horsepower vs. handling

[cugno749]

If you wanted to improve your lap times around a tight and twisty track which would you drop $1800 on: hi-comp pistons or forged aluminum wheels?? Lets hope santa is generous this year.

[DesmoDog]

Wheels. You're changing direction a lot more often than pinning the throttle...

[dezmoduo]

Its true. Wheels are benificial in multiple ways. Less mass to spin up during acceleration, and once they are turning, its less rotation mass to overcome to change direction.

With all the performance improvements I've done engine wise, theres alot of subjective performance questions that come up, like which pistons, are the heads ported, long/short manifolds, and so forth down the line. When you mount the lightweight wheels, there is no question, everytime you ride.


I chose Carozzeria forged aluminum, in gold.

(Additionally, the Nichols engine mounting bolts made a noticable improvement to the handling/feel of my 93SS)

dez
nyc

[cugno749]

Dezmoduo, How do you like them and how does the fit and finish compare to the marchesini's?

[TripleDuck]

+1 on the Nichols bolts.......made my 851 feel tight as a frog's a$$

[jager]

track school, then suspension revalving, then more trackdays (fuel, tires, etc), then wheels Maybe more trackdays before suspension depending on money and experience.

[Still SP3]

Originally Posted by dezmoduo

Its true. Wheels are benificial in multiple ways. Less mass to spin up during acceleration, and once they are turning, its less rotation mass to overcome to change direction.

And less mass and inertia to slow back down.

[1996900sp]

The greatest improvement I did to my bike was the Ohlins rear with the height jacked up and the ohlins fork kit rebuild on the front. Amazing how much better the thing corners...Almost like a different bike.

[bobducati]

Originally Posted by 1996900sp

The greatest improvement I did to my bike was the Ohlins rear with the height jacked up and the ohlins fork kit rebuild on the front. Amazing how much better the thing corners...Almost like a different bike.

+1. That's about $1300 and then you have $500 left over to attend trackdays.

[1996900sp]

Originally Posted by bobducati

+1. That's about $1300 and then you have $500 left over to attend trackdays.

Speaking of GA I did the 2 day Schwantz school and it was just incredible.

[moto]

BST wheels will improve your lap times by 2 seconds over magnesium wheels.

[NC Rick]

Yep, after the rider the suspension on these bikes is the biggest issue. Wheels next (they help the suspension too) We have two 900SS bikes here, both have Penske shocks and the IE has a Penske revalve that we did our development work on. The 98 has a superbike fork on it with stock valving but new springs. That bikes development continues.

[1996900sp]

Originally Posted by NC Rick

Yep, after the rider the suspension on these bikes is the biggest issue. Wheels next (they help the suspension too) We have two 900SS bikes here, both have Penske shocks and the IE has a Penske revalve that we did our development work on. The 98 has a superbike fork on it with stock valving but new springs. That bikes development continues.

Those wheels on your site look great, do you have pricing info (cogent)?

[Still SP3]

Originally Posted by moto

BST wheels will improve your lap times by 2 seconds over magnesium wheels.

Is that 2 seconds a lap for P.I.R. or the Isle of Man?

Just gotta love blanket statements!

[quickdraw]

pretty sure it was a joke in jest..........

Originally Posted by Still SP3

Is that 2 seconds a lap for P.I.R. or the Isle of Man?

Just gotta love blanket statements!

[Still SP3]

Originally Posted by quickdraw

pretty sure it was a joke in jest..........

It could be. But they sell them so it's not quite as "funny" coming from them.

[moto]

Originally Posted by Still SP3

Is that 2 seconds a lap for P.I.R. or the Isle of Man?

Just gotta love blanket statements!

It was a joke..but there is some truth in it too.

Check out last years article "sexual healing" in FASTBIKES. The Vivaldi Race team tested a ZX10. They averaged 2 seconds faster per lap in just one session. They felt with an empty track they could drop it to 3 seconds...but best of all the reduced lap times come effortlessly.

Racers in the USA have reported 1-2 seconds per lap faster when changing from mag wheels...so it is not a fluke.

Hayabusa Drag racers report -.1 to -.2 difference consistently with no other changes in the quarter mile.

The 900SS would make even a greater difference as it has less power than a Zx10 or Hayabusa.

....but of course, your results may vary.... but there is some validity and benefits to ultra light wheels....and there are some tangible numbers out there to prove it if you look for it.

[dezmoduo]

Originally Posted by cugno749

Dezmoduo, How do you like them and how does the fit and finish compare to the marchesini's?

I haven't been nose to wheel with a Marchesini so I can't compare.

I can say that on my last tire swap, both front and rear, the balance was so close I actually cut the small weight in half.
Bridgestones mounted.

There are final machining marks in the corners of the spoked areas. Some sharp edges to the aluminum to be mindful of. On my well worn 93SS I notice it mostly when the bikes up on stands for TLC.


I'd buy 'em again.

I wish I'd done the Nichols bolts mid season so I could have a better feel for the handling change, but even though it was mid winter, the first ride in the spring my eyes widened, jaw dropped and smile expanded, in that order. GReat mod.

Goldvalve adjustable showas and late model Sachs with proper spring has smoothed out the bumps.

And yes, the schools I took along the way played a big part in my handling of the bike.

dez
nyc

[F1 Miami]

I vote for lightweight wheels also. As far as engine mods go, lightening the freewheel is probably the most cost effective mod you can do.