WG With Wider Wheel--Super Stable?
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
WG With Wider Wheel--Super Stable?
The rake on Wide Glides makes them stable, which is reduced by the stock 2.15 front wheel. I know that a 3.25 or 3.50 wheel will make the ride smoother but I'd like to know how a WG with that wider wheel compares to HD touring bikes at 100+ mph.
Tourer
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 465
Likes: 2
From: Beaverton, OR
Why on earth would you take a raked out bike over 100mph for any period of time? The pizza cutter 21 on WG is a rut follower. You can fix this by increasing the width of the tire you run to like a 90 or 100. Other than that you are looking at a smaller wider wheel.
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
A "raked out bike" is usually the best bike to take over 100 mph because it usually has higher "trail", which is the main determinant of high speed stability. Reducing the front wheel diameter would reduce trail, which would reduce stability.
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
In looking at specs for 2010 Harleys I see that the trail for touring models is 6.69 while it is 5.8 for Softails and only 5.2 for Wide Glides. That makes me seriously question the relative hih-speed stability of Wide Glides. Any engineers here who will clarify the matter?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,217
Likes: 90
From: Detroit
The Breakout softail has about the same rake as a Wide Glide, comes stock with 130/60/21 inch tire, and they drive and handle fine. You shouldn't have any problem with the wider wheel and tire. I plan to lace up a wider wheel to my WideGlide sometime soon, maybe a 3.25 inch so I can run that 130 tire.
You're limited on tire choices on the 21" wheel. There's not much in between the 90 tire and the 130 wide tire.
My Rocker has about 35 degrees rake, and it's fine over 100 mph.
Take the specs you read on the WideGlide with a grain of salt though. I think different years have varying amounts of rake in the trees. Some specs list it and work that into the trail numbers, and some don't. However much trail you actually have, I don't see any downside going to a wider wheel and tire.
Edit:
Sportbikes can be really low on rake and trail, and still handle fine at 160 mph or so, so I (personally) wouldn't worry about the low 5.2 trail number you read for the 2010 WideGlide, even if it turns out to be accurate.
You're limited on tire choices on the 21" wheel. There's not much in between the 90 tire and the 130 wide tire.
My Rocker has about 35 degrees rake, and it's fine over 100 mph.
Take the specs you read on the WideGlide with a grain of salt though. I think different years have varying amounts of rake in the trees. Some specs list it and work that into the trail numbers, and some don't. However much trail you actually have, I don't see any downside going to a wider wheel and tire.
Edit:
Sportbikes can be really low on rake and trail, and still handle fine at 160 mph or so, so I (personally) wouldn't worry about the low 5.2 trail number you read for the 2010 WideGlide, even if it turns out to be accurate.
Last edited by Warp Factor; Aug 3, 2013 at 06:25 AM.
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
From: California
Yeah I wanna do the 130 on min eventually as well.But alas the list of **** I wanna do to my bike is always long,and that's at the bottom.Aint nothing like breaking 110 mph on a wideglide with 16" apes and a pizza cutter up front! Kinda makes u feel alive...in a butt puckering kinda way!
Trending Topics
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 996
Likes: 0
From: Surprise, AZ
Yeah I wanna do the 130 on min eventually as well.But alas the list of **** I wanna do to my bike is always long,and that's at the bottom.Aint nothing like breaking 110 mph on a wideglide with 16" apes and a pizza cutter up front! Kinda makes u feel alive...in a butt puckering kinda way!
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
dobro, the c of g on a Touring bike is higher off the ground than a WG, also it has a higher designed max gross weight. So don't allow yourself to be distracted by trail and such stuff!
To fit a wider tyre than 100 you will also have to fit a wider rim, however that can be done using your current hub, so there is no need to buy a new wheel, unless that is what you prefer.
To fit a wider tyre than 100 you will also have to fit a wider rim, however that can be done using your current hub, so there is no need to buy a new wheel, unless that is what you prefer.
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
grbrown, thank you. I appreciate your observation that the touring models' higher center of gravity makes it relatively more unstable than a WG but I don't understand why more weight would also have that effect (if you are proposing that it does).