While true with antique/vintage cars I wondered whether if others consider it the same within motorcycles

Are cast aluminum mag wheels significanty lighter than the chrome wire wheels?
Cast mag wheels no doubt have benefits having no worry of remaining true and being more durable etc.

Do people find the chrome wire wheels sole superiority to be in appearances as they do in old cars?

I dunno..my mind takes me to, shovels are enough of a handful than to have another issue to mess with in wire wheels.
Keeping them true, being delicate, cleaning, rust, etc..

Nice to have something (one thing) not to think about for a change ... despite them arguably not looking as nice.

Genuinely appreciate experienced thoughts.
Kind regards

 

i love my aluminum mag wheels almost no maintenance tubeless no rust no spokes and stay true

 

I have alloy solids, off a 1995 Fatboy on my Shovel....love them!

 

Ran both over the decades, with my riding habits and the miles I used hammer out on my old shovel mags for the win. No spoke or the usual internal rim rust headaches, took more abuse and a sh*t load easier to clean. Got a set of awesome American Wire Wheels 80 spoke wheels from a supplier cheap. Pure eye catcher, they lasted till the second time I had to really deep clean them after a weekend in the rain, a full weekend I kid you not to stop rust spots. They are still in the garage attic.

Running a set of chromed late model 5 spoke Thunder Star mags now.

 

Spoked wheels are commonly used offroad due to their flexibility and strength over cast alloys.
A spoked wheel with an alloy rim can be a bit lighter than a cast alloy wheel.
Also there are a few companies that make them tubeless now.

At the end of the day, Alloy's are easier to live with !

 

Thank you for replies.
All seem to confirm my feelings as well, also suspicions.
@TwiZted Biker Looks great. Wow. My new Talisman image and motivation.

thanks again for entertaining the question..
Sometimes you just go...hmm.

 

Hi Bartleby08,

High-gloss polishing, formerly also known as ball polishing, is one way to make old FLH cast wheels shine like new.

"High-gloss polishing is an industrial process in which metal surfaces (usually aluminum rims) are extremely smoothed and compacted using vibration and abrasive media (chips). It produces a mirror-like, deep shine that is more durable than chrome plating. The surface becomes harder and more resistant to corrosion and dirt."

Personally, I don't think much of it at all, and I remember some old FLH cast wheels from the 1970s that were, for example, polished to a high gloss by hand using dental technician tools and machines...
Firstly, it's incredibly expensive, and the shine doesn't last.
Secondly, grinding and polishing always puts stress on the material and only results in a visual improvement.
And thirdly, such an FLH with completely polished cast wheels would never have passed a German TÜV inspection, for good reason...

This is something for show bikes that are carted around on a trailer from exhibition to exhibition, but not for the everyday motorcyclist.

Mike