Not for the Rocket but I have seen what happens when an Indian Scout gets em and runs down a Rocket. A friend that works at our dealer, both brands, said the carbon fiber wheels made more difference than any other mod he did. He did the suspension and the motor first but then changed out the wheels to fiber. He said it transformed it into a different bike.
I’d be afraid to see the cost to custom manufacture those wheels.
Not for the Rocket but I have seen what happens when an Indian Scout gets em and runs down a Rocket. A friend that works at our dealer, both brands, said the carbon fiber wheels made more difference than any other mod he did. He did the suspension and the motor first but then changed out the wheels to fiber. He said it transformed it into a different bike.
I’d be afraid to see the cost to custom manufacture those wheels.
Carbon wheels make a massive difference to throttle response from reduced inertia. I'd be interested to know how they'd affect the Rocket's steering as it's pretty light on its feet now.
Hey,
I just got my carbon wheels on, it's way less stable in a good way, the way that I have less gyroscopic rigidity and the bike is happy to tip and turn. The handling is sooooooo much lighter. It feels like it accelerates easier, suspension might be better feeling, braking is about the same? Very happy with them.
Hey,
I just got my carbon wheels on, it's way less stable in a good way, the way that I have less gyroscopic rigidity and the bike is happy to tip and turn. The handling is sooooooo much lighter. It feels like it accelerates easier, suspension might be better feeling, braking is about the same? Very happy with them.
It definitely will be accelerating quicker. You lose measurable power just in getting the wheels to respond to throttle input and rotate faster (overcome inertia). The lighter the wheels, the more readily they will spin up from the same amount of power applied to them - and that applies to the front wheel as much as the rear - so you accelerate faster. Usually felt more as throttle response in the saddle. But it's why one of the first things fitted to drag bikes is lighter wheels. And why road and track race bikes run the lightest wheels they can.
If you'd stuck the bike on a dyno (or the quarter mile strip if you could guarantee consistant launches) and pinned it through the gears with both stock and carbon wheels, you'd find it maxed out quicker on the carbons.
I'm interested to know how low speed handling is affected. I find you get torque reaction if you close then open the throttle again once you've set the bike into a bend (such as if you have to change your line for some reason) with the result that the bike wants to sit up and run wide and has to be pushed back into line with conscious counter-steer. That is to be expected with the length and weight of the bike and it's fat tyres plus its shaft final drive and longitudinal crankshaft. I would expect lighter wheels would reduce this effect, making for lighter-feeling low speed handling.
It definitely will be accelerating quicker. You lose measurable power just in getting the wheels to respond to throttle input and rotate faster (overcome inertia). The lighter the wheels, the more readily they will spin up from the same amount of power applied to them - and that applies to the front wheel as much as the rear - so you accelerate faster. Usually felt more as throttle response in the saddle. But it's why one of the first things fitted to drag bikes is lighter wheels. And why road and track race bikes run the lightest wheels they can.
If you'd stuck the bike on a dyno (or the quarter mile strip if you could guarantee consistant launches) and pinned it through the gears with both stock and carbon wheels, you'd find it maxed out quicker on the carbons.
I'm interested to know how low speed handling is affected. I find you get torque reaction if you close then open the throttle again once you've set the bike into a bend (such as if you have to change your line for some reason) with the result that the bike wants to sit up and run wide and has to be pushed backinto line with conscious counter-steer. That is to be expected with the length and weight of the bike and it's fat tyres plus its shaft final drive and longitudinal crankshaft. I would expect lighter wheels would reduce this effect, making for lighter-feeling low speed handling.
Well, it seems to want to burn out/ slide easier, but i drove it home in the rain and again later below freezing, so friction could be the issue. But the effort for precession and changing direction is much easier, it's much more inclined up lean with little effort. Id recommend, but it took them over a year to deliver the wheels and nobody wanted to install them, then they were gouged when finally installed....
Hey,
I just got my carbon wheels on, it's way less stable in a good way, the way that I have less gyroscopic rigidity and the bike is happy to tip and turn. The handling is sooooooo much lighter. It feels like it accelerates easier, suspension might be better feeling, braking is about the same? Very happy with them.
Hey, I got them from BST, and I think that by the time they had tires and were mounted, they were close to 6k. Also… I ordered during post Covid supply chain days and it took forever to deliver, 8 months minimum, but I think longer, then the tires took forever and it took a awhile to schedule the install then they refused after saying carbon would be no problem….. it was an ordeal. I think Brock Performance? The wheels work well. I want carbon wheels for everything now.