Every now and then in the cycling world, a new trend emerges and captures everyone’s attention. One such recent trend is the introduction of the mag wheels bike. Mag wheel bikes are becoming increasingly more desirable, and everyone seems to want one.
However, not a lot of people understand why people are excited about mag wheel bikes! Let’s take a look at what exactly makes the mag bike wheel unique and why everyone’s clamoring to get their hands on one!
What is a mag wheel?
Mag wheels are essentially an automotive wheel that’s created out of a magnesium metal alloy. These types of wheels are particularly popular in racing situations due to their lightweight. When you’re racing, any weight that you manage to shed is going to help.
Aside from just being lightweight, mag wheels also have a strong aesthetic quality. The overall aesthetic quality of the wheels means that they’re mainly in demand among cycling enthusiasts.
Upgrading your bike isn’t always about performance; sometimes, you want to enjoy an aesthetic upgrade too. However, with premium mag wheels, not only are you upgrading the aesthetic, but you’re also improving the performance of the bike.
How are mag wheels different from other wheels?
Aside from the noticeable difference in material, there are a few other ways that mag wheels are different from traditional wheels.
Design
One of the most significant differences between a standard wheel bike and mag wheels bike is their design. You can easily spot mag wheels from a mile away, thanks to the unique design.
A traditional spoke wheel typically features more than 20+ metal spokes that help distribute weight around the wheel and maintain balance. On the other hand, a mag wheels bike will feature 3-5 individual spokes that closely remember the appearance of a car rim.
It’s one of the easiest ways to customize your bike and change up the look. The 3-5 metal spokes create a very cool pattern that adds to the bike’s aesthetic appeal even while you’re riding.
Weight
Another main advantage of getting a mag wheels bike is the weight. The alloy nature of Mag wheels means that they’re lighter than most of the traditional steel spoke wheels in the market.
On average, a mag wheel can weigh between 1 – 1.5kg, while a traditional metal spoke wheel could weigh between 1.5 – 2.0kg. Even though it might not seem like much, it makes a difference when you’re trying to achieve the fastest speed possible.
The lower weight also means that the handling will improve, and the bike will feel more agile.
Strength
Mag wheels tend to be stronger and more rigid than standard metal spokes. While that means that the vehicles are less prone to take damage and bend out of shape, they aren’t as good at absorbing bumps from the road.
If you feel like your bicycle already has a very jarring ride, then going with mag wheels might not be the best idea. While they’re more robust and capable of dealing with a more significant load than standard metal spoke wheels, they’re also pretty much unrepairable.
When you end up damaging your mag wheels bike, there’s very little you can do to correct the damage. The only option is getting new bicycle mag rims for your ride. For this reason, a lot of people tend to stay away from bicycle mag wheels.
However, bending bicycle mag wheels out of shape takes a lot of force, so it’s ultimately down to individual preference.
Easy Maintenance
A feature that makes mag wheels bikes so attractive to cyclists is that it’s much easier to take care of the wheels. Bicycle mag wheels are much easier to clean in comparison to more traditional wheels.
You’ll have to spend significantly lower amounts of time trying to get the dirt out and polishing the wheels. Instead, you can focus your maintenance efforts on shocks, tires, chain, and pedals!
Corrosion Protection
One of the most common misconceptions that cyclists have about mag wheels bikes is that they’re prone to corrosion. While this is true for standard magnesium alloys, the more modern wheels aren’t at any risk of corrosion.
That’s because most modern mag wheels bikes feature magnesium alloy in combination with other alloys. The other alloys serve as a protective layer and help the mag wheel resist corrosion better.
Aerodynamics
One of the most significant debates about mag wheels bikes is whether they’re more aerodynamic than standard wheels or if the design takes away from aerodynamics. A lot of the time, most mag wheels bike manufacturers claim that the spoke design is all about aerodynamics.
While this may be true on the more premium mag wheels bikes on the market, the standard bicycle mag wheel has very little to do with aerodynamics. It’s all about the aesthetic design of the wheels.
However, in more premium models, the design of the spokes do help improve the aerodynamics of the bike.
What are the disadvantages of mag wheels bike?
Even though bicycle mag wheels are starting to make a comeback, it’s becoming clear that they’re always going to be up and down. Even though they provide cyclists with several benefits, there are a few disadvantages that they’ll have to deal with!
Price
One of the main reasons why people refrain from buying a mag wheels bike is the price. The premium bicycle mag wheels most certainly don’t come cheap, and if you’re looking to save money, then you should stay away from a mag wheels bike!
Even an entry-level mag wheels bike will cost significantly more than a bike with standard alloy wheels. The worst bit is that entry-level mag bike wheels aren’t particularly good either. Instead of improving the performance of your bike, they’ll make it worse.
Unrepairable
Another major disadvantage of bicycle mag wheels is that even though they’re incredibly sturdy, they’re pretty much irreparable once they do take damage. No matter how much you spend on the bike or how much your local bike mechanic promises he can fix the issue, it’s not going to work.
It’s almost impossible to bring a mag wheel bike to its former glory after it takes some damage. The nature of the material is such that it resists deformation. That’s why when they receive damage, mag wheels tend to fall apart and shatter.
Firm Ride
Mag bike wheels tend to be stronger and more durable than standard bike wheels. That means they’re stronger and require significantly lower levels of maintenance. However, the overall hardness and strength of the wheels lead to another issue.
Mag wheel bikes tend to have a harsher ride because of the overall strength of the wheel. There isn’t much give, and as a result, the ride can become potentially uncomfortable.
Not great for rough conditions
An issue that mag wheel bikes tend to encounter is that they don’t do so well in rough road conditions. Because of their inability to absorb shocks, they’re more prone to accumulating damage and eventually just falling apart.
The inclusion of more spokes makes standard wheels much better at absorbing the shocks that come from obstacles.
What type of bicycles work well with mag wheels?
Two main types of bikes work well with mag wheels; road bikes and mountain bikes. When you’re riding a road bike, you’ll likely be doing the majority of your riding on paved surfaces.
If you’re only going to ride on paved surfaces, getting mag wheels on your bike is a good idea. Alternatively, they also work well with mountain bikes. Many pro riders use mag wheels on their mountain bikes to give them more of an edge in terms of handling.
Additionally, some cyclocross bikes feature mag wheels. These bikes are known for their endurance and the ability to travel at high speeds on off-road terrains. Mag wheels help because they’re lightweight and feature an aerodynamic shape!
Conclusion
A mag wheels bike offers brilliant performance and a crazy design. For the right type of cyclists, they are a perfect choice. If you’re planning on riding on mostly paved terrains and don’t like doing much maintenance, bicycle mag wheels are a good choice.
If you don’t have an issue with the massive price tag, the more premium models also offer better aerodynamics. It’s vital to assess your preferences and needs before making any sort of final decision.
Mag wheel bikes might be increasing in popularity again, but they’re a specific taste!
