2014-2024 Touring Models This Section Is For Rushmore and Gen 1 M8 Touring models from 2014 to 2024
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Road King Standard model year wheel size changes?

Old Sep 7, 2023 | 06:47 PM
  #1  
Jet Peddler's Avatar
Jet Peddler
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 132
Likes: 90
From: Home of the Alamo
Default Road King Standard model year wheel size changes?

I just noticed that my new-to-me 2019 Road King Standard appears to have smaller wheels than later year stock RKS models.

If so, when did the changes occur, to what sizes and what was Harley's reasoning?

If not, then I'm probably just drunk.

TIA
 
Reply
Old Sep 8, 2023 | 05:55 PM
  #2  
Jet Peddler's Avatar
Jet Peddler
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 132
Likes: 90
From: Home of the Alamo
Default

With a little research I've been able to answer my own question by searching through the HD media kit site (what made it tough is that many third-paty websites that specs are FREQUENTLY inaccurate).

Anyhow, the Road King Standard has a 17" front wheel and a 16" rear wheel until 2020. In 2021, both the front and rear wheels were increased to 18".

Wondering why this was done, especially when the bike was discontinued only one model year later.
 
Reply
Old Sep 8, 2023 | 08:18 PM
  #3  
Hulkss's Avatar
Hulkss
HDF Community Team
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 2,360
Likes: 2,319
From: Wisconsin
Community Team
Default

The 16/17 wheel set provides the best ride and handling. The 18/18 set was done to satisfy customer preference for the appearance of low profile tires and larger diameter wheels. The rolling radius is nearly identical.
 
Reply
Old Sep 8, 2023 | 11:11 PM
  #4  
Jet Peddler's Avatar
Jet Peddler
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 132
Likes: 90
From: Home of the Alamo
Default

Originally Posted by Hulkss
The 16/17 wheel set provides the best ride and handling. The 18/18 set was done to satisfy customer preference for the appearance of low profile tires and larger diameter wheels. The rolling radius is nearly identical.
Thanks for this!!
 
Reply
Old Sep 9, 2023 | 08:31 AM
  #5  
Jet Peddler's Avatar
Jet Peddler
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 132
Likes: 90
From: Home of the Alamo
Default

Originally Posted by Hulkss
The 16/17 wheel set provides the best ride and handling. The 18/18 set was done to satisfy customer preference for the appearance of low profile tires and larger diameter wheels. The rolling radius is nearly identical.
Glad to learn I’ve got the better of the two configurations! Thanks again!
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Cootey
2014-2024 Touring Models
1
Apr 28, 2023 10:57 AM
Enfd56
Touring Models
3
Jun 3, 2022 10:30 AM
UltraV
Touring Models
8
Jul 16, 2021 10:42 AM
trainedkilla
Touring Models
5
Feb 6, 2021 09:23 AM
Wheelup
Touring Models
1
Oct 16, 2020 08:05 AM


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:51 AM.

story-0
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-4
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-5
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-6
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE
story-9
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE