wider tire for nighttrain

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May 20, 2007 | 02:34 PM

#11

chopperhead2

Cruiser

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 127

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From: Carmichael CA

RE: wider tire for nighttrain

Quote:

ORIGINAL: nitetrain

Chopperhead2,

I've been looking at that same kit for a year now. How is it to install, pretty straight foward, and is there any cutting required?

there is no cutting the frame required. I honestly can`t remember if we used a 180 or 200. I did`nt install the actual kit but the shop foreman did and his stall was next to mine soI was always checking it out. we did a Dyna at the same time andI think that one got a 200. From memory, it comes with a shorter belt so you push the wheel forward to get some extra room. The it came with a fender that mounted to the outside of the original struts. I seem to remember having to helicoil the fender strut holes to use them and threaded mounting holes instead of using a bolt and a nut. We used the stock swingarm and brake caliper, don`t remember having to modify the caliper. one thing I did`nt like was we used a fender that was shaped similar to the stock fatboy fenderand the radius was wrong and made the wheel look like it was too far back even though it wasn`t. I liked the dyna kit better.

May 20, 2007 | 02:45 PM

#12

chopperhead2

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Joined: May 2007

Posts: 127

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From: Carmichael CA

RE: wider tire for nighttrain

ok guys, I just wnet to the DM customs site to try to find some pics for you guys. I could`nt find the kit we used. this was about 3yrs ago, they might not make that kit anymore. The only kitsI found were for a 200 tire which does require frame cutting and thinking about it more, I think we went with the 180 tire but i know for a fact we did`nt cut the frame. The manager did`nt want any liability isses.

May 20, 2007 | 05:47 PM

#13

chops

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Joined: Jan 2006

Posts: 432

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From: Fort Lauderdale FL

RE: wider tire for nighttrain

FYI Guys,

On pre 07 Fatboy frames, 160 is the widest you can go without cutting the strut horns. Period.

Look atthe picture from my shop. The cut off horns are visible at the top of the tire, and you see the width of the 200.

May 20, 2007 | 06:45 PM

#14

chopperhead2

Cruiser

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 127

Likes: 0

From: Carmichael CA

RE: wider tire for nighttrain

Quote:

ORIGINAL: chops

FYI Guys,

On pre 07 Fatboy frames, 160 is the widest you can go without cutting the strut horns. Period.

Look atthe picture from my shop. The cut off horns are visible at the top of the tire, and you see the width of the 200.

I have to disagree because my old shop did it to a 2004 fatboy. you are also running the stock HD belt. The DM customs kit uses a shorter belt to get the wheel as forward as possible. With a stock length belt the kit would not have worked. It was a Harley Davidson dealer and the manager wanted no liability issues with cutting the frame on a brand new bike so we went with the 180 kit. I`ll contact DM customs and see if that kit is still available and post any info they give me.

May 20, 2007 | 06:51 PM

#15

chopperhead2

Cruiser

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 127

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From: Carmichael CA

RE: wider tire for nighttrain

I emailed DM customs and I`ll post their reply. In the mean time, this is from their FAQ page.

Tires Depending on model and year certain tires can only be used. Example 1986-Present softails (except deuce) can only run Avon 180/55X18â€ tires without mods, may run 200 but you "MUST" remove fender horns. Deuce can run up to 200 mm tires. Dynaâ€™s 1990-2001 can only run Avon 180/55X18â€ tires 2002â€™ to present can run Avon 200/55X18â€ tires.

May 20, 2007 | 08:11 PM

#16

chops

Tourer

Joined: Jan 2006

Posts: 432

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From: Fort Lauderdale FL

RE: wider tire for nighttrain

Anthony you'll denote I'm referring to Fatboys.

The strut horns (which really aren't part of the frame) are variably 7.250" apart. By dropping the fender down into that, you wind up with ~7" working space for the tire andthat doesn't even include strut bolts.

A 160 tire is 6.272" wide.
A 180 tire is 7.056" wide.
A 200 tire is 7.84" wide.

You did notsqueeze a tire that is 7.056" wide in an area that has a working space of 7".

Maybe it was a 160?

As liability goes, the minute you start modifying and adding kits- your pockets are wide open whether you cut horns or not.

Belt lengths have no bearing on outcome. The space between the horns are a fixed value whether you move the tire to either extreme of the axle adjustments.

May 20, 2007 | 08:24 PM

#17

chopperhead2

Cruiser

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 127

Likes: 0

From: Carmichael CA

RE: wider tire for nighttrain

Quote:

ORIGINAL: chops

Anthony you'll denote I'm referring to Fatboys.

The strut horns (which really aren't part of the frame) are variably 7.250" apart. By dropping the fender down into that, you wind up with ~7" working space for the tire andthat doesn't even include strut bolts.

A 160 tire is 6.272" wide.
A 180 tire is 7.056" wide.
A 200 tire is 7.84" wide.

You did notsqueeze a tire that is 7.056" wide in an area that has a working space of 7".

Maybe it was a 160?

As liability goes, the minute you start modifying and adding kits- your pockets are wide open whether you cut horns or not.

Belt lengths have no bearing on outcome. The space between the horns are a fixed value whether you move the tire to either extreme of the axle adjustments.

Nope, was definatly a 180. definatly was not a 160. Like I said, it was about 3 yrs ago andI did`nt work on it personally but the wheel was moved forward per instructions from DM Customs. Are your measurments for a 16" tire or 18" tire? That will make a difference. I don`t know any of the measurments but I assure you, we did install a 180 on a 2004 Fatboy without cutting the frame. I agree with you about the liability once you star modifying stuff but with this kit all we really modified was changing the wheel, rear fender and drive belt. I`ll try to get in contact with someone from my old shop who was there at the time and see if they remember anything about it but most of the guys have moved on. I`ll probably hear from DM customs sometime this week.

May 20, 2007 | 08:26 PM

#18

chopperhead2

Cruiser

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 127

Likes: 0

From: Carmichael CA

RE: wider tire for nighttrain

one more thingI wanted to add, the fender bolted to the outside of the fender strut and the chrome struts were eliminated leaving only the original frame horns which don`t go all the way back like they did on earlier bikes.

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May 20, 2007 | 08:41 PM

#19

jimb

Road Master

Joined: May 2006

Posts: 764

Likes: 0

RE: wider tire for nighttrain

Remember that not all tires that say they are a 180 are actually 180mm.Different manufacturers tire tire width can vary.Call Hogpro and tell them you want a 180 kit with a Metzeler and they will tell you it won't fit, you have to use an Avon 180.In an earlier post someone said a 180 is 7.056 inches wide.I'll guarantee all of them are.