Whats so wrong about the stockers? Sure less is more but they are pretty dang light already!
So, I do have one minor update: Still chasing a set of XBRR magnesium wheels. I've found one set that need repair at both ends, the one repair shop that used to specialize in dealing with them is... randomly radio silent, so frustrating. Another set just popped up, but the pics I'm getting are old, from YE OLDE digital cameras or very old phones so I can't actually make out the markings to confirm they're XBRR units, so I don't dare make an offer on them yet either.
I've pinged the few American forged aluminum wheel MFGs as a long shot, one has no interest, the other has abandoned making 17in wheels in favor of sticking to more common big twin sizes... meh. I got one reply from a Chinese vendor, then radio silence after noting I just would want the one set to start. :P I'm pretty certain the rears made by most of the big names are pretty easily adaptable to the XB, and could hit the weights of the XBRR wheels. I bet I could adapt a BST carbon rear come to think of it... It's the front that's a PITA, though shouldn't be that hard for any of the CNC cut ones to be adapted but no one wants to do it for one offs. Plan Q would be welding rotor mounts on an already produced wheel... I don't know my material science well enough to know if that's safely doable or not.
So, the hunt continues.
Whats so wrong about the stockers? Sure less is more but they are pretty dang light already!
Weight reduction, pure and simple. This bike is a ton heavier than anything I've ever raced, so I'm chasing all the bolt up reductions I can find. Any weight dropped in the wheels makes the bike easier to turn as an added bonus. I want to do weight reductions and suspension first, as I'm certain those will be bigger gains for me before deciding it's time to poke at the motor.
It may be easier and less expensive to adapt a set of EBR wheels to your bike.
I'm pretty sure all of the magnesium XBRR wheels were black from the factory. Buell also made some regular production wheels in a color called "magnesium tone" that I see pop up for sale from time to time.
Last edited by 34nineteen; 02-10-2024 at 01:50 AM.
The front wasn't bad (axle bearing, spacers, etc.), but the rear was an issue. Besides being chain driven (from the other side) and off-set weirdly, I've looked into that and its a bit more involved than I wanted to do. I have an extra set of EBR wheels if you want any measurements. I hope you do, and i'll follow your lead!
Do you have weights for the EBR magnesium units?
I looked up those old notes and got "Bare front wheel 8.85lbs" and "Bare rear with rotor 13.5lbs"
I guess I did the tires too when I was running Dunlops on the street "Dunlop Q3+ front 10.3lbs" and "rear 14.45lbs".
A complete 2-bearing Uly rear with a new TKC-80 was 34.75lbs!
I just sent a text to Mike asking if he weighed his magnesium wheels. I'd be surprised if he didn't.
Or he has to give back his Magnesium Mike nickname
He has weighed them, and shared the numbers on FB along with another Bueller posting regular XB numbers:
XB Front - Bare, no paint - 9.4lbs
XBRR Front - Bare plus bearings, valve stem - 7.25lbs
XB Rear - Bare, no paint - 12.1lbs
XBRR Rear - Bare plus for bearings and valve stem - 11.45lbs