Alt Bike Culture - Why no Custom Wheels for Bicycles? #2

New to posting, taking a chance on double posting, :thumb:but I'm interested to see if replies from the Alt Bike Community are in sync with replies from the Mechanics Community!


Why no Custom Wheels for Bicycles?
Excuse the nube, non-engineer question,, I’ve been riding to work for a couple of years now, and I’ve been wondering why there are no “Custom Rims or Wheels” for Bicycles. Spokes and Carbon Is all I see. Cars, trucks & motorcycles have hundreds of choices. Is it a weight issue, a strength issue? Steel I know is heavy and does not stop well when wet, but what about aluminum or plastics?

Thanks for feedback.
PS.. Yes, I'm talking about Mag wheels for bicycles, like on cars and custom Motorcycles!

its a cost issue.

There were--wild wheel works did make any design you wanted---CNCed kustom wheels---sam

Custom means custom. Get them built yourself.

But there's a good reason that spokes predominate. Bicycles are much more sensitive to heavy wheels than motorcycles or cars.

Custom means custom. Get them built yourself.

But there's a good reason that spokes predominate. Bicycles are much more sensitive to heavy wheels than motorcycles or cars.

The above is true. In the size and use that a typical (casual-use) bicycle needs, it is very very difficult to build something lighter, stronger, tougher and cheaper than a wire-spoke wheel.

----------

And in some cases, even for motorcycles.

Note that the Yamaha 2011 YZ450F (their top-of-the-line motocross motorcycle) still uses wire-spoke wheels--as do most motocross motorcycles-
http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/products/modelhome/209/0/home.aspx
~

The above is true. In the size and use that a typical (casual-use) bicycle needs, it is very very difficult to build something lighter, stronger, tougher and cheaper than a wire-spoke wheel.

----------

And in some cases, even for motorcycles.

Note that the Yamaha 2011 YZ450F (their top-of-the-line motocross motorcycle) still uses wire-spoke wheels--as do most motocross motorcycles-
http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/products/modelhome/209/0/home.aspx
~

You have to work with what you have. If you look really hard you can find some carbon in exotic shapes. Maybe you could lay some custom carbon yourself. More easily you could build regular wheels with nice custom colors and bulletproof parts. Some people lace patterns into the spokes, this is probably considered a black art.

One major problem with custom rims is not only the overall weight but rotating mass. Rotating mass creates issues with maneuverability especially on the front wheel. There may also be problems with balancing custom wheels.

P.S. Check out the 'Spotted in Brooklynn' Thread

Probably a weight to strenght issue ... if you make them light enough, they may not stay straight/true.

Aerospoke, Spinergy, Trispoke, FFWD, X-Core, Pro 4Rays

Izzat the kinda thing you're looking for?

Back in the 90s, Profile made machined aluminum wheels for BMX bikes. I understand they were rather heavy.

also on the BMX tip - Motomags
http://www.vintagemongoose.com/images/products/motomagwheel.jpg