Types Of Wheels On Bikes And Scooters: Explained

Whether cruising through the city on your scooter or going off-road on your adventure motorcycle, the type of wheels your bike has plays a major role in the performance and riding experience. From the classic spoked wheels to carbon fibre wheels, we explain the different types of wheels found on bikes and scooters. 

Spoked Wheels

We have all seen spoked wheels on motorcycles across India with one such popular example being the Royal Enfield Classic 350. Spoked wheels are one of the oldest kinds of wheels on a motorcycle. They’re simple to make and can be repaired easily if one or more spokes fail (by replacing them individually). The inherent flexibility of spoke wheels also helps in absorbing impacts better. Such wheels have a set of spokes which connect the hub to the rim and contain a tube between the tyre and the wheels which holds the air. Spoked wheels come in different sizes depending on the character of the motorcycle. 

The biggest drawback of conventional spoke wheels is that they are compatible only with tubed tyres. This is because the spoke nipple intrudes into the tyre well and the tyre can be made air-tight only via a tube. In recent years, we have seen the rise in popularity of modernised versions of spoked wheels such as cross-spoked tubeless wheels and tubeless spoked wheels. 

Tubeless Spoke Wheels

Tubeless spoke wheels come in three different types: Cross-spoked, internally sealed and centre-laced spoke wheels. These tube wheels have various advantages and disadvantages as one is better off-road but costs a lot while some are heavier and more. Let’s look at them in detail. 

Cross-Spoked Tubeless Wheels

Cross-spoked tubeless wheels are designed in such a way that the spokes cross each other in a specific pattern and are attached to the side of the rim. Since it does not intrude into the tyre well, they can accommodate tubeless tyres. A major advantage of having cross-spoked tubeless wheels is that you can go offroading without worrying about having a puncture as it is a way easier job to fix them. There is a drawback though, if you are into serious offroading, the wheel may get damaged as the part of the rim where the spokes are attached juts out a bit more than a regular spoke wheel. It is this part of the rim that can take damage from side impacts against rocks when doing some serious off-roading which can lead to a bent rim which would keep leaking air. The Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 has the option of having cross-spoked tubeless wheels. 

Centre-laced Spoke Wheels

These type of spoke wheels have spokes attached to a raised lip in the centre of the wheel rim. Since the spokes are attached to the raised portion of the rim, the wheels allow for a tubeless tyre to be fitted. There is a disadvantage though as the raised portion of the wheel increases the weight of the rim and in turn, the unsprung mass of the motorcycle increases. With an increased unsprung mass, the motorcycle can become more difficult to turn and can hamper the handling characteristics of the bike. The motorcycle which we know got this kind of wheels was the Suzuki V-Strom 650 XT. 

Internally Sealed Tubeless Spoked Wheels

Internally sealed tubeless spoked wheels too have a tyre directly mounted to the rim without having a tube. The spokes though are in the same format as the normal spoked wheels but the rim has a rubber seal protected by a strong tape from the inside which is airtight. The tape ensures that the inside of the spokes doesn’t pierce the rubber seal and cause any air leakage. The advantage of tubeless spoked wheels is that you do not compromise on the offroad ability of the wheels while also having the convenience of repairing punctures very easily. The KTM 390 Adventure comes with these kinds of wheels which does not compromise the bike’s offroad capability. 

Alloy Wheels

Alloy wheels are made from a mixture of aluminium and other metals, alloy wheels are lightweight, strong, and durable. Alloy wheels are the most common type found on modern bikes and scooters as they are affordable to manufacture, tyre punctures are easier to repair and come in various sizes. Alloy wheels are mostly road-biased because they are a lot more rigid than spoke wheels and do not flex under force. If you do go off-road with them and if the wheel takes a major impact, it tends to crack or even break in the worst cases. You cannot repair them on the go and will have to get your vehicle towed. Alloy wheels are more resistant to corrosion, improve handling and fuel efficiency, and are easily available in various styles and designs. Most bikes and scooters now get alloy wheels as standard such as Yamaha Aerox, TVS Raider 125 and Yamaha MT-15. 

Alloy wheels can be further divided into two types: Cast and Forged wheels. 

Cast Wheels: Cast wheels are made by casting, which is essentially a method of pouring molten metal into a wheel-shaped mould and cooling it until solid. These are cheap to make but the casting process is prone to air bubbles getting mixed into molten metal, resulting in a weaker wheel. Most two-wheelers we see on the road use cast wheels as they cost less to make. 

Forged Wheels: Forged wheels are made through the process of forging where a single piece of metal is heated and hammered/pressed into a wheel shape. These types of wheels are stronger than cast wheels, although it is much more expensive to manufacture. The Ducati Panigale V4 S gets forged aluminium wheels as standard because of their high-strength characteristics and lightweight nature. 

Magnesium Wheels

Magnesium wheels are a type of alloys made from a combination of magnesium and aluminium alloys. These wheels are known for their light weight and strength, making them suitable for racing purposes. The magnesium wheels have some disadvantages too: they are very expensive to manufacture and cost lakhs of rupees for a single wheel. Another drawback is that they are more prone to cracking or damage under high-impact conditions when compared to aluminium alloys. The Ducati Panigale V4R Superleggera has the option of getting magnesium wheels. 

Carbon Fibre Wheels

Carbon fibre wheels are made by aligning the strands of carbon fibre in a specific direction. The wheel can be made specifically tolerant to some forces over others. The carbon fibre layers are bonded together and then the wheel is baked to an industrial oven. Carbon fibre wheels are very light and stiff which helps in improving performance and has a high strength-to-weight ratio. They are extremely resistant to corrosion as well. The caveat is that they are very expensive as well and even a small chip can damage the structural integrity of the wheel. One such bike that comes with carbon fibre wheels is the BMW M 1000 RR. 

Steel Wheels

These wheels are made from a pressed sheet of steel and are commonly found on budget-oriented scooters. Steel wheels are very tough and have great durability. The wheels can be easily repaired as well in case of any damage. They weigh a lot which does affect the handling and fuel efficiency figures of the vehicle. A few other downsides are that they are prone to rust if not maintained properly and are less appealing to look at, unlike alloy wheels. The base variant of the TVS Jupiter comes with steel wheels.

Each wheel type has its strengths and weaknesses, so the choice depends on the intended use, budget, and desired performance levels of the bike or scooter which you own.