Galespeed and Marchesini wheels

[James England]

Hi All

Does anyone have any personal experience of forged aluminium wheels made by Galespeed or Marchesini?

As far as I understand it, forged aluminium has a denser structure than cast metal which means that it can be used to make lighter, thinner wheels with less gyroscopic effect than cast wheels. I've been looking at the on eBay and numerous dealers. They are very expensive! $2,500 or so. I think they are CNC from a billet of solid aluminium and IMO they look very nice.

However, I'm wondering if anyone has any first hand experience of this type wheel?

[crazy steve]

No personal experience, but I wonder just how much of a weight savings you'd really see. As a percentage of unsprung weight, there isn't all that much difference in bare wheel weights. Yes, a forging can be made lighter than a casting generally, but it's more of a strength gain rather than a weight loss.

The other thing to consider is it a true forging, or cut from a forged billet? A true forging will be pressed into the general final shape, with only 'final' machining needed. With this method, the metal 'grain' will follow the shape of the part and makes the part stronger. If the part is cut from a forged 'billet', you still have the denser metal structure, but you may or may not be cutting with the 'grain' so some strength is lost. Billet parts can be stronger than a cast part, but won't be as strong as a 'true' forged part...

'Billet' has acquired a certain cachet in the performance industry when in reality it's mostly smoke and mirrors IMO. With the right CNC mill and a 'billet' blank, you can turn out nearly any part, but that doesn't automatically mean it's superior to a properly-designed casting. A true forging means purpose-built dies and a high-capacity press to form the raw parts, an expense rarely taken.

[T99Ford]

I have Marchesini forged wheels on my 1098S:



Purported to be 4# lighter than the regular aluminum wheels on the 1098, they are certainly trick wheels. If you look at them close, they are truly well made. There is a reported notable difference between the handling of the 1098 and 1098S, but I have not ridden a standard to tell for myself. As near as I can tell, they are forged, and then only finish milled. Ridiculously light at any rate, but they definitely command a price.

What are you looking at putting them on?

[James England]

I have Marchesini forged wheels on my 1098S:



Purported to be 4# lighter than the regular aluminum wheels on the 1098, they are certainly trick wheels. If you look at them close, they are truly well made. There is a reported notable difference between the handling of the 1098 and 1098S, but I have not ridden a standard to tell for myself. As near as I can tell, they are forged, and then only finish milled. Ridiculously light at any rate, but they definitely command a price.

What are you looking at putting them on?

Nice wheels. I'm thinking of my XJR1300.

[T99Ford]

If you can swing them, they are top shelf stuff. I am a huge fan of reducing weight in any way possible. I seem to notice more performance improvement from from weight loss than from power gain.

Keep us posted if you pull the trigger!

[James England]

Keep us posted if you pull the trigger!

Yes, they are supposed to weigh about 5kg each. That's much lighter than the OEM ones.

Re that trigger..... I've become obsessed by wheels (no XS1100 to work on at the moment)......I'm fighting it ....... I mean $2,500 is a LOT to pay for something not really necessary....even if I had it available.......I mean, it's a lot of work to save that kind of money.....but the wheels are lovely.......and so light.......imagine writing out a cheque for all that dosh.......but they're shiny black.......what would SWBO say, if she found out?......I could hide them in the shed for a while........lot of money......bet they feel good too when gloated over and stroked.........

Someone.... please help me. Is there an XSive out there who is a psychiatrist?

[petejw]

Yes, they are supposed to weigh about 5kg each. That's much lighter than the OEM ones.

Re that trigger..... I've become obsessed by wheels (no XS1100 to work on at the moment)......I'm fighting it ....... I mean $2,500 is a LOT to pay for something not really necessary....even if I had it available.......I mean, it's a lot of work to save that kind of money.....but the wheels are lovely.......and so light.......imagine writing out a cheque for all that dosh.......but they're shiny black.......what would SWBO say, if she found out?......I could hide them in the shed for a while........lot of money......bet they feel good too when gloated over and stroked.........

Someone.... please help me. Is there an XSive out there who is a psychiatrist?

james, spend the money on another xs :-)

[T99Ford]

What other 'get light' mods have you done? For me, wheels would be down the list for after I had done some other obvious lightweight bits--some carbodn fiber, lighter rotors, reduce unnecessarys, lighter exhaust, seat, etc..and then wheels!

[Mathh]

Hi James,
maybe you should have a closer look at some PVM wheels. They are available more widely than those Marchesinis and a bit lower priced. I wanted some forged wheels for my Moto Morini 1200 but at that time nothing was available. So I started to compare Marchesini, Marvic and PVM wheels to look which could be adapted for my MM. Looking at the 999/749 Marchesinis (non single sider wheel at the back) I noticed the chain cush drive side was fixed to the wheel at a great distance form the center of the wheel, making it impossible to fit.
The PVM's however have bolted bearing/disc carriers to the sides which can be interchanged with PVM parts or replaced by homemade ones. That's what I did with my rear wheel. I also made some new bushings to make up for the smaller diameter rear axle on my bike.
I bought a used set for an Aprilia Tuono for 500 euros on Ebay and adapted the wheels myself. The front was easypeasy as it also fits most Brembo/Yamaha discs. Same with the axle diameter there as well.
I must say on this bike it really makes a difference! A used set for a R1 or R6 would be a good choice :click and click again

[James England]

A used set for a R1 or R6 would be a good choice :click and click again

Hi Matt.... So the ones on eBay are a direct fit, are they? Or do you think they would require modification? They do look very similar/identical hubs etc.....

[James England]

Looking at the wheels in the links, there isn't a cush drive on them, is there?

[fredintoon]

..... I've become obsessed by wheels (no XS1100 to work on at the moment)......I'm fighting it ....... I mean $2,500 is a LOT to pay for something not really necessary....even if I had it available.......I mean, it's a lot of work to save that kind of money.....but the wheels are lovely.......and so light.......imagine writing out a cheque for all that dosh.......but they're shiny black.......what would SWBO say, if she found out?......I could hide them in the shed for a while........lot of money......bet they feel good too when gloated over and stroked.........

Hi James,
you could buy a really nice XS11 for the price of those fancy wheels.
If you want lightness, go on a diet.
As for feeling good and being stroked, best you discuss that with SWMBO rather than here?

[Mathh]

Looking at the wheels in the links, there isn't a cush drive on them, is there?

A one on one fit is something called luck ..... I would not depend on it. Depend on yr perseverence.
It also depends of course on the wheels and discs in your current bike. I know the XJR changed during the years. But take a measuring tape and start asking questions to the guys that sell those wheels or see if you can try some stock R1/R6 wheels for fitting purposes. Think of axle diameters (smallest of problems that can be solved by homemade spacers). Distance of center of disc to center of disc up front. Disc bolts position. width of wheel and same from spacer to spacer, width of spacers, distance of center of wheel to rear disc/sprocket and so on. It'll take some time but you will get there. rear caliper will most certainly need modifications as the rear discs on the sport bikes are always smaller.

[Mathh]

Looking at the wheels in the links, there isn't a cush drive on them, is there?

Have a closer look at the rear wheels. especially on the white wheel you can see that it is still fitted to the wheel. The cush drive is silver (alu), the wheel is white.
They are much smaller than on a stock bike.