calling all 2007 Fatboy owners..
4th Gear
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Delta, BC. Canada
I was at a major Bike Show today and chatted with one of the HD tech's..... as far as he understood the reason for the offset had something to do with the 07 wheel. He is going to research and get back to me in the next few days but as far as he can tell we shouldn't have a tracking issue if we center the wheel using the 08 lower legs! He 'thinks' the wheel's in 07 were engineered wrong either on purpose to make the offset, or accidently which caused them to machine the legs to off center the wheel. Whatever the reason is, he says that moving the wheel over such a small amount to center it will not affect tracking. If this is the case and 08 legs work..... I hope I can keep my original wheel just by using spacers as some one posted previously.
I hope to hear from him soon and I will post his findings.......... if he says it will work, then I'm going for it muahahahahahaha!
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
1st Gear
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Staffordshire, England
Fatboy 2007 front wheel off-set!
Hi Coastie,
I've been reading your posts with regard to the Fatboy 2007 front end mod you carried out, unfortunately I am suffering from excessive tire wear on the RH side too. My 2007 fatboy leans over to the right because the wheel alignment & center line of gravity are miss-matched, therefore i naturally ride the bike leaning to compensate, and now I believe this is caused by the front wheel off-set. I agree with you that moving the wheel over to the 2008 position will re-align this problem, my only concern is; having adjusted the rear wheel to line up to the front, how close will the drive belt be to the tire? mine is already very close, so could you possibly check this for me as I am considering making the mod?
Thanks,
CruiserUK
I've been reading your posts with regard to the Fatboy 2007 front end mod you carried out, unfortunately I am suffering from excessive tire wear on the RH side too. My 2007 fatboy leans over to the right because the wheel alignment & center line of gravity are miss-matched, therefore i naturally ride the bike leaning to compensate, and now I believe this is caused by the front wheel off-set. I agree with you that moving the wheel over to the 2008 position will re-align this problem, my only concern is; having adjusted the rear wheel to line up to the front, how close will the drive belt be to the tire? mine is already very close, so could you possibly check this for me as I am considering making the mod?
Thanks,
CruiserUK
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,257
Likes: 6
From: Leander Texas
the only reason you lean going straight is your but is not centered on the seat or your road is not flat. I have 48k now and the only difference with an offset front tire is the lean angle when you make a turn. right turns are shorter than left turns. left turns are wider than right turns. right turns will wear the tire faster than left. just take right turns slower and the wear will be fine. if the tire was centered it will still wear one side or the other depending if you are a lefty or righty. As for me i just enjoy the ride.
1st Gear
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Staffordshire, England
I appreciate your response tk353. But let me put something else your way. If you look at the font end of the 2007 Fatboy, you'll notice the front wheel is also completely out of line with the center of the chassis, therefore is also out of line with the seat which on my bike sits directly obove the center of the chassis. So this means you sit left of the overall wheel alignment, to me that says the bike will lean more OR less depending on the weight of the rider. I weigh 190 lbs, but with my partner on the back the bike rides much better and without a lean. I'd appreciate your thoughts because i'm very close to selling the bike to someone with a much bigger butt?
Cheers!
Cheers!
Last edited by CruiserUK; Mar 13, 2010 at 02:00 PM.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,257
Likes: 6
From: Leander Texas
think about it. you sit in the middle of the seat in the middle of the frame. the front tire is vertical, the seat is vertical. the front tire could a foot off and it still would be vertical. just like car
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 786
Likes: 1
From: Sheridan, AR
Hi Coastie,
I've been reading your posts with regard to the Fatboy 2007 front end mod you carried out, unfortunately I am suffering from excessive tire wear on the RH side too. My 2007 fatboy leans over to the right because the wheel alignment & center line of gravity are miss-matched, therefore i naturally ride the bike leaning to compensate, and now I believe this is caused by the front wheel off-set. I agree with you that moving the wheel over to the 2008 position will re-align this problem, my only concern is; having adjusted the rear wheel to line up to the front, how close will the drive belt be to the tire? mine is already very close, so could you possibly check this for me as I am considering making the mod?
Thanks,
CruiserUK
I've been reading your posts with regard to the Fatboy 2007 front end mod you carried out, unfortunately I am suffering from excessive tire wear on the RH side too. My 2007 fatboy leans over to the right because the wheel alignment & center line of gravity are miss-matched, therefore i naturally ride the bike leaning to compensate, and now I believe this is caused by the front wheel off-set. I agree with you that moving the wheel over to the 2008 position will re-align this problem, my only concern is; having adjusted the rear wheel to line up to the front, how close will the drive belt be to the tire? mine is already very close, so could you possibly check this for me as I am considering making the mod?
Thanks,
CruiserUK
You dont have to mess with the rear wheel at all, so belt alignment wont be an issue.
Just install an 08 chrome front end kit, and a 08 front wheel. Thats it your done!
The 08 lowers will have the correct mounting bosses to move the fender and the brake caliper over, and the 08 front wheel will move the offset of the front tire over..... everything will be perfect!
I did this mod myself at home no problem (and I'm not the most talented mechanic out there).
Ride safe!
1st Gear
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Staffordshire, England
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1st Gear
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Staffordshire, England
2007 Fatboy offset
the only reason you lean going straight is your but is not centered on the seat or your road is not flat. I have 48k now and the only difference with an offset front tire is the lean angle when you make a turn. right turns are shorter than left turns. left turns are wider than right turns. right turns will wear the tire faster than left. just take right turns slower and the wear will be fine. if the tire was centered it will still wear one side or the other depending if you are a lefty or righty. As for me i just enjoy the ride.
With regard to your comment above, In my pursuit to resolve this issue I have just come across an earlier quote made by yourself which sort of contradicts what you're telling me, please read the following from 2008;
(OK the answer. Harley screwed up and when they made the front tire wider they measured from the one side to the other instead of starting in the middle. If you check the 08 model they corrected this error. Harley claims it has no effect but my front tire was scalloped on one side and i had to replace it when it still had tread.)
Has your tire problem gone away now??
CruiserUK
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,257
Likes: 6
From: Leander Texas
Hi TK353,
With regard to your comment above, In my pursuit to resolve this issue I have just come across an earlier quote made by yourself which sort of contradicts what you're telling me, please read the following from 2008;
(OK the answer. Harley screwed up and when they made the front tire wider they measured from the one side to the other instead of starting in the middle. If you check the 08 model they corrected this error. Harley claims it has no effect but my front tire was scalloped on one side and i had to replace it when it still had tread.)
Has your tire problem gone away now??
CruiserUK
With regard to your comment above, In my pursuit to resolve this issue I have just come across an earlier quote made by yourself which sort of contradicts what you're telling me, please read the following from 2008;
(OK the answer. Harley screwed up and when they made the front tire wider they measured from the one side to the other instead of starting in the middle. If you check the 08 model they corrected this error. Harley claims it has no effect but my front tire was scalloped on one side and i had to replace it when it still had tread.)
Has your tire problem gone away now??
CruiserUK