Next GS must-have mod. Or maybe not.

[Caffeine]

http://news.windingroad.com/auto-news/sema-look-ma-no-spokes/

[Mandres]

Not practical.   Polycarbonate scratches extremely easily, even more so than acrylic.  Those things would look terrible almost immediately  I would be concerned about the effects of heating / cooling over time too. 

[3imo]

Mandres -   some of the equipment I work on uses Polycarbonate windows.. and normally they do scratch very easily.

In Iraq we had an issue with the sand storms (sand)blasting the surface of these windows.  the solution we came up with was an automotive paint clearcoat.

The first brand we used turned yellow/brown from the heat.  Then we ordered something from Duplicolor ( I think)  and had no problems for the last 4 months in the desert.

as far as heat/cooling,  I am no t to sure. As a window It ain't an issue. As a wheel you have all kinds of forces pushing and pulling, not to mention the added weight of the vehicle.

Otherwise, I don't even like them that much, personally. It's cool and all, but for that price I'd want something there.

[MarkusN]

Polycarbonate (Lexan) is one of the tuffest plastic materials out there. Still, it does scratch. Think CDs.

[Turd Ferguson]

These wheels will destroy a braking system.  The only function of a brake is to convert kinetic energy to heat.  The faster a brake can dissipate heat, the better its performance.  Conversely, the harder you brake, the more heat is generated in the braking system.  With these wheels brake fade would occur nearly instantaneously and it wouldn't take more than one or two hard stops to begin boiling your brake fluid.

Bottom line, it's for show cars.

-Turd.

[manofthefield]

Overheating the brakes isn't an issue on a motorcycle though.   I might be worried about wind pushing a bike with solid wheels around though, I never liked that about the v-rod.  Also, I'm sure a spoked wheel would have much better strength vs. weight compared to one of these

[3imo]

With these wheels brake fade would occur nearly instantaneously and it wouldn't take more than one or two hard stops to begin boiling your brake fluid.
-Turd.

Really?  under what conditions?  racing?  srly, I didn't know it was that drastic.

[Turd Ferguson]

Yes, racing.  I doubt it would be that serious of an issue issue driving to the grocery store though you would likely see increased rotor/pad wear due to the residual heat.  If you've ever touched your caliper/rotor after even a casual drive, you'll know what kind of heat is released by your braking system.

My comments were more for a performance driving situation, though.

And yes, on a motorcycle this isn't really an issue.

-Turd.

[annguyen1981]

Polycarbonate (Lexan) is one of the tuffest plastic materials out there. Still, it does scratch. Think CDs.

The surface of my $850 watch has a Lexan surface.  I must have dropped that thing, bumped it against every doorjam, concrete wall, and desk that I came across.  There still is NO scratches on the thing.

[RVertigo]

I used to work with polycarbonate every day for 3.5 years...

There is one thing I know for sure:  Uncoated polycarb will scratch from your finger...

The scratch-coating is the only thing that saves polycarb.

Oh and...  Polycarb does NOT react well to acetone...  A 3mm thick lens (safety glasses) will crack if it comes in contact with acetone.

But...  It's one of the most impact resistant materials I've worked with.   A 1.8mm thick lens (normal glasses) will NOT crack when hit with a hammer about two dozen times...  I tried...  It ain't havin' it.  You can't see out of it any more, but it's still in one piece.

It WILL melt too...

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

Polycarbonate (Lexan) is one of the tuffest plastic materials out there. Still, it does scratch. Think CDs.

The surface of my $850 watch has a Lexan surface.  I must have dropped that thing, bumped it against every doorjam, concrete wall, and desk that I came across.  There still is NO scratches on the thing.

You have an $850 watch.. and you can't get laid... you're doin something wrong...

[The Buddha]

Yup ... its bullet proof, but your neighbor can ruin your day with a cigarette ... Living in tobaccy country ... I catch like 20 of them everyday ...
Cool.
Srinath.

[Turd Ferguson]

You have an $850 watch and you ride a GS?  

-Turd.

[Dr. Love]

Bah, it'll just get dirty anyways.  And it prob shows even worse than white. 

[3imo]

You have an $850 watch and you ride a GS?  

-Turd.