Curious whats involved in running a wider tire on a chain drive wide glide? More specifically what is done with regards to the primary / transmission to move the chain over or do people just switch to a belt? I understand the swing arm isn't wide enough, the obvious stuff is easy.

Im asking because I like this 82 wide glide I have but the reality is a stock bike like this just lacks in a lot of ways and originality isn't a factor for me. I know the purists might cringe but the build is half the fun! I took my road king apart and built it the way I wanted it, sold all the original parts, I love it and Ill never sell it but its done now. This shovel head would fall into that category, a keeper, a bike I build to suit and my kids will end up with it when I croak.

 

With everything OEM I believe you can go up to 150 with a chain.
Anything wider you probably need an open primary with offset kid... can't remember, I have not cared for wider tires for 10 years... I don't remember what was available at the time
anyway... I don't think that a belt would help in any way.

 

Im not trying to put a 300 tire on it, a 180 would be nice though. Ill keep digging, thanks.

 

You'll spend a pile of money and aggravation just to bump up to a 180. You got a nice Shovel, appreciate it for what it is. No purist here, but that's one idea I would suggest you forget about.

 

You can get a fat tire kit with every thing you need except the swingarm...for a 180 tire you will need a 1/2- 3/4 offset.

The more you offset, keeping the kicker will become a problem..you can get longer kicker shafts.


http://vulcanworks.net/store/Fat-Tire-Kits/

 

Don't forget fender, struts and mounts. Possibly wider rim depending on tire.


Check this:


http://www.cas4.com/Wide-Tire/Shovel...80-1980-FX.htm

 

You are correct but the OP said

 

A 150 should clear and will look a lot different... I would try that before making major mods.....

 

....the obvious stuff is easy.




Lol, that's true. I just wasn't sure what he thought was "obvious".

 

Thanks again for the input. I did find the CAS4 site last night. Just gathering information that Ill let it roll around in my head for a while then Ill pick a path. I wont hack the bike up. I do like the looks of these two though. I see he put a solid rod in place of the rear shock on the silver bike. They both look cool in their own way.