It seems the rear wheel on my '02 FXDWG has about had it. About 2 months ago I had significant problems with the spokes coming loose so I took it in to my indy and had the wheel trued and the spokes adjusted. This past weekend, after about 3k more miles since the last adjustment, I felt the bike start to wobble in the corners again and checked and found 1 of the spokes in the rear wheel broken and two other ones loose. My indy told me that if I continued to have problems with the spokes it would be best to replace the entire wheel since getting it completely relaced doesn't make much sense. The wheels have some pitting after 10+ years and my indy told me that sometimes the wheels will rust from behind the spokes, which will cause the spokes to continually loosen.

I need to get this fixed in the next week or so, since my girl and I are heading on a trip on the Wide Glide starting next Thursday.

When this first happened a few months ago, I was hoping to prolong my wheel issue into the winter but it doesn't look like that's gonna happen.

I'm torn on what to do. Do I try to repair the wheel again? Do I just buy another new 40 spoke stock type rear wheel? Go for a new front and rear 80 spoke or similar? Get some FAT spokes front and rear?

Anyone have experience with DNA wheels? I like their fat spoke wheel and it seems to be reasonably priced. I'm just not sure I'd be able to get them in time.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Pics of the bike should be attached...

 

Personally, that is why I bought new wheels that were not spoked as I did not want to deal with this issue. I've had zero problems with the "mag"-type wheels that I purchased (5+ years) for my '97.

 

Since by buddy has a tire changer, I take the wheels to him & we swap the tires. I was floored of the wheels condition behind the tire. I started looking at other rear wheel options, and found a 00-06 FatBoy solid wheel would be a direct fit. So that's the direction I went. Found a set of 03 take-offs on Craigslist for $100, installed the rear on my WG and sold the front wheel on Ebay.

 

Excellent advice! Will the bearings and spacers move directly from the Wide Glide to the Fat Boy wheel?

Off to see if I can find a used 00-06 Fat Boy rear wheel. I've never been a fan of the solid disc look, but I'm even less of a fan of failing spokes.

 

sonds to me lke the spokes are shot not the wheel, if one spoke snapped it was prob over tq'd when trueing the wheel or the spoke was just old and rusted... i would personally just toss some new spokes in and call it a day... is the inner ring all rusted up? if so you can always blast them prior to lacing and/or powder coat the whole wheel

 

I too have the mag wheels. Easier to deal with, but I do think spoke style look better. (OEM wheels, not aftermarket)

 

I'd get mags, but that's me and I work at a wheel shop. DNA you get what you get. We don't sell them. They proved to be too much of a hassle and consistency was not what we would have liked.

If I were going on a trip, I'd want a sold rim after having that issue twice just for peace of mind.

 

Hey man I'm in Wausau. I'll give you the 17" rear wheel from my '07 wide glide it if will fit your bike. The bearings are less than a year old and it has a 2 month old tube -- you just need new rubber for it. You have to figure out a way to get the wheel to you. If that means you pick it up or pay for shipping -- your choice.

I've had it on craigslist for awhile with no takers so screw it if it'll help you out you can have it.

 

The wide glide wheel has 1" bearings whereas the 02 has 3/4". Might have to swap bearings and the crush tube on that.

 

Yeah, I could get it relaced / cleaned up / re-chromed and have basically a brand new wheel, but it would most likley end up being cheaper to just get a new wheel. I'm not sure if the inner ring is all rusted up, but by the way the spokes have been behaving, I'm guessing it probably is. Thanks for the idea tho!

Good Point! If the wheel is coming apart doing mostly two up riding, I hate to think what will happen when I throw the bags and tour pack on!

Thanks for your generous offer! My wheels are 16", so I would need to get a new tire, too, and my current rear has over 50% left. Are these the black powder coated rims or chrome on an 07?

Looks like I would have to swap out the bearings and spacers, too, to get it to work.