[CDowney]

Hello,

I am looking to boost the performance of my CX by replacing the stock wheels with lighter ones. In my research I have found sport bike wheels that are incredibly light (as low as 5lbs) - and ridiculously expensive (as much as $1800). I am wondering:

Is a lightweight wheel swap feasible/ worth it?
What wheels would you recommend?
Is there a "middle ground" wheel that say is 10lbs lighter than stock but only cost $200)
Can I swap just one and receive noticeable performance benefits?
Should it be the front or the rear? Are there advantages to both/ which is better for handling?
Are there other avenues I should explore for performance boosting?

Thank you

 

[JC]

If you want to keep it in the same family Boomerang Comstars are the lightest CX wheels I have weighed so far... though I don't have access to the GL wheels or the CX650C. I don't think I ever published the weights, I should go find where I wrote them down.

 

[ramprat06]

Maybe you should define what you mean by "performance increase". The spendy wheels you speak of may be light, but how durable are they? Lighter wheels will affect much more in the geometric and dynamic areas, considering the change in the center of gravity, and possibly the rake and trail. I doubt you will go any faster with lighter wheels, at least not measurably.

Now, if you were to weigh in at #350+- lbs. the dynamics get even more convoluted, so other adjustments might be more concerning.

 

[Marcswales]

If you are looking to increase performance by reducing mass ( which will marginally increase acceleration but not top speed) I would suggest that the cheapest way would be to lose the few extra kilos that most adults in the first world carry on their body. The easiest way to reduce mass would be to only fill the tank to 1/2 way.
Either way would give you the same performance result ie next to unmeasurable as swapping the wheels.

 

[murrayf]

the main "performance" gain from lighter wheels is braking not speed

 

[CXPHREAK]

Less work for the rebound damping and less gyro on the front wheel.

I like gyro, I'm used to it.

 

[purplecx500]

Can u say ....mikuni

 

[Son of eevil]

unsprung vs sprung weight is a little different guys. A kilo on a wheel is not = to 1 kilo elsewhere.