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Does the 21" wheel change handling?

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Old 07-28-2009, 09:36 AM
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Default Does the 21" wheel change handling?

I picked up a new Deluxe for the wife and looking at a set of the DNA spoked wheels....how does the 21" wheel affect the way the Deluxe rides. She loves it now and is convinced that the 21" wheel will change it. I think the fat wheel gives her comfort...who knows how women think.

So...for the guys who went from the stock wheel to the 21" wheel....did it deteriorate the stability? Affect the ride much at all?
 
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Old 07-28-2009, 09:40 AM
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shes not going to be happy until you give her what she wants. i have a fxstc with a 21" front and think it handles, and rides, great.
 
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Old 07-28-2009, 09:51 AM
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throw one on your SG first and see how it handles.............SG look damn good with the 21 on er...............congrats on the bike too by the way hammah
 
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Old 07-28-2009, 09:58 AM
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I went from a 130x16 to a 120x21 on the front of my Heritage. But at the same time I lowered the front 2 inches. I think it handles fine, but I have not done any road trips with it.

I can tell you that it LOOKS kick azz!!!

Better "ask" her what she wants before doing anything...lol
 
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Old 07-28-2009, 10:03 AM
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Thanks guys...I realize it will handle fine and she'll get used to whatever is on there...just curious how different it feels vs the stock wheel.
 
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Old 07-28-2009, 12:04 PM
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I betcha it will get "Busier" for lack of a better word. Meaning its gonna follow cracks and stuff in the road and be effected more by potholes, dead animals what have you than the fat 16" thats on it now.

That being said. Get er' done! 21"s are badass looking on those bikes.
 
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Old 07-28-2009, 12:33 PM
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i swapped out my stock 19 incher on my rocker for a 21. at low speeds it's a little harder to keep her stable but it's nothing that she wouldn't be able to handle
 
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Old 07-28-2009, 12:56 PM
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As long as you don't put drag bars on her ride she'll do just fine. The front wheel will get a little heavier, so no short handlebars, or lowering just the rear end because that will result in a heavier handling, specially on low speeds.

Mimo.
 
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Old 07-28-2009, 01:19 PM
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Yes, Your bike will track differently for sure. At around 60+ i feel cracks and road lines. I brought my ride to 2 local HD shops and was told that bike tracks like that because of a 700 lbs. bike with a 3" x 21" wheel. And both of my wheels are aligned/neck bearing/spokes/tires/spacers were all checked and everything was correct. The wider the wheel the better off your gonna be. I wouldn't get anything under a 3". I don't see how some of these guys are running 2" wheels on deluxes/heritages. It must ride like $hit on the freeways. Around town i get no wobbles or bad tracking but on the freeways i do feel it. But it's tollerable. Chaz describes it just about right, "BUSIER". The look is baddass....well worth it forsure....
 

Last edited by BLKnCHRME09Deluxe; 07-28-2009 at 01:29 PM.
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Old 07-28-2009, 01:37 PM
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It will track in grooves a lot more than the 16", but other than that I don't notice a whole lot. Either way, you get used to it and it just becomes normal after awhile.

If she wants/likes the 16, keep it. It looks and rides just fine with it, but maybe take off the hubcap. The 16 looks a lot better without it, imo.
 


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