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Without going to Carbon Fiber wheels, I would think something like the PM Heathen in an 18" wheel would be about the lightest. Atleast with out going to anything really custom. Maybe even the Southern Motorcycle Works Black Sabbath.
As Eshaw301 pointed out the cheapest way of reducing wheel weight is probably with forged wheels. Unfortunately they tend to be expensive and it seems the custom market uses that manufacturing technique for style rather than reducing weight. I would guess it should be possible to shed around 25% weight, compared with a cast wheel. Howard's CF wheels by comparison only weigh a few pounds, far lighter than a metal wheel, even lighter than the tyre!
Since the tire, rotor, & cush drive pulley set-up is about half that weight on a rear tire, even if you lose 20% of the wheel weight you aren't going to see a dramatic change by losing 5#.
This is true, but typically weight improvements on exisiting machines are gradual, not all at once. So an improved wheel is not a bad place to start.
The best thing about my FLD, the chrome cast wheels. I haven't weighed them but I'm sure they're pretty light compared to most. May not work for you guys though, the rear is a 17 and the front an 18.
These look interesting. Don't know anything about them and not much info on the web site.
At that price it's almost worth buying them to see if they can be made to work!
Originally Posted by bigjames4xl
The best thing about my FLD, the chrome cast wheels. I haven't weighed them but I'm sure they're pretty light compared to most. May not work for you guys though, the rear is a 17 and the front an 18.
The more fresh air between the spokes in a wheel the better!
As Eshaw301 pointed out the cheapest way of reducing wheel weight is probably with forged wheels. Unfortunately they tend to be expensive and it seems the custom market uses that manufacturing technique for style rather than reducing weight. I would guess it should be possible to shed around 25% weight, compared with a cast wheel. Howard's CF wheels by comparison only weigh a few pounds, far lighter than a metal wheel, even lighter than the tyre!
Thats why i was thinking the PM Heathan would be a good one. They claim to be Forged Aluminum
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