wheel choice opinion
Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,062
Likes: 4,547
From: Haslet Texas
A fat spoke will go with just about anything...
That Switchback would look very good as well......
There is nothing wrong with sealed bearings. Like anything else, if you do your normal maintenance you shouldn't have any issue's... 3 years and 16k now on my FatBoy.....
I also hear 19" is about the most you want on the front before you start to give up on handling....
That Switchback would look very good as well......
There is nothing wrong with sealed bearings. Like anything else, if you do your normal maintenance you shouldn't have any issue's... 3 years and 16k now on my FatBoy.....
I also hear 19" is about the most you want on the front before you start to give up on handling....
My FXSTC has a 21" wheel and I haven't noticed any reduction in handling.
I grant you that skinny tire seems to follow road grooves more than my Heritage but in the twisties it's great. YMMV
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
Yup. My current Firebolt wore out all it's sealed wheel bearings in no time - I had to replace them along with the worn-out stock tyres it came with, but later ones have proved fine so far. They are widely available, I got mine from my local Yamaha dealer!
Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,062
Likes: 4,547
From: Haslet Texas
That wouldn't have helped my friends wife out much when her front wheel bearings went out at 1.5k miles.
Y'all can keep your sealed bearings and I'll keep my tapered ones.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
With tapered bearings we can pull them apart and regrease them. There are those who think that extends their service life, which is debatable! The sealed bearing problem of a few years ago seems to have been solved, simply by using decent quality bearings. I didn't replace Buttercup's bearings when fitting the next new tyre recently.
are some members who suggest they can be serviced, but frankly that is
Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,062
Likes: 4,547
From: Haslet Texas
No I didn't suggest replacing bearings and tyres at the same time. There was a short period a few years ago when Harley bought crap bearings, which my Buell and quite probably your friend suffered from. Servicing them is replacing them when they wear out, same as with tapered bearings.
With tapered bearings we can pull them apart and regrease them. There are those who think that extends their service life, which is debatable! The sealed bearing problem of a few years ago seems to have been solved, simply by using decent quality bearings. I didn't replace Buttercup's bearings when fitting the next new tyre recently.
are some members who suggest they can be serviced, but frankly that is
With tapered bearings we can pull them apart and regrease them. There are those who think that extends their service life, which is debatable! The sealed bearing problem of a few years ago seems to have been solved, simply by using decent quality bearings. I didn't replace Buttercup's bearings when fitting the next new tyre recently.
are some members who suggest they can be serviced, but frankly that is
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
Ooops! Should have deleted it, having reworded it in the para above.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,830
Likes: 302
From: Lorain Ohio
I've never had a problem with sealed bearings...Don't pressure wash the bike an avoid spraying directly at them on full stream is the only thing I've ever heard about them. I've heard of some guys that ride in heavy rain putting a layer of marine grease over them every year.
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