Zoo - You probably made the "right" decision if you feel good about your reasons for choosing OZ (they appear to be excellent wheels). So,
I won't be trying to change your mind (why should I, it's your bike/decision), but I would like to offer a perspective that differs with some of the preceeding opinions since I do have a set of the BST CF rims on my bike that are working exceedingly well.
CF rims are certainly not for everyone. They are very pricey, they represent a "newish", advanced manufacturing technology (which can be read as potentially fallible), and they are not DOT approved yet. The latter is one reason why they are not more popular in various forms of US racing. They
are allowed in many European (and elsewhere) racing events and they are disproportionately well-represented on the winner's podium in those racing circles which speaks for itself in terms of their performance advantages. That is why I installed them on my bike--performance gains, all around performance.
I consider my 170 some-odd rear wheel horsepower to be adequate for my riding purposes but my Busa could use a little help in the handling department because of its total mass and mass distribution. The CF wheel experience, compared with the factory Busa wheels, is like a near death experience, or combat, or free fall... one can't really know what it's like until they have shed that much unsprung weight from their Busa. The BST wheels instantly transformed my bike from its relatively sluggish-handling form into a competent, well-balanced bike that smoothly and precisely changes direction "right now", almost by merely thinking about it. At a minimum, I can only characterize the handling improvement as profound! No, it's not quite an R1 but it moved far in THAT direction. It is now a true
sport touring machine.
I presume that the "whoa factor" mentioned above refers to impressing other people. If that's your thing, more power to `ya. I installed them to impress me, as a rider, wherein my bike form follows function. In fact, you can't even tell that they are CF unless you are very close to them. From just a few feet away, their beautifully-crafted, glossy finish makes them appear to be black-painted rims. I like the low key, anti-bling effect (I have no chrome on my bike).
I did
extensive research on these rims before buying them. I don't casually drop $3K on
anything without being well-armed with information. I don't like negative surprises either. I spoke with one person who is running them on his 7-second Busa dragster--no problems after repeated launch floggings. I spoke with another person who is purely a street rider and he raved about them--no wheelie consequences except that the front wheel comes up much easier now. I spoke with BST in Africa and their US importer, Moto Wheels and picked their collective brains. Actually (as a Physics major), I was looking for sales-hype bullsh*t but could find none (I'm also a skeptic).
For me, "performance" is not just acceleration even though I have accumulated several hundred sportsman drag bike passes through the years. What I found is...
the BST wheels made the most dramatic handling improvement currently possible with a single, simple modification. I don't usually rave but I am totally elated because I actually got what I paid for. I suppose it all comes down to rider preference/orientation, priorities, and $.
Now, I have to make major adjustments to my suspension and learn how to ride my Busa all over again. It's
that much better and I have NEVER grinned sooo much when riding!
Good luck with your new wheels.
Tom
