Shovelhead A place to talk about Shovelheads.

Tire and Wheel question

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 19, 2019 | 12:00 PM
  #1  
Timberjkd's Avatar
Timberjkd
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 534
Likes: 85
From: NC
Default Tire and Wheel question

Hey guys I've got a set of really nice sportster wheels and I want to use them on a custom build I'm doing. The sporty has the brake rotor mounting on the left side. My bobber is going to have it on the right. Any reason that I could Not flip the wheel backwards and rotate the new rubber and new rotor? I am trying to avoid having to remove all the spokes and flip the hub. Any cautions to doing this? The wheel will be exactly the way it was stock just backwards with a NEW tire facing forward.
 
Reply
Old Nov 19, 2019 | 12:15 PM
  #2  
hellonewman's Avatar
hellonewman
Seasoned HDF Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 8,055
Likes: 8,080
From: Canada
Default

Dont know about newer stuff but the older bikes the spoke were laced a specific way because of the direction of rotation. That said I think it would work either way because the lace change was a revision like it was an improvement in spoke life not life or death.
 
Reply
Old Nov 19, 2019 | 12:26 PM
  #3  
Timberjkd's Avatar
Timberjkd
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 534
Likes: 85
From: NC
Default

Originally Posted by hellonewman
Dont know about newer stuff but the older bikes the spoke were laced a specific way because of the direction of rotation. That said I think it would work either way because the lace change was a revision like it was an improvement in spoke life not life or death.
Cool. I'm going to try it then. Thanks for the reply. Worse case...I could have it re-laced but just don't want to go through the trouble if not necessary.
 
Reply
Old Nov 19, 2019 | 01:25 PM
  #4  
Racepres's Avatar
Racepres
Seasoned HDF Member
Community Builder
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 8,610
Likes: 3,377
From: Cental, MI
Default

Originally Posted by hellonewman
Dont know about newer stuff but the older bikes the spoke were laced a specific way because of the direction of rotation. That said I think it would work either way because the lace change was a revision like it was an improvement in spoke life not life or death.
Something right there I know nothing of...I still. lace "by the Book".. and when ya talk of Sportster ... I see Ironheads... so my reaction is No...
But I have never been able to tell a naked Mag wheel, Sporty, or Big Twin..

Originally Posted by Timberjkd
Cool. I'm going to try it then. Thanks for the reply. Worse case...I could have it re-laced but just don't want to go through the trouble if not necessary.
Better do it yerself... or the cost will stagger ya... If you can find someone who has already done it
Note... I did Not say someone who Claims they can!
 

Last edited by Racepres; Nov 19, 2019 at 01:28 PM.
Reply
Old Nov 19, 2019 | 02:47 PM
  #5  
hellonewman's Avatar
hellonewman
Seasoned HDF Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 8,055
Likes: 8,080
From: Canada
Default

Originally Posted by Racepres
Something right there I know nothing of...!
....still a true story
 
Reply
Old Nov 19, 2019 | 03:00 PM
  #6  
Timberjkd's Avatar
Timberjkd
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 534
Likes: 85
From: NC
Default

Thanks for the reply. I'm going to run with it. See what happens...
 
Reply
Old Nov 19, 2019 | 03:17 PM
  #7  
Racepres's Avatar
Racepres
Seasoned HDF Member
Community Builder
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 8,610
Likes: 3,377
From: Cental, MI
Default

Originally Posted by hellonewman
....still a true story
So is the BS I see on TV...after all it is TV/ Internet... etc..
Could you please provide documentation...Haven't had a shop in alot of years... so maybe something [everything] happened in the Twinky Years!!!
I am still quite adept at lacing and truing... certainly Shovelhead dual Flange hubs!! and to a slightly lesser extent the cast Hubs!!!
If in your Shovel manual... could you please give the Print date?? Maybe something about the rims or ??? something changed from ??
Thank You
 

Last edited by Racepres; Nov 19, 2019 at 03:20 PM.
Reply
Old Nov 19, 2019 | 04:00 PM
  #8  
hellonewman's Avatar
hellonewman
Seasoned HDF Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 8,055
Likes: 8,080
From: Canada
Default

Originally Posted by Racepres
So is the BS I see on TV...after all it is TV/ Internet... etc..
Could you please provide documentation...Haven't had a shop in alot of years... so maybe something [everything] happened in the Twinky Years!!!
I am still quite adept at lacing and truing... certainly Shovelhead dual Flange hubs!! and to a slightly lesser extent the cast Hubs!!!
If in your Shovel manual... could you please give the Print date?? Maybe something about the rims or ??? something changed from ??
Thank You
Johnjzjz told me back when I was lacing my 66 wheels.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Nov 19, 2019 | 04:05 PM
  #9  
Timberjkd's Avatar
Timberjkd
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 534
Likes: 85
From: NC
Default

Ok...so what is he general consensus? Go for it or definitely have the hub flipped and re-laced?
 
Reply
Old Nov 19, 2019 | 05:00 PM
  #10  
hellonewman's Avatar
hellonewman
Seasoned HDF Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 8,055
Likes: 8,080
From: Canada
Default

Originally Posted by Timberjkd
Ok...so what is he general consensus? Go for it or definitely have the hub flipped and re-laced?
Put it on and go
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:06 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE