Ducati Sporting Club UK > Model Specific - Discussion, Technical Problems and Help > Supersports: SS / SuperSport / Supersport 950 > Aftermarket rims

[edwyun]

What aftermarket rims are you all using for the 92-98 SS Bikes. Installment/fitment issues, strength/longevity issues, etc...

I'm considering the PVM forged Al rims.

Edward

[Stu]

I got some nice Marchesini wheels with my bike, so no need wheely for aftermarket stuff.

[chicken]

I'm still on the standard wheels (painted black now) - cos I'm cheap!

[Iconic944ss]

Hi Edward,

I'm quite happy with my front Marchi but I made so many front end changes at once that I've been unable to really quantify any improvement.

Story of my life really

[edwyun]

I'm trying to get some weight off the rims. There aren't that many choices for forged rims for our bikes unfortunately (17 or 20mm front axle)

[andys 900ss]

Hi Edward,

My '98 ss has Marchesini's on together with forks dropped through slightly and raised rear, shorter chain (shortens bike) and RR tyres it turns on a penny, but I strongly recommend a steering damper for high speed stuff.

Andy

[edwyun]

I don't think lightening my rims will cause too much twitching. Plus, I've got a set of the poor man's front steering damper - loosey goosey arms

[edwyun]

BTW I orderd the PVM Forged Aluminum 10Y spokes. Should arrive before spring.

Any of you read this thread about BST rims?

http://speedzilla.zeroforum.com/zerothread?id=36291

[Edited on 30-12-2004 by edwyun]

[ali]

Hi Edward,

The BST reliability issue was also discussed here:

http://217.199.188.40/xmb/viewthread.php?tid=14270

They're still my dream wheels (having seen some this summer) regardless of the issues. I almost bought a Series I Superlight (complete with notoriously fragile mag wheels) instead of my Series V, and I'm sure I would still be riding around on them like many other folk out there.

For what it's worth I think this from the US importer sums it up nicely:

Both aluminum and magnesium wheels will get damaged on moderate impact. We, and everyone else, see this damage all the time. We sell a roughly equal number of magnesium and BST carbon wheels. In a sample of over 600 sets, we have only replaced one BST wheel for impact damage. We replaced over 25 aluminum and 15 magnesium wheels in the same 12 month period. All the BST wheels in North America came back through us, so I'm sure we have not missed any.

I'm more than aware that this guy has a vested interest in keep things looking good, but I'm equally sure he wouldn't be risking his business by telling the world he thought something was safe if he had evidence to counter that. Selling wheels is one thing, expediting peoples journey to the afterlife is something altogether more serious.

For my part, the chances are extremely high that I'll come off this season for many different reasons (oil/coolant on track/red mist/fuzzy head/complete lack of skill), so I can't see how having a set of BSTs would, statistically, push that much higher!

If I had a spare £1800 then my SL would currently be sporting some, but I would be taking a close look at them every winter.

Cheers,

Ali

[edwyun]

Ali:

True about the REAL risks on the street and track. The BST are awesome but I feel that I'd always think in the back of my head, "what if". Plus, I still dont know how to check CF rims for damage unseen to the naked eye.