Rear Wheel Offset Normal???
Thread Starter
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,357
Likes: 11
From: The Lone Star State
Rear Wheel Offset Normal???
Just got my wheels on a couple weeks ago and haven't had much time to ride due to holidays, cold, etc. Anyway, I noticed that there is a slight offset on the rear wheel, maybe 1/2" to the left. No clearance issues, the belt/pulley alignment is right and the bike rides smoothly.
Is the offset normal? Don't remember from the other wheels.
Oh yeah, it's an 06 Fatboy
Is the offset normal? Don't remember from the other wheels.
Oh yeah, it's an 06 Fatboy
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,205
Likes: 3
From: Mebane, NC
It's normal. Do a quick search and there are plenty of threads. This is just one https://www.hdforums.com/forum/softa...e-problem.html
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,357
Likes: 11
From: The Lone Star State
1/2" may be a bit much. I after I posted I thought about it. It may be closer to 1/4" or 3/8".
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 139
Likes: 1
From: Southern California
I have a 150 tire on my 2004 Fatboy (stock wheels) and it is definitely offset to the left. It doesn't rub against anything, but the clearence between the fender and the tire is really tight on the left side.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 314
Likes: 0
The price we pay for custom wheels I guess. The HUBs on my DNAs are different then the stock ones. Once I get the new wheel in, I'll have more details on how it fits with pictures. I wish DNA would hurry up already.
regards,
Dale
regards,
Dale
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Banned
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,706
Likes: 7
From: Woodstock, Ont , Can
Some softails came with a 1/2" offset to the RIGHT as well as the fender being offset to match it. Both are off 1/2" to the right of center. Don't know all the models but in 07 my fxstc, and some fatboys were like this for clearance on the 200mm tire to belt. About 08+ there is a different swing arm and fender rails to center the wheel and fender to the centerline of the bike.
Most likely what you are seeing is a wheel set up for bikes centerline, but the fender rails are still set to 1/2" to the right. Look closely at the chrome rails and you will notice the bends are not the same, which shift the fender to the right. Front wheels and fenders on these bikes are also offset about 5/16" to the right and this can be seen with different lug lengths on the lowers to provide this shift. Personally, I would like to kick the designers a$$ that put right offset in there since it should have been to the left to balance the bike out. As is, bike requires slight right list to track down the highway as well as left drift when letting go of the bars. Right side tire wear is the other indication. All of this gets worse when swapping the heavy stock exhaust for a lighter version.
Ron
Most likely what you are seeing is a wheel set up for bikes centerline, but the fender rails are still set to 1/2" to the right. Look closely at the chrome rails and you will notice the bends are not the same, which shift the fender to the right. Front wheels and fenders on these bikes are also offset about 5/16" to the right and this can be seen with different lug lengths on the lowers to provide this shift. Personally, I would like to kick the designers a$$ that put right offset in there since it should have been to the left to balance the bike out. As is, bike requires slight right list to track down the highway as well as left drift when letting go of the bars. Right side tire wear is the other indication. All of this gets worse when swapping the heavy stock exhaust for a lighter version.
Ron
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 347
Likes: 2
As stated many times before, yeah this is perfectly normal. When I did a 160 swap on my 04 I ended up using different spacers and doing some machining on the brake caliper to center mine. I now have room for a 170 back there.