On bikes this size, not a major issue. My first Harley, however, was a 90 sporty with solid cast wheels front (21") and rear (16") and that thing got taken everywhere with crosswinds over 25 mph or so.

 

I bought my 03 Fatboy and drove in home in a 30 mph crosswind. I agree you will feel it push you around but after about 70 miles I seemed to get used to it.

 

Without a doubt!!!!! Mine HAD the solid discs with holes in them and, every time I would go across a bridge with a crosswind it was knocking me into the other lane... I installed the Roland Sands judge wheels and it is a night and day difference. No other mod made a bigger improvement on my fatboy's handling... Now whenever I go across the same bridge, my bike handles like any of my other scoots..

 

I've had two Fat Boys, first with solid wheels (with bullet holes) and the second HD Blades which are not solid. My personal experience is they do catch side winds. I think you fighting physics here......like sails on a sail boat. Large surface areas catch wind. I'm not sure it's that big of a deal.....couple butt puckering rides home before a storm I my case, but for the most part I'm sure you can live with it.

 

I have FB wheels on my Heritage. You'll get used to the wind thing. It's really not a big deal. I like the way they look.

 

I have a superglide custom with front spokes and recently bought a fatboy with chrome solid front. It's very windy where I live and I could immediately tell a noticeable difference. Even from the turbulence off of semi trucks at highway speed. I still really like the fatboy and ride it all the time but there is definitely a difference for me. I can't say if it is due to some other geometry or what, but it happens with and without the windshield. If you search you will find quite a few people who say if you have solid front and then change, you will notice the difference like Juicedstand999.

 

I ride in all kinds of weather, year round, here in Florida. I have been caught in some hellacious storms and winds. My Fatboy has the solid wheels. I do feel the wind blowing against the wheels during storms and have grown to expect it now. I move to the right hand lane so I hopefully won't get blown into another car and try to stay off bridges, after the last one I crossed in a storm scared the you know what out of me. Oh yeah, my buddy Chuck, got blown into a concrete barrier on the interstate on his Fatboy with solid wheels. Almost killed him. He's running spokes now. I do plan on doing a front wheel swap out on mine later...

 

Yep, it's a feel thing. Aint going to blow you over, but a bit "off." I kept the solid back and went spoked up front... much more comportable now.

 

I have the solid wheel on the rear of my Heritage, I like the way it handles, and eliminates the need to worry about spokes. I've had a solid wheel on the front as well, and really couldn't tell any difference. The Fatboys I have owned (2002/2005) both had solid wheels, and never were much of an issue. Cross winds are just kinda a fact of life in West Texas and the Hill Country, so never really gave it much thought...Riding my Road King with the tour pak is worse in a cross wind than anything I've ever been on with solid wheels!

 

A Fatboy (IS) solid wheels it's what gives it the look ..... if you can't handle the wind and My opinion is it don't effect it to the degree of a life or death struggle some here have stated buy a Deluxe or Heritage .....