Solid Wheels
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Joined: May 2007
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Solid Wheels
I have solid wheels on my '06 Fatboy. I have not done a lot a riding on the freeways in my area because it seems that when I get up around 65 - 70 mph I can feel a lot of wind affect on the front wheel. [
]I have had the front wheel balanced and checked out by the dealer. Would going to a spoked wheel lessen the wind affect and give me a steadier ride at the higher higway speeds?
]I have had the front wheel balanced and checked out by the dealer. Would going to a spoked wheel lessen the wind affect and give me a steadier ride at the higher higway speeds?
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 400
Likes: 0
From: The People's Republic of New Jersey
RE: Solid Wheels
This topic pops up from time to time and has been the subject of much mis-information. Try doing a search and you'll find dozens of past threads on this subject. Here's a link to one of them:
https://www.hdforums.com/m_386509/tm.htm
I have an '04 Fatboy with the stock, solid wheels and I've never had a problem in the wind at any speed. On any bike you will get blown around some in windy conditions. The mass of the bike, gear, wind-screen (if any), and your body will all catch the wind and cause you to lean into it to stay on a straight course. I can honestly say that I've never been blown around where I felt it was the cause of the front wheel. Maybe you just need to get a few more highway miles behind you to raise your confidence level. If it really bothers you there are plenty of cast or forged wheels that are not solid. I wouldn't go to a spoke wheel unless you're willing to deal with the tube and the maintenance. I'm sure those with spoke wheels on their rides will say otherwise and that's okay. They look great. I just prefer a tubeless tire and not dealing with the attention that spokes require. Good luck and let us know how you make out.
https://www.hdforums.com/m_386509/tm.htm
I have an '04 Fatboy with the stock, solid wheels and I've never had a problem in the wind at any speed. On any bike you will get blown around some in windy conditions. The mass of the bike, gear, wind-screen (if any), and your body will all catch the wind and cause you to lean into it to stay on a straight course. I can honestly say that I've never been blown around where I felt it was the cause of the front wheel. Maybe you just need to get a few more highway miles behind you to raise your confidence level. If it really bothers you there are plenty of cast or forged wheels that are not solid. I wouldn't go to a spoke wheel unless you're willing to deal with the tube and the maintenance. I'm sure those with spoke wheels on their rides will say otherwise and that's okay. They look great. I just prefer a tubeless tire and not dealing with the attention that spokes require. Good luck and let us know how you make out.
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 63
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From:
RE: Solid Wheels
My buddy rides a fatboy and he changed out his solid wheels because everytime we would be on the hiway and a big truck would pass, it would push him hard. Also there was a problem with big cross winds.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 221
Likes: 1
From: Sydney, Australia
RE: Solid Wheels
After riding faired sports bikes (ZX10 was last) and changing to a FLSTF I felt that the sporties behaved worse than my Fatty - Could be the lower centre of gravity and no screen - I was told the same thing re crosswind with the solid wheels but I don't get tossed around anywhere near as much - I'm 5'10" & 270lbs so I'm pretty close to ground.
[IMG]local://upfiles/30784/C7493BFFB37E482AA5533C37BAA76C69.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/30784/C7493BFFB37E482AA5533C37BAA76C69.jpg[/IMG]
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 953
Likes: 8
From:
RE: Solid Wheels
When I changed out my 21" front wheel to a 16", I put a fatboy disc on. The weight of the wheel felt very heavy. Once I bought my Daytonas, I didn't feel as blown around. I do notice when I'm running with my saddle bags, those things catch a lot of wind.
Maybe it's all in my head - but I did notice a big difference replacing the disk with a lighter wheel.
[IMG]local://upfiles/13603/265CAAE83F5F4BFFB4792C972EABB488.jpg[/IMG]
Maybe it's all in my head - but I did notice a big difference replacing the disk with a lighter wheel.
[IMG]local://upfiles/13603/265CAAE83F5F4BFFB4792C972EABB488.jpg[/IMG]
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Road Warrior
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,619
Likes: 117
From: ARIZONA
RE: Solid Wheels
Well, those solid disk wheels are pretty much acting like sails in a heavy crosswinf....but my ringed .50 cal bullet holes sure dont seem to do squat for it either!
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 8,641
Likes: 26
From: Ozark Country
RE: Solid Wheels
My thoughts on this subject were posted in another forum, so rather than retype everything I'll just 'cut and paste'.. 
Based on a lot of experience in windy conditions, I totally disagree with the "solid wheel" theory you hear so often.
Around this part of the country (Kansas/Oklahoma/Missouri) high crosswinds are a normal occurance, with 35+ MPH winds not uncommon.
My FatBoy (with it's solid front wheel and wider tire) isn't blown around as much as my WideGlide, and not nearly as bad as the 1200C I owned.
But when you look at it from a logical standpoint, there isn't very much validity in the 'solid wheel' theory.
For one thing, the total surface area of the front wheel in very small for any wind blowing from the side, especially when you compare it with the total profile of the bike (side surface area, engine, body, high profile rider, etc.).
For another thing, regular spokes on a wheel create an almost 'solid air barrier' when they are turning at speed. If you get a chance, put your bike on a lift, and run it in gear at a couple thousand RPM. When doing this, have someone shoot a high pressure flow of water at the spinning wheel and see how much water is stopped by the turning spokes, and how much actally flows to the other side. Winds won't have any better luck.
Based on a lot of experience in windy conditions, I totally disagree with the "solid wheel" theory you hear so often.
Around this part of the country (Kansas/Oklahoma/Missouri) high crosswinds are a normal occurance, with 35+ MPH winds not uncommon.
My FatBoy (with it's solid front wheel and wider tire) isn't blown around as much as my WideGlide, and not nearly as bad as the 1200C I owned.
But when you look at it from a logical standpoint, there isn't very much validity in the 'solid wheel' theory.
For one thing, the total surface area of the front wheel in very small for any wind blowing from the side, especially when you compare it with the total profile of the bike (side surface area, engine, body, high profile rider, etc.).
For another thing, regular spokes on a wheel create an almost 'solid air barrier' when they are turning at speed. If you get a chance, put your bike on a lift, and run it in gear at a couple thousand RPM. When doing this, have someone shoot a high pressure flow of water at the spinning wheel and see how much water is stopped by the turning spokes, and how much actally flows to the other side. Winds won't have any better luck.
Tourer
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 266
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Solid Wheels
Old,
Do you mean that the spokes act as a barrier? And if they do, would that not support the windsail theory? I would think that if the wind could pass through rather easily, as with spokes, then there should much less pressure to be felt by the rider in a cross wind.
Do you mean that the spokes act as a barrier? And if they do, would that not support the windsail theory? I would think that if the wind could pass through rather easily, as with spokes, then there should much less pressure to be felt by the rider in a cross wind.