Five ways custom wheels can take your ride to the next level

They’re round and they keep the bike rolling. That’s one popular view of your motorcycle’s wheels. However, another is: they carry the impact of everything you throw at them, are responsible for steering you away from trouble, and have an enormous impact on pretty much every aspect of the bike’s performance.

The experts at custom motorcycle wheel specialist, JTR, got their heads around that idea a fair while ago, and have spent decades developing their expertise in creating and assembling premium spoked wheels that not only outperform your standard items but look sensational too.

Spoked wheels have unique advantages over their cast counterparts in that they have some inbuilt shock absorption while offering a huge amount of strength for their weight. It’s no mistake they still dominate the off-road world for those reasons. Plus, we reckon they look stylish, no matter what your preference of bike or style of riding.

Because JTR does this for a living, they can take custom wheels to a new level, carefully selecting premium components from places such as Japan, the UK and the Netherlands and combining them into compelling and very effective packages considering the type of riding you do, the competitive level at which you ride, and your overall needs.

They identify the best wheels for you based on their ‘performance tacho’, whether you’re just looking for an OEM upgrade or need a competitive edge against pro-level athletes.

An OEM upgrade will get you SM Pro hubs and Excel One rims, upgrading overall strength and durability. Entry-level off-road racers benefit from the combination of SM Pro hubs and rims, while those considered an all-round racer – your MX1 ProMX level – will enjoy the proven performance established by Talon since 1974.

As you move towards the high-performance end of the tacho, you’re looking at more of your pro athlete wheels; Pro Series wheelsets combine Haan hubs and Excel Signature rims and are used in many international competitions such as AMA and ProMX. Elite Series wheelsets are the best of the best, using Talon Pro billet hubs and Excel A60 rims, renowned for their high strength and reliability.

Custom wheels are for more than just looks; every component of a wheel upgrade has a purpose, be it strength, weight loss or other performance factors, which improve as you move through the levels of the tacho.

For example, a Talon Pro hub carved from 6082 billet aluminium is not only a fine piece of machining, it has a wealth of upgrades and details such as dual sprocket-side bearings for additional strength. The Excel A60 is structurally 15 per cent stronger than the Excel rim, yet it remains at the same low weight level and features a V-Curve profile that reduces mud build-up on the inner side of the rim.

The JTR range covers a huge breadth of riding, from motocross, enduro and trail riding through to adventure tourers and of course road bikes. If it has a spoked wheel, there’s a good chance JTR can upgrade it.

On top of that, JTR never stops innovating. You’ve probably heard of the emerging and very exciting Stark Varg electric competition machines. Well, JTR can fit them out too, with a range of colour and brand options for front and rear, with rear hubs specifically designed to handle the brutal instant torque produced by these machines.

So why should you consider a JTR upgrade? Here are five solid reasons…

Take a look at any self-respecting racer these days and you’ll see enormous effort goes into getting the visuals and style of the rider and bike. Done well, it helps to engage sponsors, team supporters and fans. Plus, it makes the rider feel confident and good about themselves – like a pro.

We all know wheels are a huge visual component of the motorcycle and a machine that shows that extra level of care stands out. To that end, several of the JTR offerings enable you to mix and match colours of hubs and rims, or simply go for a strong classic and simple look that stands out from the run-of-the-mill production gear.

Plus, no one wants to have the same bike as a mate only to look like twins on the track or trail…

If there’s one thing you want working over and above the original spec on a motorcycle, particularly when it’s ridden hard in competition or messing about on your local bush track, it’s the wheels. Let’s face it, they cop a hiding and are expected to tolerate everything from hard landings through to hitting obstacles at full noise.

JTR has decades of experience in choosing the premium offerings from around the world, from Excel rims built from 7000-series aircraft-grade aluminium, through to hubs machined from billet from the likes of Talon, SM Pro and Haan.

Throw Bulldog spokes into the mix and you’ve got a seriously upgraded wheel that you can rely on when the chips are down.

As an expert rider you will probably have spent hours, or even days, agonising over suspension settings, trying out upgrades and matching that to what can sometimes be a complex and critical tyre choice.

Wheels are clearly an integral part of that package. Through JTR, you can come up with a tailor-made combination that not only gives you the confidence of great strength, but it can also improve reliability and reduce weight.

Remember, this isn’t just overall weight from the motorcycle, but unsprung weight. Every gram you save in this direction goes towards improving the response of your suspension and enhancing the feedback of your steering.

While we’ve been talking about improved response and reliability, it’s worth keeping in mind that another critical benefit of getting your wheels right is safety.

A properly crafted wheel made of high-end materials by JTR, which concentrates solely on this area, is going to make it easier and less exhausting to stay in the saddle. You make better decisions with the confidence that what is underneath you is as good as it gets.

Let’s not sugar coat it, upgrading a modern premium motorcycle, whether it’s an adventure tourer, motocrosser or enduro weapon, is a substantial investment. No matter whether you’re approaching the powerplant, the suspension, or any other area, it’s a commitment.

JTR knows getting the right wheel upgrade represents a substantial decision. However, it also represents great bang for your buck since it can strengthen, lighten and improve the performance of this absolutely critical aspect of the motorcycle, while improving its looks and resale value.

And don’t forget, JTR can tailor the package to suit your specific needs and to fit a range of budgets.

JTR is the Australian leader for quality hard parts and custom wheel building and its products are available nationwide, through your local motorcycle dealership.

Many of the components JTR uses have been proven in top-flight international competition, while in Australia the company has been involved with multiple factory-level ProMX and AORC race teams, multi-time Finke Desert Race winner David Walsh, and leading FMX athlete Corey Creed.

For more information, head to the JTR website.