21 inch tire
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,829
Likes: 0
From: OC,NY
I have run both the 21 x 2.15 Stock harley 40 spoke with a 90-90-21 Avon and my current set up is a RW 21 x 3.50 fat spoke with a DB 120-70-21 Metz. IMHO the 120-70-21 handles a bit better and seems to offer a bit more stability.
With that being said I never had any problems with the skinner tire and wheel. No shakes ,wobbles or anything. It was stable and felt great up to triple digits.
Now here is the kicker. To be 100% honest I liked the way the skinner tire and wheel looked on my bike better. It was a lower profile side wall and just seemed to have more attitude.I know I am in the minority here but I like the pizza cutter look better.
I often thought about taking out about a 1 to 2 " strip of the middle of the front fender re welding and repainting . So the wheel does not not look so lost in the front fender.Even though the way it was did not really bother me. I still think about going back to the skinner wheel and modding the fender. What can I say beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
With that being said I never had any problems with the skinner tire and wheel. No shakes ,wobbles or anything. It was stable and felt great up to triple digits.
Now here is the kicker. To be 100% honest I liked the way the skinner tire and wheel looked on my bike better. It was a lower profile side wall and just seemed to have more attitude.I know I am in the minority here but I like the pizza cutter look better.
I often thought about taking out about a 1 to 2 " strip of the middle of the front fender re welding and repainting . So the wheel does not not look so lost in the front fender.Even though the way it was did not really bother me. I still think about going back to the skinner wheel and modding the fender. What can I say beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 10,968
Likes: 54
For a 3-3.5" width rim 120/70/21 is the size to run. Back in the day when we wanted a wide white wall and there was no Vee Rubber or Diamond Back we would get a 3" wide rim and a 90/21 wide white wall and stretch it on and run it with a tube. I know a lot of guys who have done however one of my buddies dented two rims running his bike this way. The narrower rim with the narrow tire did not come close to filling up the front fender. Some people like the look while others don't. I'll get some pics up once photobucket starts to cooperate again.
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,240
Likes: 14
From: lancaster,ca
For a 3-3.5" width rim 120/70/21 is the size to run. Back in the day when we wanted a wide white wall and there was no Vee Rubber or Diamond Back we would get a 3" wide rim and a 90/21 wide white wall and stretch it on and run it with a tube. I know a lot of guys who have done however one of my buddies dented two rims running his bike this way. The narrower rim with the narrow tire did not come close to filling up the front fender. Some people like the look while others don't. I'll get some pics up once photobucket starts to cooperate again.
To make it worse I just saw that you guys are running a special this month on the big daddys...do you guys have them in stock?? i would even consider just sticking with the 16's
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,264
Likes: 9
From: Rhode island
Where was this photo taken?
Former Sponsor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 10,968
Likes: 54
As far as white walls are concerned, 16" white walls are the easiest to get if you want a high quality tire (Metzeler, Avon, etc.)
2nd Gear
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
no offense to the people running 21's.... but they look tacky IMHO. another reason why im not a fan is because of how common they are on bikes these days. kinda just remind me of the big wheel i used to ride when in was a kid.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,264
Likes: 9
From: Rhode island
Middletown RI
Actually only seen about a handful of other 21" wheels around my area, not common at all.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,059
Likes: 32
From: Oregon
So what your sayin is everyone is rollin on a 21 where you live or is it what your seein on this forum? Lets see a pic of your sled. I like my tacky big wheel! Just sayin.
Stone