Big Wheel Harley Bikes: Love ‘Em or Hate ‘Em?
Few topics stir up as much controversy as the big front wheeled Harley movement. Here’s what our members think about them!
The Harley world is full of various styles, and it always has been. Some, like choppers, are simply timeless and universally loved. Others, like the big-wheeled bagger movement, well, not so much. In fact, it’s hard to think of one particular style of custom bike that’s more loathed at the moment. And yet, lots of people love the look. Harley-Davidson Forums member Mattbastard falls into the former camp. Thus, he decided to poke the hornets nest by starting this thread, which has predictably blown up in recent days.
“Huge front wheels. Am I the only one who thinks this trend in the custom chopper world is just asinine? Reminds me of those big wheels I had when I was young that I used to run my little sister down with.”
Of course, he isn’t the only one who feels this way. Not by a long shot.
“It is a fad that silly people will jump on,” said Kingglide549. “Some have to go with every trend that comes along as they have no clue. This does make a LOT of parts cheap and available as far as take-offs. But the eventuality is this – someone at some point will convert it back to a bike that works.”
LoneBone, however, points out that big front wheels aren’t exactly anything new in the Harley world. Even though the front and rear wheels were the same size back in that time.
“I don’t do big wheels either. But how many know their Harley history? Antique Harley’s, I’m talking over 100 yrs ago, had 26″ and 28″ wheels. Just saying.”
Keithhu, on the other hand, belongs in the “ride what you like” category.
“I don’t like a lot of things, but I also don’t need to wonder about it publicly. I just assume that people that have them like them. And therefore, it’s not worth further thought. Strange what occupies people’s minds.”
And Cosmic Razorback just chooses to enjoy big wheeled Harley bikes for all the right reasons.
“Go ahead and call me crazy, but I have learned to embrace these fades. The big wheel deal is not for me. But I really like looking at them and appreciate the creativity and engineering that go into them. Obviously, there are a lot of folks willing to spend their hard earned money on them. And it has created quite the industry. That is always a cool thing.
I’m 60 years old now and I loved choppers back in the day. I really loved the custom air brushed vans. Yes, I like air shocks on the back of cars to lift them. Low riders were not for me, but my son was crazy about them, then he got into tuner cars. Next we saw drift cars and history repeats itself and muscle cars are back in a BIG way.
We all have our likes and dislikes and our opinions. But at the end of the day, life would be very boring if people did not push the limits, were not creative, and willing to spend their money on what excites them.”
Which is an excellent point, really. But it’s pretty clear that few topics stir up stronger opinions than slapping giant wheels on the front of a Harley. So we want to know what you think. Head over here and tell us if you hate the big wheel movement, love it, or just lie somewhere in between!
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