[oldsquid]

So, the BST's were a bit steep--but don't dispair! There's a new player on the wheel seen who will have a mag solution pretty soon. (Thanks to another lister who may wish to remain anonymous for the tip!) The company is Durrani- http://www.durraniracing.com/index.html - You can read all about the technology there, but the really important thing is that they're cool, light, and $1098 for a set! They come in 6 standard colors and can be had in any custom color for an additional $198 Here's a picture:

I'm trying to put together a group buy and hope I can get at least 10 of you blokes to pony up. The price will be $1098. That's right, there's no more break than you can get right from the site. So here's why you should buy them through me:

1. They have a SSA wheel due out on May 15, but its not Triumph/S3 specific. So to make sure we get what we need I'm sending him the stock wheels off my bike to make sure we get what we need. That means you still get to ride while my scoot's up on jacks. I'm gotta work on the header anyway, so its not quite as bad as it sounds, but you should feel sorry for me anyway.

2. You get me to take care of any problems.

3. I make $100 per set (10 set min. order, as in $10,000), which ain't much by the time I do all the phone calls and legwork.

4. You really, REALLY want me to establish a relationship with these guys! The owner, Sheryar Durrani, is a great guy with some incredibly cool ideas and the juice to get them to market soon. To protect from industrial espionage (I kid you not!) I can't talk about the stuff. I will say that we're not talking about any bling here. We're talking big parts that weigh maybe 1/2 of stock, work better, and are priced as reasonably as the wheels. His goal is to sell the stuff for about what it would cost to buy the stock stuff. That pricing is why there's so little room on the wheels, which is not so great for me, but still exciting.

I better stop before I pee my pants.

So how about it? You guys ready for the wheel deal? Let's roll!

I'll put this on TRAT too.

:squid:

 

[smashtime]

If you loan me $1100 I'm in. :smiley-asskiss:

 

[DocPup]

Whats the weight comparison?

 

[tekmoe]

$1098 is not bad at all. i spent about $1200 on my Performance Machine rims for my sportster.

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. are those silver ones actually polished or no?

 

[oldsquid]

I'll let you know when I get mine torn down. The Durrani's are 6.4/7.7 w/bearings and spacers.

:squid:

 

[tekmoe]

and my other question, which will determine whether i want to buy them or not...

is the spoke pattern the exact same on both rims? i know the BST's have a different pattern on the front compared to the back which is why i will not buy them.

thanks.

 

[oldsquid]

The silver is powder coated like the rest.

:squid:

 

[oldsquid]

"is the spoke pattern the exact same on both rims?"

I haven't seen the SSA model but assume that with the exception of the obvious, they'll be the same. I won't buy them if they're different either. That's why I passed on the current Carrizarios

:squid:

 

[dfib]

Stickied!
opcorn:

 

[premier]

Hmm..

Did I understand this correctly.. they haven't actually produced a single pair of wheels for a customer yet?

The price is starting to sound right though

 

[Decosse]

This not intended as a dampener but just pointing out the differences in case anyone with a pre-05 is considering this (unless you are accommodating for those also)
You should probably limit this to 05+ S3 if going by your own wheels as the model - 02-04 fronts have 20mm axles & the bearing sizes are different in OD as well as ID. There is also speedo drive on 02-04 vs none on 05+
97-01 have 25mm axles like the 05+, but they have speedo drive too (on right side vs left on the 02-04) and the rotors mounting are also different from the 05+ - 6 hole vs 5 hole
I haven't looked into differences on the rear but would expect those to be similar

 

[oldsquid]

Yeah, what DEcosse said. This would be only for the current model S3.

And Premier raised a good point--they actually have VERY extensive experience in manufacturing, and specifically in magnesium and wheels--up to and including F1 stuff. They have just never pursued a mass sport bike application. And the SSA application is new.

:squid:

 

[premier]

Yeah, what DEcosse said. This would be only for the current model S3.

And Premier raised a good point--they actually have VERY extensive experience in manufacturing, and specifically in magnesium and wheels--up to and including F1 stuff. They have just never pursued a mass sport bike application. And the SSA application is new.

:squid:

F1 experience is always good...

I see they offer these for the same price on their website.. so no real advantage for the group buy? :-\

How the payments go?

 

[kuhlka]

I emailed them and they said they have the front wheel for the 955i speed triple available. Double checking which year...

 

[24gt]

they sound great. Do you think there will be any eronomics changed on the bike. I dont want to make my bike look better but handle worse. I know they are lighter. But do you think they will steer as well as the stockers?

 

[oldsquid]

Alrighty then,

Took my wheels off in preparation to send them to Durrani. I haven't weighed them on the most accurate scale but here's the tale with my reasonably accurate scale: Stock front/rear (w/o spacers or rotors) 11/13 lbs. Durrani (w/spacers) 6.4/7.7.

That's a savings of 10 lbs of unsprung, rotating, mass boys and girls. If you throw on a set of lighter rotors, you can probably save another 1.5-2 lbs. That's HUGE!! That's worth 2 hp in weight alone. But the fact that its rotating will also manifest itself in MUCH quicker stearing and braking.

And for 24k, and anyone else who wondered, the change is all positive, unless you prefer a more "subdued" ride. The stock wheels will be slower accelerating, turning, and braking. The mags may feel slightly less stable at speed, but the benefits will far outweigh any bad. If that's the kind of thing you're into, you probably have an ST instead of an S3.

Oh yeah, and because its less unsprung weight, the suspension will likely feel more supple as well.

:squid:

 

[Devious2xs]

Nice weight savings!

 

[Guest]

Is it true mag wheels only last a certain amount of time. I have read that they crack and break after a couple of years. Thats not true I hope. Not all my wheelies come down like a feather.

 

[Devious2xs]

In the old days, Magnesium wheels needed to be stripped and inspected for corrosion and soft spots every 2 years for racing.

Today, paint and powder-coating protect better than ever before. But if you chip the paint or coating, you will need to touch it up quickly.

 

[Decosse]

...... The stock wheels will be slower accelerating, turning, and braking. The mags may feel slightly less stable at speed .....

Absolutely the case on the latter point. With my Dymags & the OEM forks (& associated geometry) the requirement for a steering damper was very pronounced! With the longer trail of the GSXR forks it is no longer necessary.
Haven't ridden an 05+ with stock wheels, but if you feel the need (or are on the fence) for a damper now, you will almost certainly want one after you install the lighter wheels. But as Old Squid, said there are more positives - just a heads up on what you might expect & don't despair over it.