Forged Wheels for the FZ6

[Wavex]

I see a lot of mods on this forum that seem like a lot of money for small reward (Solo seat for example)

If you want to spend your money on some forged wheels - go for it. It's your money (it is your money, right?)

Sure but you're mixing apples and oranges imo. That's why I asked if he wanted forged wheels for aesthetics or for performance. If it was for aesthetics, then do whatever you want, at least you're not fooling yourself thinking you'll be faster because of the 5lb savings... We all know that people will spend HUGE amounts of money on aesthetics, that's just the human nature, but I've always been skeptic of people who are ready to spend thousands of dollars on "performance" mods on a sport touring bike (different story if you have real skills, ride an SS, and race)...

Example: our friend here wants his FZ6 to perform better, so he buys a Power Commander III ($400), and an aftermarket exhaust ($800)... of course he realizes that with a PCIII and new exhaust, he now has to do a proper dyno tune... so he does that as well ($400)... then it only makes sense to upgrade the FZ6 stock suspension since it kinda sucks, so he buys an Ohlin shock for the rear ($700), and an R6 in the front ($300). It's still not enough so why not spend $2k more on some forged wheels and why not put some NOS Energy drink in your gas tank and shove a jet engine in your a** while you're at it! Ok I got carried away a bit, but seriously, you now spent $4600 on performance mods, yet, I will bet you anything that 9 out of 10 riders do not even exploit half of these performance mods...
Another way of representing it: here is what comes into play if you want to go fast:

Rider skills
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Performance mods:
IIII

So to sum up, you bought your FZ6 for $6k, but you wanted it to be faster and spent $4600 on performance mods, so you now have $10,600 in your FZ6, but yet, Cali_Rider and his bone stock FZ6 is still faster than you around a track That was my only point, while there is really no limit to spending on aesthetic mods imo, on the other hands you can quickly fool yourself and spend a lot of money on performance mods for no reason, and if your main goal if to be fast, you could have gotten a faster bike all around for $10,600...

But anyway, I obviously could care less what people spend their money on, so to the OP, do whatever you will, I am just killing time at work here

 

[Nolift911]

I see a lot of mods on this forum that seem like a lot of money for small reward (Solo seat for example)

If you want to spend your money on some forged wheels - go for it. It's your money (it is your money, right?)

Ha - actually it is your money - I work for the government ;-)

Just kidding -

 

[Nolift911]

Sure but you're mixing apples and oranges imo. That's why I asked if he wanted forged wheels for aesthetics or for performance. If it was for aesthetics, then do whatever you want, at least you're not fooling yourself thinking you'll be faster because of the 5lb savings... We all know that people will spend HUGE amounts of money on aesthetics, that's just the human nature, but I've always been skeptic of people who are ready to spend thousands of dollars on "performance" mods on a sport touring bike (different story if you have real skills, ride an SS, and race)...

Example: our friend here wants his FZ6 to perform better, so he buys a Power Commander III ($400), and an aftermarket exhaust ($800)... of course he realizes that with a PCIII and new exhaust, he now has to do a proper dyno tune... so he does that as well ($400)... then it only makes sense to upgrade the FZ6 stock suspension since it kinda sucks, so he buys an Ohlin shock for the rear ($700), and an R6 in the front ($300). It's still not enough so why not spend $2k more on some forged wheels and why not put some NOS Energy drink in your gas tank and shove a jet engine in your a** while you're at it! Ok I got carried away a bit, but seriously, you now spent $4600 on performance mods, yet, I will bet you anything that 9 out of 10 riders do not even exploit half of these performance mods...
Another way of representing it: here is what comes into play if you want to go fast:

Rider skills
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Performance mods:
IIII

So to sum up, you bought your FZ6 for $6k, but you wanted it to be faster and spent $4600 on performance mods, so you now have $10,600 in your FZ6, but yet, Cali_Rider and his bone stock FZ6 is still faster than you around a track That was my only point, while there is really no limit to spending on aesthetic mods imo, on the other hands you can quickly fool yourself and spend a lot of money on performance mods for no reason, and if your main goal if to be fast, you could have gotten a faster bike all around for $10,600...

But anyway, I obviously could care less what people spend their money on, so to the OP, do whatever you will, I am just killing time at work here

Again - all super great points. But again - don't want to be the fastest, just want to have fun on my bike and fun is all about better handling bike IMO.

Again - don't want a faster bike, my bike is plenty fast for me and way above my riding level as is - but handling helps me be a better rider and a safer rider and contributes to knowing my limits.

Doing it wrong is adding power, speed etc. My track days focus on handling not speed, riding within my level. Handling = reducing unsprung weight.

I like the FZ6 for the comfortable riding position, I can't ride a track bike or an R6 8000 miles across the country and back, comfortably - I can on my FZ6.

It is a performance oriented sport bike - that can be used everyday.

Again not looking for speed gains.

PS: Not looking for speed gains.

 

[Wavex]

Alright I take back what I said then

So which forged wheels are you going to buy for the better handling?

 

[Doorag]

I'll give you £50 for your old wheels once you get the new ones.

 

[Wavex]

Here is an interesting article: Hoop It Up: Sportbike Wheel Comparison - Sport Rider Magazine


The conclusion, between stock cast aluminum and carbon fiber wheels on a GSX-R1000 tested on a track, the differences are allegedly "huge":

- less effort to turn the GSX-R1000
- better feedback on turn-in
- gained speed more easily
- bike would track better over rough patches of road

Downsides:
- bike felt less stable in fast transitions
- major chatter under hard braking (lol small little detail)
- less feedback under braking
- oh and lap times were slower, so much for quicker acceleration! :rof: apparently the wind picked up on that day...

You'll notice that it's all subjective, that there's no real data on any of the claims and that there are apparently as many positives as negatives.

My opinion remains the same: spending $2k+ on forged wheels for the FZ is more or less a waste of money. I can't wait to hear your review though! :thumbup:

 

[Doorag]

Here is an interesting article: Hoop It Up: Sportbike Wheel Comparison - Sport Rider Magazine


The conclusion, between stock cast aluminum and carbon fiber wheels on a GSX-R1000 tested on a track, the differences are allegedly "huge":

- less effort to turn the GSX-R1000
- better feedback on turn-in
- gained speed more easily
- bike would track better over rough patches of road

Downsides:
- bike felt less stable in fast transitions
- major chatter under hard braking (lol small little detail)
- less feedback under braking
- oh and lap times were slower, so much for quicker acceleration! :rof: apparently the wind picked up on that day...

You'll notice that it's all subjective, that there's no real data on any of the claims and that there are apparently as many positives as negatives.

My opinion remains the same: spending $2k+ on forged wheels for the FZ is more or less a waste of money. I can't wait to hear your review though! :thumbup:

Dood - let it go. He's really got you worked up over this doesn't he? See, he should have just said, "They look the nuts and I want them to show off at the weekly meet down at the McDonald's" and you would have been fine with it, yes? Unfortunately he had to tell the truth...

I may get a cheap pair of wheels out of the deal - don't ruin it for me. :thumbup:

 

[Wavex]

Do I come off as worked up when I post? I got a similar comment recently where someone thought I was all pissed in my post, but I wasn't and still am not at all! I don't get involved in a lot of threads anymore, but when I do, I like to discuss the topic thoroughly, and learn about the issue at hand at the same time... then I will give my own personal opinion, that's all. Same thing with the Airbox mod (ok that one did get me worked up a bit, but that was because I had had some real life issues with that dude pchbreeze) :rof:


Hey, I've been asking 3 times if he's going to buy a set, but no response... I hope he does so we can hear about it and you can get a cheap set of stock wheels!

 

[Doorag]

No worries - I'm just trying to 'wind you up' as the English would say.

 

[Fred]

Do I come off as worked up when I post?

It's the way you foam at the mouth and make little stabbing motions with your hands. You should work on that.

Fred

Everyone knows that slashing is the way to go. Stabbing is for newbies.

 

[Wavex]

:rof: thanks Fred I'll work on that, it's the french in me

 

[stryken]

OK I'll say it, I love my FZ but $2,000 is too much to spend on any one mod on our bike(FOR ME). I would say $2,000 is the most you should spend total on this bike to get it where you want it. Obviously this is my opinion but I would say that most of us FZ enthusiasts will end up spending 1,500 to 2,000 total on mods over a couple year period. But hey, it will look nice and admit it or not looks always play a factor in choice and it should:thumbup:.

 

[DefyInertia]

Hey Wavex, do you think this guy should buy some forged wheels or is it not worth it???

 

[stryken]

Hey Wavex, do you think this guy should buy some forged wheels or is it not worth it???

......... :rof:


opcorn: