Are Tusk Complete Wheels Safe And Trustable To Put On A Race Bike?

Yeah they are like stock. Just a tad heavy. David pingree trusts them!! so can you! haha

All of your questions are answered in this thread.

http://www.vitalmx.com/forums/Race-Shop,42/Can-you-trust-tusk-wheels,1271927

Don't know much about the wheels, but Ping also trusts bikes that snap in half on him.

I would say No. DID dirt stars stxs or excels

these guys actually did testing.....http://motocrossactionmag.com/news/mxa-team-tested-tusk-impact-wheelset

or you can just go by peoples "opinion's" with no back up testing or experience.....MX guys tend to be brand loyal and equate $ with quality, especially to justify their own purchase.....of course you get what you pay for up to a point.....

I run both talon with excels and the Tusk Impacts on my yz250.......I have had no problems with either....

another option is to get your hubs lathed and polished, rims anodized etc....seen some very nice looking stockers like that,
but they are stock and everybody knows stock stuff sucks sarcasm!

lots of choices.....good luck!

For someone on a budget or a slow vet rider like me I wouldn't be afraid of them. I was skeptical until I read mxa's test on them. If they can't break them they must be durable. I have a pair on my 450 now.

I also paid $405 shipped to my door for the pair. No brainer for me.

Why would someone take the word of a bunch of 60+ MXA Vet guys that race at "maybe at a Slow Novice" pace. Go to MXA's website and check out REM Race Reports to see the pumpkin heads that your trusting there word on what to buy.
Go to a real racetrack and see what real racers "RACE" I don't think its a $405 wheelset. Bell Helmets said it perfectly "if you have a $10 head wear a $10 Helmet" BTW I saw Ping at a local so cal track and he doesn't use em on his bike.

So you joined vital today and your first post was to chew on me for running the tusk wheel set? Thanks for the advice. I said I'm a slow vet rider, not hucking huge triples. If they are good enough for Jody and mxa I'm happy with that. I also got them at my dealer cost and said what I paid to show there is deals to be had.

Yes I did just join up today. Long time reader first time participant. You got my by a year and a few days. But anyhow I wasn't trying to rip you personally on your decision to go with Tusk. To each his own. The original post caught my eye (which is what prompted me to join) because Mammoth MX Vet Weekend starts this weekend and it brought up a scary memory that happened to a Vet Rider I know at Mammoth. His affordable $250.00 front wheel exploded coming down the mammoth freeway and luckily he survived with only a concussion and a trashed bike. I remember reading on Vital a while back that a Wheel Company in California talked about these Asian made wheels that are made available to Distributors and Mail Order Companys and then the product that was delivered for testing isn't what is delivered once the Order is placed. I've been to Glen Helen and seen the MXA test riders out there riding and I applaud them for still racing but for them to have an influence on what a guy buys... to each his own. I'm not a Pro but I'm gonna look at what fast guys are using (Stock or Aftermarket) and know that even though I'm not their speed that I can feel confident that what they choose is good and therefore safe for any rider at any skill level. For my money I'll take safety over a deal.

For the record. The Vet Riders wheel that exploded WAS not a Tusk wheel.. The company that made the wheel is out of business.

Ok fair enough, like I said, I'm old and slow. I wanted a black wheel set and for " my abilitys" these fit the bill. Sorry I took offense.

Maybe I missed something with MXA but I wasn't aware they used only Senior Class guys to test bikes and equipment. While Jody is 40 years older than he was in '74, he is the editor, not the main test rider.

From what I know, Dennis Stapleton, Daryl Ecklund, Austin Politelli and Willy Musgrave (along with Billy) can get around a track at a brisk pace and I can't imagine Larry Brooks is real slow even though he's not what he was.

They use plenty of Expert and National level guys for testing that aren't on their "official list" of test consultants.

As a reader of their mag for about 40 years I can say that I don't think they're hacks nor unqualified to offer professional opinions. The quality of their writing is also by far the best in the field. They write to an educated, literate audience. Some other mags are written like comic books or sound like a bunch of 13 year old, backwards-hat punks hanging out and engaging in shallow, crass conversation. But to each his own.

The only issue I have with them is the obviously cozy relationship they have with PC. While I don't think they give PC products false praise (read their product shootouts - seldom does PC get first place), they do get a lot of free plugs from MXA.
And they need to rely more on real technical experts - some of their comments regarding engine and suspension design demonstrate a lack of knowledge or understanding, but this doesn't disqualify their experiences.

I've owned a number of the bikes they've tested through the years and can't say my opinions were ever vastly different than theirs.

And the couple of people I know that have bought Tusk wheels haven't had any problems with them. Anecdotal evidence to be sure, but real nonetheless.

And I resemble the "old and slow" nowadays... but I prefer to think if it as "discerning riding".

All good Vintage Racer. BTW cool bikes in your photo. Looks like a old 87 CR.

Mr. Bean
Looks like you've been a loyal MXA guy for a while. 40 yrs.. You beat me to Vital by 2 days. You should get reward for that. Lol
Next time your in California come to REM on Saturday and look at what the MXA testers use on there own bikes. Stock,Faster USA, Talon, Rad is what I see at REM. After your mention of MXA and the PC " buddy" deal that people have always laughed about. Re:the Jody/Mitch connection. I picked up a MXA and couldn't help but notice that the company that sells Tusk Wheels Does allot of Advertising with MXA. Don't bite the hand that feeds you.

I've been a loyal dirt rider for 40+ years. I've read a lot of publications in that time. MXA gets the nod for writing above an elementary/middle school level and telling it like it is.
I've lurked this forum for many years (including in its former life) and I finally decided to join the other day. Maybe too much time on my hands right now?

BITD, Dirt Bike used to be a quality read (Rick Sieman, Paul Clipper, etc) but now seems to be written by out-of-work wannabee comedy writers (who use the same silly adjectives and descriptions over and over) and is more about showcasing products than giving honest, detailed, informative tests of those products.
It's sad - it used to be a really good product but it looks like they have a different target audience nowadays - a younger, less informed crowd who are easily separated from their money by shiny things. But then they spend a lot of time on the ADV stuff which is the realm of the older, more affluent crowd. I'm not seeing the two targets mixing well but I don't call the shots there.

Dirt Rider - until someone relieved me of a number of them, I had every issue they printed. When they first came out in the early 80s they used to include things like graphs of shock linkage progression curves. No one else did that. They've gone through a number of different phases through the years trying to find their own unique identity. Still seem to be targeting a younger generation while also trying to appease the older ones (which is where the money is). Not sure if you can make that work but it's their gig, not mine.

MXA - there is something to be said for continuity at the helm. Jody was a fast guy (we all get old, even Hannah, RD, MC, RC, etc) but his love for the sport is undeniable. He's well educated, erudite and it's evident in his product - he hasn't forgotten that it should include good journalism, not just "blogging and tweeting" random, disconnected thoughts.
I do believe MXA drops PC recommendations because of their relationship with Mitch - they were buddies before Mitch got hurt and then became a bajillionaire with PC and they are still. But since I'm aware of it I take that into consideration when needed.

And I don't think a case can be made for MXA being influenced by advertising in their mag. Way too many examples of them praising bikes from manufacturers that didn't spend diddly with them and ripping ones that did. Heck, look at how they've treated KTM over the years and they still bag on them for their suspension. No need to lie about things that people will discover for themselves - it only destroys your credibility. It's one thing to have a different opinion; it's another to be the only one stating that opinion when it's 180 degrees from everyone else's - everyone will see the emperor has no clothes.

CN - sadly has gone pure digital but still a good, informative read, especially race coverage.

RX, TWMX, etc. - don't really pay them much attention. Tried them years ago and it seemed obvious they were after a younger demo and I don't care for some of the crassness I've seen in them. I can get that other places. I like to think I can leave my dirt mags laying on the coffee table and not worry about who picks them up reading something inappropriate. Not my cup of tea.

Seen mags like Inside Motocross (great pics, heavy stock and glossy prints - real eye candy) come and go. Some were good, others not so much.

Such are the byproducts of aging.

But these are just my opinions, yours may differ.

I have a CR250 that was a WORCS raced bike. It has DNA wheels on it. They haven't failed and I've had the bike for 3 years. I wear extra husky jeans and I haven't hurt them. I've hit some of those big rocks at Glen Helen in Grand Prix. I haven't had any spokes loosen and the wheels are pretty true. I think if you maintain them most of us will be alright with them.

Yes you do get what you pay for. I believe this is true with the assembly process for Tusk wheels, and could be true with many others, but these are the only aftermarket wheels I have experience with. After two months on backorder at RM mine finally arrived, most likely rushed by the manufacturer (whoever that is..DNA?) to meet demand. Out of the box the front rim was not true to the hub but the rear was fine. Neither front or rear spokes were torqued though. After correcting those oblivious oversights in assembly I had what looked to be couple high quality wheels for their price. After about 1hr of break in time only 7-8 spokes on each rim needed torqued. And none after 3hrs which include my ability to case doubles.