Why install aftermarket wheels?

Installing aftermarket wheels to your dirt bike offers performance and strength advantages over the OE wheels. They also have 1 other feature, the WOW factor, aftermarket wheels is one of easiest ways to upgrade your pride and joy from stock wannabe to looking like a bike “the factory guys use”.

Strength:

Choosing aftermarket wheels fitted with rims such as DID STX, Excel Signature and A60, SM Pro Platinum will significantly upgrade the strength of your wheels over the OE rims. OE rims tend to be soft, the edges of the rim dent / flat spot easily. Sure you can do this to aftermarket rims if you hit anything hard enough, but they will cop a lot more punishment than OE.

By fitting stronger rims, you are less likely to break spokes, the softer OE rims tend to allow spokes to stretch and can create spoke breakages. Aftermarket wheels usually use high tensile stainless-steel spokes which are much stronger than OE and rarely break. The bonus is they are stainless steel and DON’T RUST!

Before you order a set of aftermarket wheels do your research on the hub you are going to choose. Brands like Envy and Haan offer dual bearing upgrade in the sprocket side of the rear wheel to increase strength. They also use upgraded spoke size to other brands. Generally spokes fitted to the rear of 125cc and up MX/Enduro bikes known as 8 guage are fitted to the front wheels of Envy and Haan hubs as a performance and strength upgrade.

Weight

Don’t get caught up on weight, most aftermarket wheels are usually heavier than stock OE wheels marginally. However your wheels are the only thing between you, the ground and broken bones. Higher quality rims are slightly heavier than OEM, oversized front spokes are slightly heavier than standard spokes, and solid billet hubs are heavier than slim cast OE hubs. BUT, these are designed by the manufacturers to withstand the rigours of extreme racing, enduro and adventure use. There is a reason that almost every factory race team in mx / supercross / enduro and rally racing across the globe using aftermarket wheels or “factory” type OE wheels like aftermarket.

Colours

Nowadays there is so much choice available to you, rims are available in Black, Gold, Silver, Blue, Red, Orange and Yellow. Manufacturers like Envy has 12 colours of hubs available a large range than any other manufacturer. Envy has brought new colours to the market like Titan, Mag, Copper, Factory, Purple as well as Black, Blue, Red, Gold, Silver, Orange, Green.

We specialise in being able to supply your custom required set of wheels.

Bonus Tip

Once you have bought your new set of aftermarket wheels, the most critical step is the running in faze. Don’t just hit the track and tackle the first triple you see. It is so important to run your new wheels in for approximately 30 minutes of easy riding. After this time re-tension all the spokes, check the sprocket and disc bolts to manufacturer torque settings. You will need a spoke wrench to do this, we recommend using an Excel torque wrench. If you are not confident in doing this contact your local mechanic.

Popular Brands

ENVY – Top of the range MX / Enduro / Adventure wheels, Envy has been producing hubs for Talon for over 30 years and has made over 300,000 hubs. Made in the UK – premium strength and quality

HAAN – Made in The Netherlands, Haan is used widely across Europe and now more so in the USA by factory race teams. Haan works with Excel and produces hubs for all disciplines.

SM PRO – New to the market over the last 15 years, SM PRO platinum rims and SM PRO hubs are ideal wheels for everyone from the weekend warrior to mx / supercross racing. SM PRO wheels can be fitted with various iterations of spoke combinations, be careful where you are purchasing from and ensure they are fitted with bulldog spokes and not cheaper iterations. The secret is in the components and the build.

We at Axiom Moto-X can guide you in your aftermarket wheel selection, give us a call today to discuss.