[Baffled]

Hey All.

Is the hype about the Marvic 2 piece Superlight wheels failing correct ?

Has anyone had first hand experience with this issue or is it all hearsay ?

Whats the best alternative wheel to suit the SS Model range ?

Thanks heaps

Cheers

 

[duc96cr]

I’m not aware of any direct replacement that isn’t really expensive. I’d be really surprised if there wasn’t a Japanese wheel that will fit, but no one has posted it if they found it. This question pops up regularly here but so far no good answer. I hadn’t heard about the Marvin failing, but they’re getting old so it wouldn’t surprise me.

 

[spacey]

OZ Racing makes some really nice direct replacement wheels. They're quite expensive, but not as much as some of the carbon or magnesium wheels like BST.

 

[Iwannaduc]

Hey All.

Is the hype about the Marvic 2 piece Superlight wheels failing correct ?

Has anyone had first hand experience with this issue or is it all hearsay ?

Whats the best alternative wheel to suit the SS Model range ?

Thanks heaps

Cheers

I don't know about hype. I know there are documented cases of the composite Marvic-Akront wheels cracking.

I don't know from first hand experience, only from pictures I've seen.

From those pictures, the point of failure occurs where the rivets attach the hoop to the spokes.

There was a theory surrounding those failures at one time concerning the different metals involved, moisture and electrolysis.

Simply put, electrolysis made one metal an anode and the other a cathode eroding one while expanding the other. A crack or several cracks would then result.

Thus, failing isn't exactly the description I'd use. I never heard of a catastrophic failure of one that caused a crash and/or injury. I'm not saying such a thing didn't happen, only that it wasn't among the descriptions I'd read of the wheels cracking at the rivets.

As for replacements, there are a few options if you want to call them that. I did some research on this forum as well as the "other" Ducati forum and found a thread regarding the weights of different wheel options.

According to that thread, the composite Marvic-Akronts were not that light. Light for the time maybe, but not light by today's standard.

In fact, from the weights posted in that thread, the Brembo wheels that replaced the composites the following year were around the same weight.

Also, according that that same thread, the later SSie wheels were actually the lightest option, save for going with a set of magnesium wheels or some of the more expensive alloy or carbon wheels.

Even then, the difference was not as great as you'd think between the tapered spoke Brembo wheels and the high dollar alloy wheels from Marchesini, OZ or Carozzeria.

I did not weigh all those wheels myself, but the member who started that thread actually did. Actually weighed them with a scale rather than gathering published weights from manufacturers.

I sincerely hope that is some useful, 3rd hand information. Search the forum, you may be able to find that thread and read it for yourself. I don't subscribe to continuing myth and legend when the truth can be easily found.......sean

 

[Sherpa23F]

I have gold magneisum Marchesini wheels on mine and I love them. They look perfect.

 

[WileECoyote]

Take a look at Carrozerria wheels. I have had 3 sets on different bikes. Usually around $2k US to buy them. No failures that I am aware of and look great. IMO

 

[Rex Coil 7]

.... Also, according that that same thread, the later SSie wheels were actually the lightest option, save for going with a set of magnesium wheels or some of the more expensive alloy or carbon wheels ...

So would a 2009 Monster rear wheel fall into that description?

LINK = https://www.ebay.com/itm/DUCATI-MON...132993?hash=item1a7969e601:g:CvUAAOSwLApZ29VV

 

[psyopper]

So would a 2009 Monster rear wheel fall into that description?

LINK = https://www.ebay.com/itm/DUCATI-MON...132993?hash=item1a7969e601:g:CvUAAOSwLApZ29VV

There are four OEM wheels that came on the various Supersport models:

-The Marvic-Akront magnesium/aluminum wheels that started this thread, fitted to the first gen 91/92 Superlites only

- The "Fat Three Spoke" cast aluminum wheels that came on all the carb'd bikes including the later versions of the Superlite and the Final Edition - differentiated by the spokes getting fatter towards the rim.

- The "Skinny Three Spoke" are what you linked to that came on the fuel injected bikes. These are cast aluminum and weigh maybe 5% less than the fat spoke wheels, and they have "mass centralization" making them feel marginally (slightly) more responsive. You may or may not be able to tell the difference.

- Finally, the cast aluminum Marchesini 5 spoke that came on the latest versions of the SSie bikes, somewhere around 2005+. These have even better mass centralization and riders report that they can actually tell the difference between these and the fat three spoke wheels. These are likely what were being referred to as the "latest Supersport wheels" in that thread.

All the Supersport rear wheels from all model years between 1989 and 2007 had a rear wheel with a 17mm solid rear axle. The front axle sizes changed over time, from 1989-1995.5 they were 17mm. From 1995.5-1998 they were 20mm; and on the SSie's they were all 25mm and shared with the Superbikes and ST's of the same model year.

There's a healthy cross-pollenization of the Monster wheels, and generally speaking the wheels are all interchangeable based on the model year.

To really open up your options for wheels, convert the fork to something with a 25mm axle as it's a universal Ducati wheel size and all the aftermarket manufacturers make wheels for it while still supporting the 17mm rear axle.

Back to the original question about the Marvic-Akront wheels, the rounding or ovalization of the holes is most likely due to poor torquing on the attachment bolts. Loose bolts will allow the rim to rotate under acceleration, eventually widening the hole. Checking the torque every time you lube the chain is probably the best advice. The same thing happens on the single-sided swingarm wheels with the locater pins wearing out the holes in the wheel when the big nut isn't torqued properly.

 

[belter]

i've seen the superlight marvic/akront wheels crack at the clevis where the rim bolts in, as if the rim is too narrow and the bolts tightened too much, pulling the clevis together. not that i believe that is the case, but that's what it looks like visually to paint a picture.

also i've seen the bolts come loose and the holes elongate.

lovely wheel, not sure if they're actually that light now that i think about it. haven't held one for a long time.