[John D.]

Still looking at buying a 1300 R. I am also considering the S. Is the only difference the wheels? Other than the hassel of cleaning the spoked wheels any other advantages of one over the other? I guess the spoked wheels have more of the old school look which fts the style of the retro.
Cast better for staying in balance better?
Spokes come loose often?
Is the spoked wheel a "sealed wheel" Does it run tubes or tubeless tires. A tubless tire I would think would be better as far as far as plugging it on the road so you can get home.

Thanks JD

 

[Brian]

Spoked wheels are heaver but hold up well in the sun, but if you don't keep them waxed they can rust and pit. The cast wheels are lighter, but the clear coat on them over time will yellow in the sun. You can do alot more with the cast wheels to customize them, like polish them, paint them, powder coat them or get them chromed.

 

[DillDawg]

Is the spoked wheel a "sealed wheel" Does it run tubes or tubeless tires. A tubless tire I would think would be better as far as far as plugging it on the road so you can get home.

Thanks JD

The spoke rims on the S are not sealed....so yeah...get a flat and it's not a simple plug to get you going.
Cast wheels are far from maint. free though too. You need to keep them clean if you want them looking good. There are products that will seal them to keep them nicer, longer (once clean) Zoop seal is one, I think Rejex is the other. And NO...the cast wheels are not clearcoated.

 

[ibified]

My take on it: The cast wheels are easier to clean, but the spoked wheels set off the "retro" look better. Plus, they look GREAT with wide whites. =)

 

[Green Ghost]

Both

I have the spokes and cast. As mentioned a plug will get you on the road with the cast wheels. But a nail in a tube and your'e waiting for a rollback. But I really like the spoke WW look on the R/S as ibified stated. Just polished the hubs on a set of spokes and installed Stainless Spokes. There are a very nice wheel now. GG

 

[Brian]

Hay Dill Dawg the cast rims from the factory have a clear coat on them so that they will not get white and fuzzy. If you fave never lived on the coast line the salty air will wreck any raw aluminum in a couple weeks.

 

[SilverVTX]

John, I have a 2005 1300S, which requires tubes. The tubes cost $10 front and $15 rear, locally, and should be replaced when the tires are changed. Two dealers say the rear are difficult to install due to the right angle valve stem. Apparently they are tough to thread through the rim hole and/or align.

No difficulties with balance.


The owners manual shows the S version as lighter than the R, 672 lbs vs 683 lbs. for the Retro. I know of no other differences between the versions so assume the spoked bikes are lighter because of the wheels. The bike prices list the same.

I chose the spoked version for the looks but do worry some about a sudden flat. My cousin as a 2004 Retro and have ridden both his and mine. Couldn't tell a difference in handling although the R has more unsprung weight. I would probably chose the Retro if I had the choice, but have no real complaints about the Spoked version.

Good luck

 

[Catoma]

I got cast wheels on mine, simply because I have a 750 shadow spirit with wire wheels, they look good but if you want to do a good cleaning on her count on spending a day. I like my cast wheels on my X just as good.

 

[Green Ghost]

Clear Coat

Hay Dill Dawg the cast rims from the factory have a clear coat on them so that they will not get white and fuzzy. If you fave never lived on the coast line the salty air will wreck any raw aluminum in a couple weeks.

I don't know about the R model wheels but the C model cast wheels do not have a clear coat on them. I thought the same thing. But it turned out to be a thin layer of cosmoline. They will polish right up with no stripper needed. If you live on the coast you need to ZOOP SEAL your cast wheels. GG

 

[DillDawg]

I don't know about the R model wheels but the C model cast wheels do not have a clear coat on them. I thought the same thing. But it turned out to be a thin layer of cosmoline. They will polish right up with no stripper needed. GG

Yeah...thats about the only thing on them.

Hay Dill Dawg the cast rims from the factory have a clear coat on them so that they will not get white and fuzzy. If you fave never lived on the coast line the salty air will wreck any raw aluminum in a couple weeks.

I've worked on all the VTX rims...1300 C and R, 1800 cast wheels as well....none of them have clear on them.
Test them yourself...take a rag with a little aluminum polish on it....rub the wheel and the rag will turn black (and leave a shiny spot on the rim) Coated wheels will not turn the rag black - then test that theory on the fork tubes...those are cleared and the rag will not turn black.
Warning though...do a little bit and then you'll want to do the whole wheel.

 

[Toadman]

Warning though...do a little bit and then you'll want to do the whole wheel.

Ain't that the truth. How often do you have to true the spokes anyways? Does the R come with a spoke wrench in the tool kit?

 

[Green Ghost]

They Are Out Both Ways

Ain't that the truth. How often do you have to true the spokes anyways? Does the R come with a spoke wrench in the tool kit?

Just pulled the stock spokes off a 04 S with 3200 miles Spinning the wheel on a vertical axle with the dial indicator they were out of round 10 thousands and side to side they were out 40 thousands. And Honda calls this the norm. When the Stainless spokes were installed it was trued to 5 thousands round and 5 thousands side to side. This is what I call the norm. GG

 

[ibified]

They will polish right up with no stripper needed. GG

Um... where can I go to GET a stripper to polish my wheels??? :bleh:

Sorry man, I just couldn't resist....



Speaking of spokes: are there any diamond cut spokes available for the 1300R wheels? If I was gonna change them out, that's the way I'd go. Sure they may take longer to get clean, but if I have a stripper doing it for me, I don't care!

 

[Green Ghost]

Stripper To Polish

Um... where can I go to GET a stripper to polish my wheels??? :bleh:

Sorry man, I just couldn't resist....



Speaking of spokes: are there any diamond cut spokes available for the 1300R wheels? If I was gonna change them out, that's the way I'd go. Sure they may take longer to get clean, but if I have a stripper doing it for me, I don't care!

Hey ibified, I got my stripper at THE DOLL HOUSE!! $350.00 for the wheels and another $350.00 for me to watch or what ever!! Hope my wife don't see this. Good one ibified. :cheers: :cheers: GG

 

[Shutterbug]

Cast wheels hands down! In 32+ years of riding, I've had only 1 flat on a cast wheel. Too many to count on spokes. The weak link for spokes (besides the spokes) is the inner tube. With cast wheels, you can patch the tire well enough to make it to a repair shop. With spokes, you'll be stuck on the side of the road until the tow truck comes. Stick with the better technology, and get the R model.

 

[Green Ghost]

Agreed

Cast wheels hands down! In 32+ years of riding, I've had only 1 flat on a cast wheel. Too many to count on spokes. The weak link for spokes (besides the spokes) is the inner tube. With cast wheels, you can patch the tire well enough to make it to a repair shop. With spokes, you'll be stuck on the side of the road until the tow truck comes. Stick with the better technology, and get the R model.

Plus 1 shutterbug. That one time on the side of the road would be enough for me. That's why I bought the C wheels for the Ghost. Plug kit and CO2. But I have to admit the Spokes hold their on in every way but a flat. GG

 

[Shutterbug]

I agree, GG. I carry the same items in my saddlebags just in case. Smart move getting C wheels for that beautiful bike!

 

[Green Ghost]

Smart???

I agree, GG. I carry the same items in my saddlebags just in case. Smart move getting C wheels for that beautiful bike!

I don't think anyone ever mentioned the smart word in a line where I was involved in it. A first for everything I guess. Thanks Sutterbug!! GG

 

[dblshockpower]

you'll find the majority of people with the infamouse 'wobble' are also spoked.

 

[SilverVTX]

Interesting, DB. No wobble yet detected, double checked recently but will be keep this in mind.