Calling all past and present banjo wheel owners!

I'll let you know after I install mine on Monday. I couldn't get over the look either and I like the nostalgic thing about it. My existing and very comfortable wheel is 13 5/8" od and the new one is 15 5/8" so I will lose an inch of space. I've got skinny legs though and will have no trouble jumping in when the top is down. There'll be some cursing when the top is up.

DJ

I bought my first tub used, it had a Nardi, I changed it for a Banjo....

never had any regrets, thing is, if your tub looks basically like an original, then the Banjo fits better, if it looks rather racey, then the Nardi would be more appropriate.

Mine was also Ivory with tan interior...IMHO......

I had a Nardi on my first tub.  My second tub came with a Nardi and I recently swapped it out for a banjo, I prefer the look.  Yes it does have flex to it but I don't find it very noticeable. Also, your car is ivory like mine.  I like how the wheel matches the paint.

Tim

I had both on my Beck.  Started with a Nardi & switched to an ivory banjo wheel.  I like the look of the banjo better than the Nardi.  However, if you plan on aggressive driving, autocrossing, etc.  You should stay with the Nardi.  It's smaller and stiffer.  I only noticed flex with the banjo wheel when I drove the car hard. The banjo wheel also sits between your legs where the Nardi sits above you legs.

Got my horn button from Sierra Madre. There a few other vendors that carry them as well.  They are not cheap however.  I think it was around 150 or so but well worth imho.  It is likely the same one you have been seeing. 

Tim

That is high.. 

Looks like there is one available from ISP at $150:

http://www.vwispwest.com/ST64434782101.html 

Never heard of these guys but also at $150:

http://www.piersideparts.net/ISPST64434782101.html

tdrimer,

Did you tend to drive pretty hard? I have decided to go with the banjo wheel.  Worst case scenario, I guess, is that I swap it for a Nardi if I am unhappy.  Til then, It will look beautiful.

That's good to hear.  I recently sold an 01' Boxster S that I frequently tracked.  No plans to drive the Speedster with that sort of aggression.  More of a cruising vehicle.

Got mine installed today and out for a short ride. I like it !

Fantastic! Is the leg room drastically different? I have driven a Nardi and was fine.

Diameter is everything in this switch. The Banjo wheel is 15 5/8" diameter. Leg room will suffer varying amounts depending on the diameter of the existing wheel.

On a longer drive yesterday I discovered you can almost eliminate the flex by pushing the three steel spoke bars farther towards the hub. Another bonus now is with the larger diameter of the banjo wheel I can see my speedo and tach much better. I can also rest the heel of my left hand on my left leg and still have a grip on the wheel. I'm liking it.

That's good to hear. I take delivery of my Speedster in less than 48 hours. I am Psyched!!

That is awesome to hear Dave, you need to post pictures of your new ride. Are you heading to Bremen or are they delivering to you. Your car was just out of paint when I picked mine up in May. I have more than doubled the miles since then. 

I have a Banjo wheel on my SAS speedster and it looks soooo good. It doesn't feel flimsy at all.

I love the look and feel of my Banjo, but it is more flexible than a banjo string..ll borderline dangerous.... I don't know if I want to know if there is even a structurale steel circle in it or if the spokes just go into an acrylic circle!

I went with a Derrington wheel in my car.  Looks sportier than the Nardi, and these were an aftermarket product for real Speedsters back in the 1950's.

For you folks who have semi-flimsy banjo wheels, have you tried tightening the tension on the wires?  There should be a metal bar with each set of wires running through it.  Gently tap those bars toward the center of the wheel and the whole shebang gets stiffer.

Thanks for the tip, Gordon.  I will give it a try tonight!

I like the look and the feel of mine!

I have 2 of them both from Mooneyes. one came with the unbuilt VS the other is in my super beetle.. No complaints here

I'd call that unsafe flex.

That looks terrible. I think ill stick with my Nardi. The Banjos look so cool though!

My banjo flexes but not nearly like that! It does stiffen up a bit by moving the sliding "frets" toward the center hub.

Giday, Keith. Have you tried to slide those bars closer to the hub to tighten things up ? I doubt there's a steel ring inside the circle. On the video I notice a slight clicking sound when you flex the wheel and I have a bit of that too. Upon closer inspection can you see movement where the bars enter the hub when you flex the wheel ? I had some and sliding the bars towards the hub cured that. A more permanent fix might be to inject some epoxy into the holes where the rods enter the hub, then slide the bars further towards the hub and let things cure. I didn't have to do that but maybe you will ?

Sounds prudent to me. Just make sure you describe it on eBay as a decorative, wall item.