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Hey guys, brand new to this forum and i need some advise and help. We own a 97 fatboy and have already started modifications to make it a bagger. He wants a 21" fat spoke wheel on the front which is what I need your help with because I want to surprise him. I am going to go with a Heritage fender since I know the stock one will no longer work. Questions.... I'm seeing 21x3.5 21x2.5 for the spokes and so on... Which one is correct? I'm seeing 21" spokes that say they won't fit on our bike. Is that because of the stock fender? I'll need a new whitewall tire as well. Is the size 120/70/21?? Any brands you suggest for michigan driving. lol..He's pretty mechanically inclined but I'd also like to know if any other mods will need to be done for this application so I can have the parts already purchased. Any help would be greatly appreciated!! He's gonna be very happy... especially if I buy all the right parts. Lol.
Here is a before pic of the bike and a cute pic of us.. Awwww lol...
you can get a spacer for the fender...probably will need one even with the heritage fender since it has the same mount height, it may be saying it won't fit because it uses 1" bearings an your 97 has 3/4" bearings...you can get an adapter to use your 3/4" axle on 1" bearings or get bearings that fit the wheel with the 3/4" inside diameter (another way to adapt it).
So get the wheel you want, get the fender spacer an axle adapter. I'm pretty sure the 21"x3.5" is for the wider tire (which is what Id' go with) an the 21x2.5 is for the skinny front tire.
It's a nice thought, but your boyfriend probably wants to choose his own wheel. If he doesn't like what you bought he might be too nice to say anything, and then might not enjoy it.
If you do buy it, let us know how it works out.
If you really want to surprise him meet him at the door in nothing but a nice pair of as*less chaps and then go look at wheels together later, much later .... Lol
Ron750 ang gd59 both have very good points although 59's idea is a great way to start shopping for a wheel. Three choices with big spokes,DNA,Ultima King Spoke and Ride Wright wheels. DNA can be hit or miss on quality and availability at times. Definitely 3.5" rim with a 120 tire. Brand is wide open,everyone has a personal favorite. I would match rear brand if your not changing the rear at this time.
Spacers are dependent upon hub width. Wherever you buy the wheel from they should be able to provide you with hub width. Come to think of it each manufacturers website should give you that info.
There's a ton of fenders online to choose from so sit back and click to find the one he might like . Heritage fenders come in a lot of different styles. Does he want one that he can mount himself to get it to hug the tire or one that's pre drilled and doesn't fit as tight?
I still think gd59 has the right idea though.
If you really want to surprise him meet him at the door in nothing but a nice pair of as*less chaps and then go look at wheels together later, much later .... Lol
A thinner wheel will be less stable. For example, hitting a crack in the pavement will make a thinner wheel want to track with the crack or any other imperfections as opposed to a fatter wheel. Fatter wheels (depending on the tire profile as well) will have less turn in ability compared to a thinner wheel.
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Girlfriend needs some help surprising boyfriend..
