Replacing your stock wheels with aftermarket wheels is an effective way of improving the looks and performance of your bike. To help you decide which wheel is right for you, we've created this summary to help you understand the difference characteristics to consider:

Material Type: Aluminum, Magnesium or Carbon Fiber?

• Aluminum is the most common material because it is light, strong and inexpensive. Magnesium is a lighter, more expensive material but lacks the durability offered by other materials. Carbon Fiber is the best material because it is offers superior strength yet weighs almost nothing...but it is the most expensive (And definitely worth the price!)!
• Material type also influences the appearance of the wheel. Aluminum and magnesium wheels are usually polished or colored. Carbon Fiber has a black, 3D appearance that looks spectacular in the sunlight.

Manufacturing Process: Cast or Forged?

• Aluminum and Magnesium wheels can be created using casting or forging. Cast wheels are created by pouring material in a mould and allowed to cool before machining. This process is inexpensive but is suspectible to hidden defects such as air bubbles. Forged wheels eliminate this problem by injecting the molten material into the mould under high pressure, resulting in a higher quality wheel. Carbon fiber wheels use a totally different, high quality manufacturing process.

Appearance: 5-spoke, 10-spoke or 20-spoke?

• The number of spokes is primarily an decision about appearance. True, having more spokes can result in a slightly lighter wheel. However, when selecting a wheel, it's more about personal taste than performance. There is a huge range of wheel designs so be sure check out each manufacturer.

With all of this information in mind, check out our selection of BST, Galespeed, Marchesini and PVM wheels. We carry only brands that have demonstrated the highest levels of performance and quality.