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Photo by Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

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  #1  
Old 24 Nov 2010
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I plan to ride to magadan, taking mongolia on the way! Whilst I don't plan to be making my own MX course round the world, neither do I plan to shy away from off tarmac riding!

Some people say that as long as you adjust your speed with the mind set that cast alloys are harder to repair you should be fine?

Cheers,

Dave
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  #2  
Old 24 Nov 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by servdave View Post
I plan to ride to magadan, taking mongolia on the way! Whilst I don't plan to be making my own MX course round the world, neither do I plan to shy away from off tarmac riding!

Some people say that as long as you adjust your speed with the mind set that cast alloys are harder to repair you should be fine?

Cheers,

Dave
Thanks Dave,

I figure since my wife is very petit (115 lbs.), her load on the bike will be kept fairly lite and she rides conservatively the rims really shouldn't be an issue. would be nice to be able to more easily repair them though.
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Old 28 Nov 2010
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Alloy Wheels

650gs twin cast wheels!-img_1112.jpgI am currently riding my twin thru Africa with the cast wheels, they have been fine mostly. I did hit a bad deep pothole coming in to Nairobi, I was doing about 70kmh at the time and hit full on as my wife did on her XT250 (yes looks like I follow her everywhere) after going about 300m the old bike got a bit loose and you guessed it flat tyre ! Rim had been knocked out off shape on one side, I simply put it on a truck to Jungle Junction thinking I would need a new wheel but Chis there just hammered (delicately) back in to shape and it was fine. Ridden to Uganda and back with no Problems.
I to was a little sceptical of the alloy wheels at the start of this trip, but mine have coped some serious knocks and apart from that once have come thru with flying colours. Also the benefits of running tubeless tyres is a plus in my opinion.
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Old 28 Nov 2010
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Thanks Paul for the info and the reassurance about the rims.
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Old 2 Dec 2010
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arrived cape town the other week with f650 & cast alloy, 78,000km on the clock, 63 on my rtw trip.

off topic, clearance is your biggest issue with the f650. i like the 10.5 inches on the f800 over the 8 with f650.

i used a Co2 cartridge to pop the bead back on after the first dent in the front rim caused a slow leak. second dent was more serious & i had to install a tube.

had the dents pressed out at jj's nairobi.

note that i only ever damaged the rim when running offroad in rock with low (1bar) pressure. i hit some awesome potholes at speed from time to time while running at 2.5 bar (front) and had no problems.

never came close to damaging the rear rim.

definately prefer to fix a puncture on the alloy with tubeless.

just carry 3 Co2 cartridges & a front tube, rim will be fine. if you damage the rim & have to install a tube and then can't get the rim fixed, buy a spare tube.

once i pop the bead on the tubeless my slime pump / compressor won't pop it back on - but you can't carry Co2 if you are flying the bike...

happy travels
dave
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  #6  
Old 2 Dec 2010
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Riding with Alloy rims

Quote:
Originally Posted by dajg View Post
note that i only ever damaged the rim when running offroad in rock with low (1bar) pressure. i hit some awesome potholes at speed from time to time while running at 2.5 bar (front) and had no problems.
+1 for alloy wheels

Like Dave says you can bend them, gently back into shape if necessary.

I also point out that Dave's problems would've been exactly the same with spoked wheels.

The 'real' problem as I see it (and it hasn't happened to me) would be if the alloy wheel snapped. You can't weld alloy wheels (as far as I know). With spoked wheel you could replace spokes and bend the rim into shape. That said it is almost impossible to true a spoked wheel without full factory conditions.

The point is if you have a big enough accident or issue then no matter what wheel you are using you would probably need a new one.

For smaller issue the jury is out because it becomes a debate about tyres, tubes, plugs and running on low pressure.

After 65,000kms RTW so far no issues with alloy rims on my GS, 80% on road, 20% off road. IMO you can ride anything with alloy if you are careful and go slowly.


On a separate note, I was able with my 12V air compressor to pop the bead back on my wheels (more than once) but when I tried with a friend who had spoked wheels there wasn't enough pressure (displacement to be exact) so I think I will also take a CO2 bulb for this possibility in future. Not for me but for my friends.
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Old 2 Dec 2010
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I'm starting to think that I should swap some alloys on to my 800, kidding of course but the reassurance that my wife's bike won't be a big problem to deal with is very reassuring. THe tip about the CO2 is a biggie.

The low bike clearance I've always known will be a problem in some areas but what can we do she is only 5.1" with a 37" inseam.
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