Tech Torque: Time For Change
With Stan’s PX poised for a return to roadworthiness it’s time to upgrade his old Pinasco rims for the latest catalogue items.
With Stan’s PX poised for a return to roadworthiness it’s time to upgrade his old Pinasco rims for the latest catalogue items.
The problem with embracing new technology is that a new and improved version comes along fairly quickly. I knew this would be the case when I bought a set of Pinasco’s split tubeless rims but they were an obvious choice when planning my trip to Croatia. Even then there were plenty of tubeless rims on the market, each of which offered more control in the event of a puncture than traditional tubed tyres. What Pinasco offered was flexibility, being able to change a tyre without tracking down special equipment and, if all else failed, I could whip out the valve and fit a new tube as normal.
The idea wasn’t new; generations of scooterists have tried sandwiching a rubber membrane between traditional rims, most of them unsuccessful. Instead of sealing the split with a membrane, Pinasco created a finely engineered casting into which was set an O-ring. When the bolts were tightened the O-ring compressed, sealing in the necessary pressure. It was a revolutionary idea and from my first ride I was hooked on the new wheels. Although my traditional rims had looked fine, they clearly weren’t. Even using the same tyres, cornering became more precise. The Pinasco rims were undeniably a better product.
Unfortunately the first generation had a couple of shortcomings, perhaps attributable to a desire for originality. In total there were 10 fastening points, five on the hub and five on the rim, all spaced as per the original. The rim used M8 nuts and bolts, which meant that it was difficult to determine which fastenings to remove in a wheel change. Not an insurmountable problem but certainly an added complication when swapping the rear wheel on a dark night. The 10 fastenings were spaced at intervals of 70mm but this wasn’t quite enough to keep the pressure stable. It’s always a good idea to monitor tyre pressures but the first-generation rims turned this from a ‘should’ to a ‘must’. Fast forward a few years and as I needed a new set of tyres I decided to upgrade my rims at the same time. Once again the flexibility of Pinasco’s tubeless meant they were an obvious choice, particularly as they’ve been redesigned.
The main difference between the current generation and their predecessors is the number and type of fastenings used. Instead of five rim bolts there’s now 10, making 15 in all. The increased number reduces their centres to 45mm and, as the fastenings themselves are now socket headed, it’s easy to see what needs unfastening on a wheel change. I’ve now had both sets under pressure on the bench for a month. During that time the first generation lost 2psi while the new
generation has remained stable. The finish and engineering are up to Pinasco’s high standard and I look forward to putting some miles on them, even if a trip to Croatia’s unlikely this year!
Words and photographs: Stan