I just got an 07 Fatboy. I was wondering if anybody has tried to center the front wheel. I am planning on chroming the frontend and was wondering why I couldn't use older fork sliders with the proper wheel spacers to achieve this? Why did Harley offset the front wheel. Anybody know?

 

No opinions or ideas?

 

Not sure of the exact reason for the huge offset, but you can be sure that is has to do with keeping the bikes weight balanced and the bike traveling as straight as possible. As for moving it, no dice. Even if it wouldnt make the bike handle like crap, 06 and earlier models have a 3/4" axle and you have a 25mm axle. Not to mention, moving it would prevent your rotor from lining up with the caliper.

 

I agree with above....I'd be hesitant to modify the tracking of the front wheel. With all the engineering hours put into that bike, I'm sure it is that way for a good reason...I don't have a FB..Is it that noticeable???

[IMG]local://upfiles/2670/876BC873676A4A4DBFD4A2A4EFCC9670.jpg[/IMG]

 

I did not know that they changed the axle size. Asked my dealer about the offset and they said it was the mytery of the 07 model year. My buddy's 06 Screamin Eagle Fatboy with a 200mm tire apparently has the same frame and no offset on the forks. I would think that if it was to fix a handling problem with the 200 tire that every softail with a 200 tire would have to have this offset.

 

I was told that the 07 FB front end offset was to accomodate the rear 200 tire. But it leaves a good question about other Softails w/ 200 in the rear. I have had no problems with the tracking or steering. It was a shock to see the offset but I don't plan on monkeying with it. If you do chrome the front end make sure the fork sliders have the cut outs on them. I am currently having the chrome front end kit being put on and fortuanately the kit came with the updated chrome sliders.

 

I think it is very noticeable. I got a good deal on a used 07 or I probably would not have bought it for this reason. Like I said if it was a handling problem I would think that the 06 Sceamin Eagle Fatboy and other 200 equipped Softails would have the same handling issues.I also think that the notched fork tube covers look even worse. I will run my stock style until they hit my front fender, then I will deal with that.

 

If I had one that would be my first mod. It depends on whether the caliper can be moved to accomodate the shift, if not then new legs?

The axle spacers are the easy part. You could buy extra spacers and machine-shave down to get the width you need.

The front axle width is not as critical and finite as the rear axle is.

 

So I guess nobody knows why H-D did this? What do you mean the axle width is not as critical?

 

What I meant is the rear axle spacers have to be very exact due to the rigidity (is that a word?) of the swingarm. The swingarm will not give (in width) so the spacers have to be exact.

The front axle is not as critical, the spacers are not dimensioned between the fork legs; the spacers are cut for the axle itself. The axle has a 'stop' limit built into it. The critical component of the front wheel spacing is the caliper to rotor spacing. Hard to explain, you would have to take it apart.

I've stopped years ago trying to comprehend why HD does the things they do sometimes.

BTW, I have a 2002 with a 200 rear, 140 front centered, and it tracks like it's on rails.