Alloy Rims

[John Ha]

I've done some poking around, including several searches here, looking for alloy wheels (as are on the FJR and other street models) for my 2016 S10. Have not found anything. I'm not a huge fan of the spoked rims - they're a huge pain to clean and don't look all that great to my eye (admittedly, very subjective).

Does anyone know of a company that makes alloy wheels that will accept the S10 brakes/drive system? If you can point me in the right direction, I'd appreciate it.

TIA and happy riding

 

[Checkswrecks]

There was discussion about this very early in Gen1, so maybe 2012, and as I recall nobody found an answer, short of having custom wheels welded up. Maybe use the Tenere hub and going to a custom shop to weld on the spokes and rim of a BMW or Harley.

On second thought about the Beemer:
https://www.autoevolution.com/news/2014-bmw-r1200gs-cast-wheels-can-t-really-take-potholes-83564.html

 

[EricV]

I spent some time looking into this. I even purchased a used FJR rear wheel with some ideas about modifying it to work on the Super Ten. That's not a possibility with out a huge amount of work, (and I'm a retired machinist and fabricator). No other Yamaha wheel will fit up w/o significant modifications, (that I could identify).

The ABS system means older shaft drive wheels are difficult to modify to work. Never mind axle sizes, hub thickness, etc.

Anything is possible if you're willing to spend enough money. Machining an allow rim that bolts/welds to a modified hub would be cost prohibitive. I spent a bit of time talking with Woodies Wheel Works about that too. They were not interested in investigating possibilities.

It would be nice if Yamaha offered allow wheels for the Super Ten, but the belief, real or imagined, that spoke wheels are more durable for adventure bikes is out there and the image sells to those looking for an on/off road bike.

 

[Sierra1]

….but the belief, real or imagined, that spoke wheels are more durable for adventure bikes is out there and the image sells to those looking for an on/off road bike.

I think I would have to join the "real" camp. I have a rear ST1300 wheel mounted to a hunk of wood. ("friends" thought it would be a fitting going away present) It has two dents; 1 minor, and 1 major. The tire held air after the first dent, but I don't even remember inflicting the second one; which did it in. My point being, neither impact seemed very hard; likely much less drastic than serious off-roading. From what I understand, alloy can't be repaired easily/cheaply. Whereas steel rims/spokes can be fixed much easier; even in the field.

For the record, I don't like spoke wheels either, but I see why they're used. It's too bad you couldn't get the FJR wheels to work; THOSE would look good on her....anodized blue maybe?

 

[John Ha]

Thanks for the replies. I understand about the spoked wheels being more durable but am pretty sure my excursions are going to be limited to on-road, worst case dirt road. But it is what is is. Cheers!

 

[EricV]

Considering the cost of wheel repair by some shops, I'm not so sure it's any cheaper than alloy wheel repair. LOL. I've had very reasonable repairs on both types, and hideously expensive quotes on both types too.

I took my FJR up dry creek beds over river run rock, on single track, two track, and everything else except true off road. I never did damage a wheel doing that and hard road use for endurance rally riding over 160k miles. The '12 Super Ten got a nasty dent in Death Vally, CA riding off pavement when I hit a baby head at about 40 mph, trying to find the 'good line'. I'm not so sure an alloy wheel would have been damaged in the same impact. Perhaps.

But, as John Ha mentions, there are a lot of riders that aren't riding off road. 99% of my riding would be just fine with alloy wheels. It's not a huge deal for me. Given a choice, I'd have gone for alloy wheels from the get go. My personal opinion is that spoked wheels on 600 lb bikes is for appearance, not function.

 

[nhdiesel]

Eric,

If you are still around please message me. I'd like to discuss this with you. I'm doing research into this conversion and would like to know where your hurdles were. I'm an ex machinist as well. I've been hunting for complete FJR wheels, brakes, axles, etc to see what would need to be modified.

I just had a 2 week, epic bucket list trip cut short because of spoke issues. I'm an endurance and rally rider and this has been my favorite, and most comfortable bike ever. But if I can't rely on it for trips, it will have to go.

I spent some time looking into this. I even purchased a used FJR rear wheel with some ideas about modifying it to work on the Super Ten. That's not a possibility with out a huge amount of work, (and I'm a retired machinist and fabricator). No other Yamaha wheel will fit up w/o significant modifications, (that I could identify).

The ABS system means older shaft drive wheels are difficult to modify to work. Never mind axle sizes, hub thickness, etc.

Anything is possible if you're willing to spend enough money. Machining an allow rim that bolts/welds to a modified hub would be cost prohibitive. I spent a bit of time talking with Woodies Wheel Works about that too. They were not interested in investigating possibilities.

It would be nice if Yamaha offered allow wheels for the Super Ten, but the belief, real or imagined, that spoke wheels are more durable for adventure bikes is out there and the image sells to those looking for an on/off road bike.