When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I have a 2009 Sportster 1200C. I want to change the front end so I can either run a 19" front wheel or a 16" front wheel and get rid of the 21" skinny. at this moment I do not have the means to do any fabrication. I am looking for a front end that i can just bolt on, bolt up my current riser/bar set up and just install a new wheel and tire. so my question is, which is the best front set up to purchase that won't break the bank? I do know that a 2011 sportster 48 front end will fit, but the pricing is out of the world.
Last edited by Scoots1200; Jan 10, 2024 at 11:04 AM.
I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong but you should be able to run a 19 inch on the front end you have. The fender may need to be tweaked so it sits close to the tire, but otherwise it should be pretty straight forward.
The inflated 19" tyre won't go passed the fender mounting bolts. Easy to remove when fitting the wheel or you might do it with the tyre deflated.
To fit the fat 16" I think will require you to go with a mid glide front end. New triple clamps amongst other things will make it quite a costly transformation.
Last edited by Andy from Sandy; Jan 11, 2024 at 07:04 AM.
Talking wheel swapping: Is a 2008 Sportster rear disc wheel an easy swap with a 2005 Sportster rear laced wheel? Axel diameter & spacers the same? Thank you!
yes, I have heard this before and that is the route I'm wanting to go, but trying to see other options as far as swapping out the front end to run an even bigger wheel, I do take my bike on long trips and the 21" just doesn't cut it.
As stated, 19" should fit just fine. I suggest you go on the Bay and other such sites and find a 19" wheel from the same year Sportster. Same year will remove any issues with axle sizes and bearings and make it a bolt on affair. This is a minimal effort option that will not break the bank. Changing or modifying the front end for a 16" wheel is another conversation entirely. The question is will it offer any benefit for touring, I would think no. 21" for me is just fine touring, but I get it, it has its drawbacks. The 19" on a Sporty or Lowrider is a good size and does everything, tour and handle. Good luck.
I've had bikes with the 19 inch and the 21 inch front wheels. The only real difference I ever noticed was the skinny 21 tends to catch grooves in the pavement and lets the bike move around a little.
However, I wouldn't say that it ever bothered me enough to go through the trouble and expense to change to a 19 inch wheel.
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.
09 1200c Front Conversion
