Fatboy wheel question..?
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Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2005
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Fatboy wheel question..?
I've had some people tell me that since the fatboy has solid disc wheels it tends to be less stable in a situation with high winds. I've been told that it can be hard to control at times. Is this true?
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 194
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From: Gold Coast, Australia.
RE: Fatboy wheel question..?
I have heard the same. A couple of days ago I bought a 03 Heritage with Fatboy wheels, guards and bars. I have ridden about 500ks since I have had it and compared to my 01 standard I can't notice any differance at all and I rode it with very strong cross winds. They both tend to move a bit in gusty cross winds but not to the extremes where you would say the solid wheels are worse.
If you had a spoked wheel spinning doing 60mph the wind velocity around that wheel would be like you had a solid wheel anyway. Imagine if it was spinning jacked up stationary and you set a high speed fan up, do you think you could blow air through that wheel while it was spinning? I don't think so....well that's my theory anyway. Plus I couldn't imagine HD selling a bike that would be unstable in a cross wind.
I would imagine like HDs service book they would have plastered all over the bike... "If you ride this bike in a cross wind it could cause serious injury or death".....
If you had a spoked wheel spinning doing 60mph the wind velocity around that wheel would be like you had a solid wheel anyway. Imagine if it was spinning jacked up stationary and you set a high speed fan up, do you think you could blow air through that wheel while it was spinning? I don't think so....well that's my theory anyway. Plus I couldn't imagine HD selling a bike that would be unstable in a cross wind.
I would imagine like HDs service book they would have plastered all over the bike... "If you ride this bike in a cross wind it could cause serious injury or death".....
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,650
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From:
RE: Fatboy wheel question..?
This is a very common topic.... You'll get lots of different opinions. Here's mine:
I must be crazy cause I'm one of those that felt a big change when I put a spoke wheel in place of my solid Fat Boy wheel.
So as a test my buddy and I went out - him on his H-Classic; me on my Fat Boy with a solid front wheel. We traded back and forth, and both felt a noticeable difference on the same hwy at the same time....
As far as a spoke being solid at 60mph - I don't agree at all. Next time you're doing 60mph take a look
at the shadow of your spoke wheel on the ground - it's completely transparent - not solid at all.
I don't think wind will easily pass straight through - but it will cut through at certain angles....
Any how. All that aside - I noticed a real change my self. I kept a solid in the back and a spoke up front.
here's a pict
http://www.westbrookadvertising.com/Carls-Bike-2.jpg
I must be crazy cause I'm one of those that felt a big change when I put a spoke wheel in place of my solid Fat Boy wheel.
So as a test my buddy and I went out - him on his H-Classic; me on my Fat Boy with a solid front wheel. We traded back and forth, and both felt a noticeable difference on the same hwy at the same time....
As far as a spoke being solid at 60mph - I don't agree at all. Next time you're doing 60mph take a look
at the shadow of your spoke wheel on the ground - it's completely transparent - not solid at all.
I don't think wind will easily pass straight through - but it will cut through at certain angles....
Any how. All that aside - I noticed a real change my self. I kept a solid in the back and a spoke up front.
here's a pict
http://www.westbrookadvertising.com/Carls-Bike-2.jpg
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 227
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From:
RE: Fatboy wheel question..?
With a solid front wheel on my 03 FB, the bike was greatly effected by cross winds and turbulence from other vehicles. The front end never seemed like it was planted. It was hard for me to confidently ride above 55 mph as the front end felt squirelly. I read every post on this forum about this subject and finally decided to find out for myself. I kept watching Ebay for a open mag or laced front wheel. I finally found a brand new "take off" laced front wheel and tire off an 05 Heritage being sold by a dealer in Ca.. I was able to buy it for $247.50 and it was the best money I have spent on the bike. I can now run 70 mph with confidence. The front end is connected to the road. Turbulence is not a factor. I have hard leather bags and the shotgun exhaust so you can't see my rear wheel much anyway so the difference in looks of the 2 wheels is not a factor. For 06, HD now offers the laced wheel as an option on a FB.
I have never heard of a Heritage or Deluxe rider complain and they are the same bikes but with laced wheels. When I ride down the road and see my shadow, the front laced wheel is open. I will never have a solid wheel on any bike again.
I have never heard of a Heritage or Deluxe rider complain and they are the same bikes but with laced wheels. When I ride down the road and see my shadow, the front laced wheel is open. I will never have a solid wheel on any bike again.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,380
Likes: 3
From: NC
RE: Fatboy wheel question..?
Here ya go.. I found an older thread about that subject...
https://www.hdforums.com/m_79807/mpa...Cwheels/tm.htm
I think the consensus is that it's noticeable but my own opinion is it's manageable.. Having owned two Harleys with solid fatty wheels.
I wouldn't call it a "stability issue" persay, but rather that the wheels are just more sensitive to crosswinds than open or spoke.. Given enough crosswinds though and all bikes are a pain to keep in a straight line. I would not let it keep me from owning a fatboy though if that was the bike I was after.. Heck, it's the cool solid wheels that always kind of defined the fatboy.. to me anyway. I still remember where I was, the time of day, the color of the bike and the year when I saw my first one.. Walking up wall street, 1990, and it was the original silver fatboy. Coolest scoot I'd ever seen.
Now everybody and their brother's got one.. [:@] Oh well, sales volume numbers speak volumes. [8D]
https://www.hdforums.com/m_79807/mpa...Cwheels/tm.htm
I think the consensus is that it's noticeable but my own opinion is it's manageable.. Having owned two Harleys with solid fatty wheels.
I wouldn't call it a "stability issue" persay, but rather that the wheels are just more sensitive to crosswinds than open or spoke.. Given enough crosswinds though and all bikes are a pain to keep in a straight line. I would not let it keep me from owning a fatboy though if that was the bike I was after.. Heck, it's the cool solid wheels that always kind of defined the fatboy.. to me anyway. I still remember where I was, the time of day, the color of the bike and the year when I saw my first one.. Walking up wall street, 1990, and it was the original silver fatboy. Coolest scoot I'd ever seen.
Now everybody and their brother's got one.. [:@] Oh well, sales volume numbers speak volumes. [8D]
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,679
Likes: 1
From:
RE: Fatboy wheel question..?
I will voice my opinion that there is an effect, but it is manageable. A buddy of mine with solid wheels on his Harley swapped bikes with me on a portion of a trip (one tankful portion) and we both noted that there was a difference, but after a while you get accustomed to it and compensate for the crosswinds.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,235
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From: Albuquerque, NM
RE: Fatboy wheel question..?
I personally noticed quite a bit of difference at speeds in excess of 60mph. My original solid wheels did have a tendency to side track in gusty conditions, especially when being passed by a large vehicle. True it is manageable, but it requires you to become cognizant of it. I would find myself always looking in the mirror to see if anyone was about to pass, or really pay attention to the trees to see which way the wind was gusting. It made it hard to relax on long hauls. Since I changed to spokes, I rarely have to correct the track due to winds. I also lowered it about 2 inches which may have made a difference as well.
Good luck to ya!
Good luck to ya!
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RE: Fatboy wheel question..?
I have been asked this same question many times because I ride a Fatboy. I can honestly say, there was only 1 particular day that I kinda felt my wheel catching the wind. I think only because of the angle the wind was blowing. To tell you the truth, I think I feel my windshield catch the wind more than my wheels. It's never caused me grief.