Looking for rims :(
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Road Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 849
Likes: 2
From: where i'm at
Looking for rims :(
Why is it that all the rims out there cost an arm and leg. I realize technology, raw materials, machine costs, but what about producing tons of 'em and lower the price. Now that I'm done crying any suggestions on where to get some rims chrome, aluminum CNC wheels at a good price. I have a '05 FXST.
jim
jim
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 86
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RE: Looking for rims :(
I looked up prices for chroming and found prices of $500 to chrome a set of wheels. I shat my pants. I have no idea why it would be so high, but this surely adds to the cost to produce wheels
May our Moderator Rest in Peace
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 11,386
Likes: 35
From: Rochester, NY
RE: Looking for rims :(
The biggestcause for the higher cost is simple numbers and production methods.
Car wheels are generally made in much larger numbers so the individual wheel cost for designing, engineering, and machine tooling is lower over the life of the design. They are also generally not made the same way. A car wheel is very often a casting or stamping and casting combination with more limited machine work and can often be knocked out in a very short time frame.
Custom bike wheels on the other hand are very often made by cutting them out of a solid block of material and because of their more intracate design, remember there are two mirror image sides,and tighter tollerances. It alsoneeds to have a nearly perfectly centered axle bearing setup.That kind ofmachine and labor time adds up fast. Then you need to add the hand polishing to clean them up after they get cut andagain after they get chromed.
So if they cost a bunch to get, its mostly because they cost a lot to make.
Car wheels are generally made in much larger numbers so the individual wheel cost for designing, engineering, and machine tooling is lower over the life of the design. They are also generally not made the same way. A car wheel is very often a casting or stamping and casting combination with more limited machine work and can often be knocked out in a very short time frame.
Custom bike wheels on the other hand are very often made by cutting them out of a solid block of material and because of their more intracate design, remember there are two mirror image sides,and tighter tollerances. It alsoneeds to have a nearly perfectly centered axle bearing setup.That kind ofmachine and labor time adds up fast. Then you need to add the hand polishing to clean them up after they get cut andagain after they get chromed.
So if they cost a bunch to get, its mostly because they cost a lot to make.
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 617
Likes: 1
From:
RE: Looking for rims :(
you guys are all right, but the prices are still outrageous....the whole reason for high pricesis that they sell them!!!! yes, they are expensive, but were all still gonna buy them. yeah, maybe one or two out of 20 guys says hes satisfied enough with his stock rims, that hes not gonna spend a couple gs for aftermarkets, but the other 18 guys just buy the set of rims they want and kinda take it in the a$$. I own a machine shop. we dont make rims, but big gear blanks that take a lot more time to turn than a set of rims. Ill bet they havea atleast a thousand dollar mark up on them!!!
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,511
Likes: 12
From: Western, MA.
RE: Looking for rims :(
Ebay has great deals on rims.
I got both my rims for less then the average price of one.
They werebrand new &in the box![sm=smiley20.gif]
I got both my rims for less then the average price of one.
They werebrand new &in the box![sm=smiley20.gif]
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Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,352
Likes: 3
From: Sydney, Australia
RE: Looking for rims :(
I agree they are ridiculously priced. I am surprised some 3rd world country doesn't have people working for 10c an hour making some yet? I remember how much car wheels used to cost...and tyres and now they are almost giving them away.
Worst part about wheels (for cars or bikes) is what necessarily looks good standalone in a photo may NOT look good on your bike. I guess the only way to shop for wheels is buy the same ones you have seen on a similar bike that you thought looked good.
DeanO
Worst part about wheels (for cars or bikes) is what necessarily looks good standalone in a photo may NOT look good on your bike. I guess the only way to shop for wheels is buy the same ones you have seen on a similar bike that you thought looked good.
DeanO
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,830
Likes: 8
From: Retired and living in the mountains of NE PA
RE: Looking for rims :(
No question that new chrome wheels are expensive. That's the bad part. The good part is that nothing else has such a positive and dramatic effect on the looks of your ride! 