.