M_Weining

Any one experience any problems with Fikse wheels?

Prior to today I had read and heard only good things. However, today, while shopping for a set of 17" wheels I was told by one of their past distirbutors (claimed to be one of the largest over the past several years) that they discontinued carrying them due to problem with their wheels. Did not get any specifics.

This kind of set me back, as I had finally decided (I thought) on the Fikse FM5s.

Dbltime

Sounds like sour grapes as they say. I have a set of FM10's that are just a year old. Almost 40 track days and 6 or so off track experiences. The wheels have been super. A good combination of light and strong. Not the lightest or the strongest but a good combo. I like the FM5 look but they are hard to get. I just ordered a second set of the 10's for my slicks.

See you at the track.

tchanson

I would agree with Bill. I've been extremely happy with my FM10's, and the folks at Fikse are great to deal with, in my experience.

I would be more than a little dubious of an ex distributor's claims that they dropped the line. Its my understanding that over the last 18 months or so, Fikse has been streamlining and realigning their dealer network, which included eliminating some dealers that didn't meet Fikse's standards for customer service or fitment/technical expertise. (Check their website...I believe that there was a press release on this in the last year or so) I would be far more likely to think that is what actually happened to the distributor with whom you were dealing.

In any event, I would reccommend them without reservation.

Tim

andycan

I have fm10s also and they are fine. I went to a tech meeting and they said if the proper lugs aren't use they will crack thats is almost any brand.They said that you have to use the right lugs for each wheel,meaning there are rounded lugs and taperd ones.Make sure you get the right ones and you shouldn't have a problem.Also I heard that Fikse didn't want price wars so they drops dealers that were selling them cheeper then others. <img src="graemlins/nono.gif" border="0" alt="[nono]" />

Jim Michaels

Price war = Capitalism. Don't want any of that is this country. If true, may help explain why Fikses
cost more than Kinesis (More expensive = better?)

Steve Lavigne

[quote]Originally posted by M_Weining:
<strong>Prior to today I had read and heard only good things. However, today, while shopping for a set of 17" wheels I was told by one of their past distirbutors (claimed to be one of the largest over the past several years) that they discontinued carrying them due to problem with their wheels. Did not get any specifics.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I spoke with Speedware Motorsports in Redmond, Washington several months ago about Fikse wheels. The guy there told me that they used to carry them, had problems with them, and now carry Kinesis wheels. Sure sounded like BS to me. Did you by chance talk to the same company?

Tom Pultz

[quote]Originally posted by Steve Lavigne:
<strong>

I spoke with Speedware Motorsports in Redmond, Washington several months ago about Fikse wheels. The guy there told me that they used to carry them, had problems with them, and now carry Kinesis wheels. Sure sounded like BS to me.</strong><hr></blockquote>Being local to Speedware I also asked them about Fikse wheels at one time. They told me they had trouble with the rim half attachment nuts falling off and getting jambed in the brake rotors. I'm sure Jim Fikse would have a different opinion. For whatever reason his wheels are now sold by Fordahl Motorsports in Bellevue.

andycan

The bolts that hold the rim to gether are only torqed to 10 pounds that does seem too much.The problem I had heard about the rims were that they would leak air at the seem after a while but that was fixed with better silcone.

Jim Michaels

Fikse uses 20 fastening bolts, Kinesis uses 40. My guess is that 40 would seal better than 20.

Danno

Not necessarily. Look at how many bolts the racing BBS 3-piece wheels use vs. the street BBS 3-piece wheels. I would think with a silicone seal, you wouldn't have anyleaking at all. If you do, it's probably a problem with the installation procedure, not in the design.