In the past, carbon fiber bike wheels were considered a wasteful rough-and-tumble.
They were unheard of for the common rider and only world-class motorcyclists like Valentino Rossi could use them. However, in recent years, this has been changing.
Carbon fiber bike rims are becoming more common now, and as a result, many riders are thinking about joining the carbon craze with upgrades or buying a bike equipped with carbon fiber bike wheels. . And now, the debate between magnesium wheels vs. carbon fiber is an unnecessary one – because carbon fiber clearly has the edge.
However, there are still some critics who wonder, “Are carbon fiber bike wheels worth it?”
At Daemon, that’s an unequivocal “yes” for us. Let’s take a look at 5 clear advantages of carbon fiber bike wheels.
1. They are extremely light
One of the most obvious advantages of carbon fiber wheels is their weight. You can look at another two-wheeled vehicle to find that carbon fiber is light: bicycles. Bicycle frames and wheels with carbon fiber are considered the lightest and most desirable in cycling. The same is the case in motorcycling.
So, how much lighter is carbon fiber compared to regular aluminum wheels? Carbon fiber is about 50% lighter.
You might be thinking, “Okay, but how much does the weight of my wheels change my ride?” Makes an amazing difference.
The wheels of a motorcycle are attached to the bike at the end of the suspension. As a result, they make up a significant portion of what is known as unsprung weight.
What is the difference between sprung and unsprung weights?
The sprung weight is everything on top of the suspension, including you! While everything else – brakes, swingarm, forks, brakes and wheels – is unsprung weight.
Unsprung weight still has to be controlled by the suspension, and if it’s too heavy, it can ruin your bike’s suspension. Let us look at a real world example. Suppose you are driving through the roads and you hit a pothole on the road. At this point, the wheel is going to bounce in the air and try to continue in that new direction. The suspension’s job is to hold it, slow it down, and keep the wheel on the ground.
This is much easier if unsprung weight is kept to a minimum. Less unsprung weight reduces inertia and generally gives you a smoother ride. So, since wheels are one of the key components making up the sprung weight of your bike, carbon fiber wheels give riders a clear advantage over heavier alternatives.
2. They are safer than heavy wheels
There is a lot of misinformation circulating about the safety of carbon fiber bike wheels. You may have heard in biker talk that carbon breaks down easily, is extremely fragile, or cannot withstand high temperatures. All these things are wrong.
If you buy good quality carbon wheels from a reputable and industry-respected manufacturer, such as Action Composites, you’re in very safe hands.
Aside from dispelling misconceptions, what makes carbon wheels safe? We mentioned above how the lightweight properties of carbon fiber help keep your wheels more firmly on the ground. This is a huge advantage for safety. Controlling the front wheel over bumps in the road allows you to brake and turn better even on rough road surfaces. Plus, keeping the rear wheel connected to the ground means you can get better grip when taking unexpected turns. Carbon fiber wheels also have a lighter rolling mass. Therefore, the amount of force required by the rider to change direction on the handlebars is significantly reduced.
Carbon fiber wheels reduce the shocks and vibrations that are more common in these sprung weight bikes. Over time, these vibrations can make you uncomfortable, dull your senses or reactions, and contribute to poor bike ergonomics.
To stay safe on the road, you need to be comfortable. Carbon fiber bike wheels will help with this significantly.
3. Track day performance improvements
For those of you with a need for speed, carbon fiber wheels will also work well for your personal performance on motorcycle track days. That’s no surprise when you consider how light carbon fiber wheels are.
The larger rolling mass of aluminum or steel wheels means they have more difficulty turning and steering. Carbon fiber wheels are lighter and easier to bend, so they’re faster and more responsive to those tight turns you take on the track.
Also, lighter wheels turn and stop with much less effort than heavier wheels. This allows for faster speeds, better braking and very smooth turns – assets that come in handy not only on the track but also in your daily commute.
And, if you have a gas bike, carbon fiber wheels can also help give your bike better fuel economy. On the other hand, why not worry about fuel and buy an electric bike!
4. They look awesome!
There is no denying the fact that carbon fiber wheels look really cool.
There may be some riders who are not impressed with their modern look and prefer a more vintage style. But, as far as we’re concerned, carbon fiber wheels have both style and strength – something that the Demon’s design team strives to incorporate into all of our products.
5. Price
In the past, the question wasn’t just “How much do carbon fiber wheels cost?” – a rather more surprising and shocking question was, “How much do carbon fiber wheels cost?!”
We understand. Carbon fiber bike wheels were previously out of reach for the common man. The main reason for this is that they were an expensive addition, which could cost more than $10,000 after all the extra parts to install them. Nowadays, carbon fiber wheels are definitely not cheap. But they are more affordable than ever and cost around $1,500 to $2,000 (price is per wheel and largely depends on bike fitment).
If you want to avoid the cost of replacing your wheels with carbon fiber bike rims, many sports bikes now come with them as standard.
And, if you’re a serious rider, we recommend looking for a motorcycle that already has them. Not only will this save you from having to make an aftermarket purchase later, it will also help you reduce bike maintenance costs, fuel consumption and engine vibrations.