Advice sought: New wheels

[1.21GW]

Okay, so I got a little money for end of year bonus and am thinking about the wheels again.  Two questions for the hoi polloi:

1) If I order new wheels and then have a shop put on new tires, can I put the wheels on the bike myself or do they still need some kind of balancing, etc after the fact.  I've removed and reattached the rear before (to put on new chain) and have removed and reattached the front wheel on another bike, so I'm comfortable in my mechanical abilities there.  I just want to know if there is some specific techniques/tools/alignment for a new wheel/tire that would require some level of expertise that I don't have.  Or is it exactly the same as if I took off the old wheel and put it back on?

2) Where to buy?  (Reminder: looking at the Oz Piega forged Al for my 2001 900s) I was planning on Bellisimoto, but they're no longer a DMF sponsor and I would greatly prefer to send money towards a DMF sponsor, if possible.

[dufukincati]

They should balance the wheel and tire assembly during the mount process. Try some dyna-beads. Other than making sure the Sprocket is square with the chain its pretty simple.

[Triple J]

1. Balancing is part of tire installation. Just re-install on your bike like you normally would.

2. I got my OZs at Moto Wheels.  

[Speeddog]

You will likely have to buy a new sprocket, so keep that in mind.

Don't swap sides with your front brake rotors when installing on the new wheels.
It's not a deal breaker, it'll just insure that you retain best braking performance.

[memper]

http://www.brooklynmoto.com/servicemain.html
Marc is the best Ducati tech in NYC. Studied under Irish Mike.

PC
http://www.yellowpages.com/brooklyn-ny/mip/pride-powder-coating-inc-475205907?lid=475205907
http://www.yellowpages.com/bronx-ny/mip/bay-powder-coating-28727036?lid=28727036

[1.21GW]

Haha!  Memper, I actually forgot that I wanted to powdercoat the swing arm.  You actually reminded me.

[MotoPsycho]

I have the Carrozzeria wheels on a DSS bike and it feels considerable lighter. Even so before mounting tires on them. Good bang for the buck in my book. MonsterParts took care of me. And they look bad ass.

[1.21GW]

GRUBBY: I'm going with Oz over Carrozzeria because: see earlier posts on weight.


Can someone confirm that these are right for my '01 M900S?

Rear:
http://motowheels.com/i-6922875-oz-motorbike-piega-forged-aluminum-rear-wheel-ducati-02-and-older-monster-696-mts620-st-gt1000-sport-classic-paul-smart.html

Front:
http://motowheels.com/i-6922820-oz-motorbike-piega-forged-aluminum-front-wheel-ducati-monster-02-st-ss99-mh900e-748-998.html

Motowheels page says the front is for Monsters '02+, but they come up when I search with my bike model/year.  The size (I think) is correct at 17 x 3.5, so I should be good, no?

[Speeddog]

That front looks correct, your '01 M900S had a 25mm front axle.

That rear does not look correct, as all of the bikes on the list have 25mm axles, *except* the '01 M900.

IMO, you need this wheel:
http://motowheels.com/i-6922896-oz-motorbike-piega-forged-aluminum-rear-wheel-ducati-93-01-monster-all-ss-851-888.html

[1.21GW]

Thanks, Speeddog!  I will confirm with them whenever I call.

[Düb Lüv]

I started going through my old posts and I found my actual weights of my OZ wheels

DSS 25mm front 17mm rear
front 7.0lbs
rear 11.6lbs w/cush, sprocket carrier, and sprocket carrier hardware.
2.5 lbs heavier than a set of BSTs

[1.21GW]

Since I have to get a new sprocket for the rear wheel, any strong reason I should go to 14/42 from standard (15/39 i think)?

I've read some posts suggesting it's a popular mod.  That said, I've never had a problem with my current ratio, but I don't have a lot of experience riding on other bikes so I don't really have comparative experience to know what I'm missing.

[Curmudgeon]

Sure, but why not 15/41 if you have to buy a rear? How old is the chain? I'd do both sprockets anyway.

[1.21GW]

Yeah, will do both.

Chain is 1 yr (2500mi).

[Moronic]

Since I have to get a new sprocket for the rear wheel, any strong reason I should go to 14/42 from standard (15/39 i think)?

I've read some posts suggesting it's a popular mod.  That said, I've never had a problem with my current ratio, but I don't have a lot of experience riding on other bikes so I don't really have comparative experience to know what I'm missing.

One down on the front AND three up on the back is a big step down in gearing, roughly 14 per cent. You would get an extra 500rpm @70mph in top gear, and 14 per cent more torque in all gears.

I went just one tooth up at the rear on mine for a while, and it was certainly noticeable. Wouldn't want to have done any more. But it was 15-43 stock, and I like that easy top-gear lope. Plenty of people seem to go to 14-42 or 14-43 on the eight-valvers. Good if you are doing mainly around town and twisties, I suppose.