18's or 16's?
Former Sponsor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,360
Likes: 453
From: Davie, FL
Howard, what does riding experience have to do with knowledge of ride comfort? I've read many good things about your expertise on these forums but have to call you out on your attitude towards the other posters. In the evo forum a lot of friendly people that try to help others out. That being said, it is the internet and a person would have to be crazy to believe everything they read on the net. It would have been far more respectful to just have posted your facts without taking shots at people. Your reputation of expertise might have been enough to support your facts.
For that matter if my manor of giving correct information and posting actual facts thus dispelling Fact from Fiction, I suggest you never reading another post and kindly move on. Do not call, do not think of purchasing anything from me as I am sure I would not like to enter a relationship with one such as you. Do I make myself clear?
The members who also wish to give answers to a subject that they know nothing about, please do the same. I am trying to get soft here as I do not have a box of tissues to throw at you so I will not say F*ck off and die. Enough said!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 15,705
Likes: 22,718
From: Farmington ,MS
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,193
Likes: 7
From: North Atlanta Area, GA
The posters above stated facts such as * But seriously the have a little less rolling resistance, * If you do not know something than shut the hell up. That is wrong with this site, too many people run their mouth about something they know nothing about. If that is too harsh by posting where you can get correct information, hosting the information on my site for all to see, than I have to ask: What is your problem? Didn't your mother give you enough attention and do you wish to go to Mandy-Pamby land to read up only with people who post with manors and no substance? This makes me sick!
For that matter if my manor of giving correct information and posting actual facts thus dispelling Fact from Fiction, I suggest you never reading another post and kindly move on. Do not call, do not think of purchasing anything from me as I am sure I would not like to enter a relationship with one such as you. Do I make myself clear?
The members who also wish to give answers to a subject that they know nothing about, please do the same. I am trying to get soft here as I do not have a box of tissues to throw at you so I will not say F*ck off and die. Enough said!
For that matter if my manor of giving correct information and posting actual facts thus dispelling Fact from Fiction, I suggest you never reading another post and kindly move on. Do not call, do not think of purchasing anything from me as I am sure I would not like to enter a relationship with one such as you. Do I make myself clear?
The members who also wish to give answers to a subject that they know nothing about, please do the same. I am trying to get soft here as I do not have a box of tissues to throw at you so I will not say F*ck off and die. Enough said!
You're running a bike business, and you thoughtlessly flame potential customers like this on a public forum? Your business must be pretty damn good to be talking to people like that - but I don't care HOW good whatever the hell you sell is - SCREW YOU! Don't worry about my business, because you'll NEVER get any from me. I would NEVER do business with an absolute JERK like you! I hope you go BANKRUPT - you deserve to with a terrible attitude like that.
AND BTW, I believe you meant "manner" (which is a way of doing something) and not "manor" (which is a large house on an estate). You made this mistake twice, so I wasn't a typo. Why you at least go learn the English language before you make an fool out of yourself here again?
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,865
Likes: 168
From: Potsdam, NY
The only one so far that actually knows what he is talking about. All you have to do is read than do not post is you do not know what you are talking about! Read the Metzler tire chart found on my web site;2008 Metzeler Tire Guide PDF Download They have the weights, tread widths, and total height. If any of the above members ever had any real experience (other than kickstart pan) in riding you would have known that the length of the sidewall or lack of, the taller the sidewall the more comfort you will get going over bumps. With a rigid, that is all of the shock you have. When you go to a thinner side wall your ride comfort decreases. The quality of the rubber also plays a part in this. You want to look good at the bar, put on a 18" rear rim and enjoy the degrade of ride comfort all the way back to your house from the bar. Of course if you do not ride enough or do not know the difference, than it really does not matter. The rolling resistance is directly proportional to the compound of the tire, the tire pressure you keep it at (recommended or low), and the width of the tread. That is why those big wide rear wheel choppers use around 1/2 their horsepower turning the wide tread & heavy wheel.
Rolling Resistance - this is a non issue on a motorcycle, the effect of rolling resistance is not significant on a high powered vehicle like a motorcycle. I do agree an overly wide rear tire can contribute handling problems, but it is not from rolling resistance it's from the cross sectional profile and the fact the contact patch moves a significant amount left and right with lean angle. Rolling resistance does not use up 50% of engine power on a motorcycle as you state, wind resistance and weight are both far more significant factors.
Tire Profile (sidewall height) - sidewall height does impact the ride quality on a car tire where profiles can go as low as 30%, but on a motorcycle it is unusual to see a sidewall less than 65%, especially on a front tire. At this sidewall height or greater I would be surprised anyone could detect a difference in bump absorption. The higher the sidewall the more likely the tire is to distort under load on the rim, so there is an optimin sidewall height. This is usually determined by the rim width. A tire manufacturer will produce fitment charts and list the ideal, min and max rim widths for a particular tire. A slightly wider tire will require a slightly greater profile to fit a rim of fixed width.
With two rims of the same width, one 16 and one 18in diam. You will be able to get a wider tire on the 16in rim because of the relationship between profile and width. See tire fitment charts. The bigger the contact patch up front the better the braking and road holding is going to be. One downside though to a reduced diam front wheel (outer diam measured from the tire is all that matters) is it may also reduce ground clearance for cornering.
Last edited by fat_tony; Jan 2, 2011 at 11:50 PM.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,468
Likes: 12
From: Bluffton, South Carolina
The only one so far that actually knows what he is talking about. All you have to do is read than do not post is you do not know what you are talking about! Read the Metzler tire chart found on my web site;2008 Metzeler Tire Guide PDF Download They have the weights, tread widths, and total height. If any of the above members ever had any real experience (other than kickstart pan) in riding you would have known that the length of the sidewall or lack of, the taller the sidewall the more comfort you will get going over bumps. With a rigid, that is all of the shock you have. When you go to a thinner side wall your ride comfort decreases. The quality of the rubber also plays a part in this. You want to look good at the bar, put on a 18" rear rim and enjoy the degrade of ride comfort all the way back to your house from the bar. Of course if you do not ride enough or do not know the difference, than it really does not matter. The rolling resistance is directly proportional to the compound of the tire, the tire pressure you keep it at (recommended or low), and the width of the tread. That is why those big wide rear wheel choppers use around 1/2 their horsepower turning the wide tread & heavy wheel.
One of the problems with doing cyber assistance is in interpretation. When people read and attempt to assist someone they have to take some things for granted. First as the OP stated the rear fender would accept either 16" or 18", so even someone that did not know that they are very similar in overall diameter would have figured it out.Secondly not enough data was given to give difinitve answer.
In the end I told the OP because of his height he coul easily go with the tallest tire, and the difference in performance would be little to none. To look at similar bike with the tire combinations he was looking at, then go with what he liked the best. Now could you tell me where that is/was wrong????
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
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 150
Likes: 0
From: Wisconsin, by God!
I'm sorry that this post kind of took a turn south, that was not my intention. I was simply looking for people's input. I have completed several projects on this bike, ie Ape hanger install, and LED turn signal upgrade, with advice from this forum. After reading the various posts I'll probably stay with the stock rim size and shop around for for the beefiest set of wide whitewalls I can stuff under the Klockwerk fenders. I mean the bike does have the word "Fat" in the name.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,193
Likes: 7
From: North Atlanta Area, GA
I'm sorry that this post kind of took a turn south, that was not my intention. I was simply looking for people's input. I have completed several projects on this bike, ie Ape hanger install, and LED turn signal upgrade, with advice from this forum. After reading the various posts I'll probably stay with the stock rim size and shop around for for the beefiest set of wide whitewalls I can stuff under the Klockwerk fenders. I mean the bike does have the word "Fat" in the name.
Anyway, my sig pic shows my stock-size 16" rims with H-D Dunlop wide whitewalls. They look pretty fat to me. 18" rims would show more rim and spokes, but the 18" tires have a lower profile and are not as fat-looking. I chose to stay with stock 16" rims because, like you, I like the "fat tire" look.
Good luck!