Spokes vs. Cast Wheel Stress Failure

[Ves]

So, a few weeks back I was web surfing on the subject of motorcycle tour companies... Came across one that that some pretty intense stuff on different continents. You actually have to give them a resume.... anyway, one of the things I found curious is they said you have to have a dual purpose motorcycle with spoke wheels... No spoke wheels, no go... Guess I was under the impression that spoke wheels, besides looking cool, were lighter, and that was the reason they were used on dirt bike. Apparently they can also take more repeated impact, than cast wheels, without failing?

[sweatmark]

I was under the impression that -specific to BMW oilhead wheels- spoked assembly was heavier than cast, offset by superior strength and/or possibility of some on-the-trail repairs. There's not much you can do to fix a bent/cracked cast wheel out in the wilderness.

[R4R&R]

I think that's why the R1200GS standard comes with cast, where the GS-A comes with spoke. I think the spoke wheels are overall a better wheel unless you are into keeping it very clean.