calling all 2007 Fatboy owners..
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 861
Likes: 3
From: trivoli illinois
for what its worth....in my 2000 fb service manualit shows that the front and rear wheels are not in alignment with each other (flstc, flstf =.359 ) (fxst, fxstb, fxsts=.526) (flsts=.320) towards the belt side from the center line. i changed this when i made new spacers ,and machined the caliper boss. dead center now. did this well over 5 years ago, no problems at all (see my post on wide tire kit) why the moco decided to offset the front wheel is anyones guess. i would change the ft. wheel and lower legs and move on. i realize this is'nt what you want to hear, but i doubt that the moco is going to do much about it. hell they wouldnt recall the 1999/2000, (all model twin cam) with the cam bearing isues. im not sure why they would want any offset in either front or rear. seems to me center is where it should be. i wonder if earlier lower legs would be an option. steve
4th Gear
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Delta, BC. Canada
for what its worth....in my 2000 fb service manualit shows that the front and rear wheels are not in alignment with each other (flstc, flstf =.359 ) (fxst, fxstb, fxsts=.526) (flsts=.320) towards the belt side from the center line. i changed this when i made new spacers ,and machined the caliper boss. dead center now. did this well over 5 years ago, no problems at all (see my post on wide tire kit) why the moco decided to offset the front wheel is anyones guess. i would change the ft. wheel and lower legs and move on. i realize this is'nt what you want to hear, but i doubt that the moco is going to do much about it. hell they wouldnt recall the 1999/2000, (all model twin cam) with the cam bearing isues. im not sure why they would want any offset in either front or rear. seems to me center is where it should be. i wonder if earlier lower legs would be an option. steve
5 years and no issues, I can't argue with that. Are your wheels dead center on each other? After reading your post I tried to measure the rear wheel and it seems to also be slightly offset to the same side that the front wheel is. The front is offset by about 3/4" and the rear is only approx. 1/4" so your statement seems valid. Now I'm thinking if it worked for you........................I haven't looked at earlier legs, that might be something to consider also. I was more interested in the 08 model year because the legs are chrome and ready to go.
thanks for your info!
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 861
Likes: 3
From: trivoli illinois
front is dead center between the lower legs. that was the factory set-up. the rear was offset from the factory. bike came stock with a 130 rear tire. i went to a 150 and things were too close for my likeing. the rear is now dead center in the swingarm. like i said earlier, not sure why the offset is there to begin with? i've still got my old (non-chrome) lower legs. i'll be more than happy to take any measurements. these are 41mm tubes, that take a 3/4 inch axle. as far as finding true center of the frame and finding out where everything falls from there....never seemed neccessary. steve
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Ride the bike and enjoy it. There are many other HD models that have an offset front tire. It is necessary in order to track straight and accommodate the different rear sized tires. Buying an 08 lower and 08 tire will only make things worse. Your bike will not track straight anymore and your tire will wear unevenly. If you rode an 08, 09 10 fat boy you will also notice some of the have a slight lean not all but some....
My 07 fat boy has the offset front tire and my 79 triumph bonneville has an offset tire. Both ride fine. If you think you are buying a finely engineered motorcycle by shelling out 20 grand for a harley you must be out of your mind. Ride the bike, enjoy it. It won't be the last bike you own.. just make sure the next one is to your satisfaction before buying it.
My 07 fat boy has the offset front tire and my 79 triumph bonneville has an offset tire. Both ride fine. If you think you are buying a finely engineered motorcycle by shelling out 20 grand for a harley you must be out of your mind. Ride the bike, enjoy it. It won't be the last bike you own.. just make sure the next one is to your satisfaction before buying it.
Last edited by pgd357; Jan 20, 2010 at 10:37 PM.
4th Gear
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Delta, BC. Canada
Ride the bike and enjoy it. There are many other HD models that have an offset front tire. It is necessary in order to track straight and accommodate the different rear sized tires. Buying an 08 lower and 08 tire will only make things worse. Your bike will not track straight anymore and your tire will wear unevenly. If you rode an 08, 09 10 fat boy you will also notice some of the have a slight lean not all but some....
My 07 fat boy has the offset front tire and my 79 triumph bonneville has an offset tire. Both ride fine. If you think you are buying a finely engineered motorcycle by shelling out 20 grand for a harley you must be out of your mind. Ride the bike, enjoy it. It won't be the last bike you own.. just make sure the next one is to your satisfaction before buying it.
My 07 fat boy has the offset front tire and my 79 triumph bonneville has an offset tire. Both ride fine. If you think you are buying a finely engineered motorcycle by shelling out 20 grand for a harley you must be out of your mind. Ride the bike, enjoy it. It won't be the last bike you own.. just make sure the next one is to your satisfaction before buying it.
Regardless, I am happy with the bike and of my 2 cruisers (and 1 rocket) its my fave.... I won't be replacing it any time soon!
Riding it and enjoying it!
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
I would leave it alone. If you center the front tire your bike will no longer track straight, your tire would wear uneven. If you center your front tire you will need to offset the rear tire.
The only look I hate on my bike are the cut cowbells.
The only look I hate on my bike are the cut cowbells.
4th Gear
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Delta, BC. Canada
!Have you read 1Coastie's comments in this forum? He seems to have done the swap and is adament that it is perfect.
It's interesting though, there are some convincing arguments that centering it would have no adverse affect. Maybe I shouldn't read so much lol. I'm sure some body some where out there has tried the swap and just for curiousity at this point, I'd like to know if it worked or if they've swapped back!
I've known about the offset since I first bought the bike and I don't think its a problem, there's a reason it was designed like this. Personally I think it's offset so that when we wash our bikes we can get our hands on the inside of the caliper to clean it real nice like..... not too many other bikes have this nifty feature!
Last edited by v1shus; Jan 21, 2010 at 04:45 PM. Reason: added cowbell comment
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
I kind of like the Idea of fixing the cowbells and centering the front tire using the 08 parts but the front suspension for on an 08 is more rigid than the 07 and it is designed not to compress as much.
The first big nyc pothole will compress my front end so much that I am sure I will nic my fender.. if you look at the new fb you will notice that the cowbells would hit the fender if you compress the forks all the way...
The first big nyc pothole will compress my front end so much that I am sure I will nic my fender.. if you look at the new fb you will notice that the cowbells would hit the fender if you compress the forks all the way...
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4th Gear
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Delta, BC. Canada
I would think that if you centered the wheel, there wouldn't be any issue of the cowbells hitting the fender........ wouldn't centering the wheel give enough clearance on either side of the fender for the tins to slide right by the fender?? Also, if you could actually use the front end off of an 08 without having any alignment issues, all you would do is swap the lower legs so in reality you would have the same ride as you always did.
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
I would think that if you centered the wheel, there wouldn't be any issue of the cowbells hitting the fender........ wouldn't centering the wheel give enough clearance on either side of the fender for the tins to slide right by the fender?? Also, if you could actually use the front end off of an 08 without having any alignment issues, all you would do is swap the lower legs so in reality you would have the same ride as you always did.