This bike is calling me ...

[Ray]

I’ve heard it the other way around. That the spoked wheels are stronger although I don’t know about being lighter. The cast wheels are definitely easier to clean.

Right - I oversimplify to justify my preference.

Expensive cast wheels will be lighter than anything spoked. Since spoked wheels still require some labor costs, no fair comparing them to el-cheapo cast wheels.

Spoked - yes, stronger in the sense of spring bamboo - flex and give - bend but not break - as opposed to the stiffer cast wheels. (Cast wheels are generally stronger in the sense of less bendable.) On the other hand, if one rides the bike at speed on pavement (I mean, no one on a GS would do that, would they?), then one doesn't welcome the extra flex and weight.

Also - if one manages to break a spoke..., then replacement on the trail is possible.

As an engineer - you can picture the weight on the hub hanging by the nipples attached to 2-3 wire spokes from the top of the rim. As a rider, I would personally like to see that 2-3 hundred pounds hanging from a more substantial amount of metal, even for off road touring. (Yes I know, some of the new tubeless wheel designs have the nipples attached to relatively large, reinforced surface areas on the rim....)

Don't get me wrong, if I ever again have the chance to thrash a lightweight 450 CC motocross bike through some riffs and bumps, I'll ride densely and heavily spoked wheels. I simply don't see their advantage on a superheavy "adventure bike" where the biggest off-road wheel stress is bunny hopping a log.

(By the way, I agree with those who like the paint job.)