My friend "Ol Mule" Gets a Swingarm

[fyrstormer]

Firstly, Thanks for your concern, I'm sure it's genuine and well intentioned.

Yes, I've read that web page before, that's what I referred to when I said "scaremongering".

Well, it's certainly your business what you do, but for what it's worth it's my professional opinion as an engineer that the failure-mode analysis is sound, regardless of its exact likelihood. If one spoke lets go, the rest of them WILL tear off the rim pretty much instantly. Carbon fiber withstands shear loads about as well as glass does. No, I don't think that carbon-fiber wheels are a bad idea as a rule, but this particular design has no ability to withstand failure long enough for the rider to dismount gracefully. You'll note Spinergy changed to a six-spoke design later on, which is much safer.