Are Lightweight Wheels the Best Upgrade You Can Make
A month ago, I briefly mentioned in a video that one of the best upgrades you can make to your motorcycle isn’t a pipe or a tune—it’s lighter wheels. A few weeks later, a set of forged wheels showed up at my door. I didn’t pay for them, and nobody’s paying me to say anything. And as luck would have it, I had three other sets of the same size Ducati wheels on hand.
We’re talking OEM cast wheels, a set of vintage forged Marchesinis, modern forged Marchesinis, and now these new Tarns forged wheels. In this post, I’ll compare all four—based on weight, static balance, roundness, and real-world performance—and explain why lighter wheels can make such a massive difference.
First Impressions: Tarns Forged Wheels
The Tarns wheels are made in China and look an awful lot like OZ wheels. Which is to say—they look incredible. But my first concern was safety. They feature the JWL stamp (Japan Light Alloy Wheel standard), which means they’ve passed rigorous impact and strength testing. Tarns also sent me ISO certification details and mentioned they’re working on DOT approval.
Let’s Talk Looks
Ranking these four wheels on looks alone:
- Tarns: The clean lines and deep cuts make them the prettiest of the bunch.
- Vintage Marchesinis: Classic design that still holds up.
- OEM Cast Wheels: I’ve always liked these.
- Modern Marchesinis: Sorry, but the spokes remind me of alien hands from the old War of the Worlds movie.
Weight Comparison
Weight makes a big difference in how a motorcycle feels. So I weighed the rear wheels only (no rotors, sprockets, or spacers):
- OEM Cast Wheel: 4.9 kg (~10.8 lbs)
- Vintage Forged Marchesini: 3.5 kg (~7.7 lbs)
- Modern Forged Marchesini: 4.4 kg (~9.7 lbs)
- Tarns Forged Wheel: 3.7 kg (~8.2 lbs)
The vintage Marchesini comes out on top, but the Tarns weren’t far behind—beating out the modern forged wheel in weight.
Static Balance & Runout
I removed all wheel weights and tested for static balance. The goal? The less weight needed to balance, the better the wheel. We also tested runout (how true the wheel is, and how round it is at speed). The more accurate the wheel, the less you feel vibrations or uneven tire wear. Spoiler: the results were surprisingly good for the Tarns.
Why Forged Wheels Matter
Cast wheels are cheap and easy to produce, but they can have voids or irregularities that affect durability. Forged wheels, however, are made from a solid block of aluminum compressed under thousands of tons of pressure. This realigns the grain structure of the metal, giving the wheel more strength, less weight, and better resistance to impacts and fatigue.
Lighter wheels reduce unsprung mass, which means your suspension has less weight to control. They also reduce rotational inertia, so the wheels spin up faster, slow down quicker, and change direction with less effort.
On the road, that translates to better acceleration, more responsive handling, and more grip over bumps. It also makes your suspension feel better—without touching the suspension.
Real-World Ride Test
I installed the Tarns wheels on my Ducati Multistrada Pikes Peak and took them for a ride. Visually? They looked phenomenal. But more importantly, the ride quality improved. Steering felt lighter and more responsive. Suspension felt smoother, especially over rough pavement.
Yes, I’ve used forged wheels on many bikes over the years—but every time, I’m surprised by how much better the bike feels.
The Verdict
This isn’t a knock on pipes or suspension kits, but let’s talk numbers:
- A good exhaust and tune can run $1,500+
- Suspension upgrades? Easily $2,000+
Lighter forged wheels? They improve every part of the riding experience: acceleration, braking, turning, suspension compliance, and tire wear.
Tarns, despite being new to the U.S. market, impressed me. They showed me their forging process, certifications, and custom finish options. Based on everything I could test, they’re legit.
If you ride a Ducati or Aprilia, you might be able to find used forged wheels. But if you ride something more obscure, a company like Tarns might be your best option.
They don’t have online ordering yet, but you can reach out to them on social media.
In short: yes, lighter wheels are still the best upgrade you can make to any motorcycle.
