ROTA RK-R

tofuboy · Postby **tofuboy** » Fri Jul 15, 2011 8:33 pm

Claims of a Wat knockoff from ROTA. Apparently it will be released in a couple of weeks time.

from CR.net

BadBong · Postby **BadBong** » Fri Jul 15, 2011 8:44 pm

Look great.

How much an most importantly... What the weight?

Apu · Postby **Apu** » Sat Jul 16, 2011 8:45 pm

No problem with replicas...the issue I have is counterfeits!

7Hazi · Postby **7Hazi** » Sat Jul 16, 2011 11:48 pm

Ughhh... And there goes any interest in purchasing genuine Watanabe's (out of fear of someone saying "nice rotas!") ... *facepalm*

Steampunk · Postby **Steampunk** » Sun Jul 17, 2011 10:06 am

7Hazi wrote:Ughhh... And there goes any interest in purchasing genuine Watanabe's (out of fear of someone saying "nice rotas!") ... *facepalm*

Watanabes have their logo clearly stamped on the centre.

Mr nanotech · Postby **Mr nanotech** » Tue Jul 19, 2011 1:29 am

Apu wrote:No problem with replicas...the issue I have is counterfeits!

I think you can only claim a replica if the original is out of production.

Watanabe aren't....

chris d · Postby **chris d** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 7:44 pm

http://rotablog.co.uk/blog/?p=4231#more-4231

rotablog.co.uk says that they will only be 15x8in and 4×114.3 bolt pattern.

sliq · Postby **sliq** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 8:23 pm

rota wheels are the best.

comes with the complimentary adjustable offset.

Postby **NitroDann** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 8:33 pm

Mr nanotech · Postby **Mr nanotech** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 10:28 pm

sliq wrote:rota wheels are the best.

comes with the complimentary adjustable offset.

ralt · Postby **ralt** » Wed Jul 27, 2011 10:37 pm

Hi.
A little history lesson is in order.
The style of wheel you are looking at originally was produced in the 1960s by the Cooper racing team in England.
Also during the same time period the Minilite wheel was made available for sale originally in magnesium for racing and magalloy for road use. Compare these wheels with watanabe etc and you will see who has copied what.

Apu · Postby **Apu** » Wed Jul 27, 2011 11:07 pm

Very true. Very popular with Minis of the day, as well as Alfas.

Mr nanotech · Postby **Mr nanotech** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 2:24 am

ralt wrote:Hi.
A little history lesson is in order.
The style of wheel you are looking at originally was produced in the 1960s by the Cooper racing team in England.
Also during the same time period the Minilite wheel was made available for sale originally in magnesium for racing and magalloy for road use. Compare these wheels with watanabe etc and you will see who has copied what.

I think it's fair to assume these are watanabe knock offs. the spoke design is CLEARLY watanabe and the fact that ALL of Rota's wheels are rip offs of REAL wheels.
Wat's were influenced by John Coopers wheels, but wat's changed the lip and spoke design. I mean, you could argue that every 5 spoke wheel with this basic design is a knock off of Cooper minilites... But look at these next to a Watanabe wheel, ffs... Pretty hard to spot the difference on first glance.
Because that's what Rota do! They take something that sells well and copy it so the average person can't tell the difference and goes for the cheaper option...

PaulF · Postby **PaulF** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 2:52 am

I think most people with half an interest in Wat-style wheels know that they are similar to the Minilite design - for many, that's part of the appeal - but Watanabe do have a style in their own right. Just set up two Google Images searches - one for "watanabe wheels" and one for "minilite wheels" - and look at them side-by-side.