Yet another tire width question?
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Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 27
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From: Lake Havasu
Yet another tire width question?
First off I'm wondering if there's a sticky on this somewhere? I have an 03 XLH 883 and just got a new fat bob rear fender for it, Im trying to search for the widest rear tire I can get, but I'm seeing that for every year, different rules apply. Also, half the links are dead as far as how people did things? I currently have the stock 130/90 on the bike. Is there any way to get a wider/shorter tire on, without major issues? I read about 160 Metz fitting, but only on 04 and up, so no go on my model, I also read a 150 will fit but only with a chain setup. Should I just stick with the stock tire, or can I widen this thing just a bit? Second question as I'm pretty new to this, there's a bunch of different Bike manuals out there, I was looking for a recommendation as far as whats the best service manual out there, that's not a factory service manual, which I will also be ordering. I was looking for something I could get locally.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Bedford UK
Your bike probably has a 3" wide rim, in which case the widest tyre it is wise to fit on it is a 150/80. An alternative is an MU, which is 140/85. Obviously they are both wider than your stock tyre. Both these tyres have almost identical rolling diameter to your 130/90.
The other restriction is tyre to belt clearance. You will probably find you can get in a 140/85, but you may have to trim the belt guard. I suspect a 150 will be too wide, but measure the gap between your belt (not the guard) and tyre, so we can work out what is likely to fit.
The other restriction is tyre to belt clearance. You will probably find you can get in a 140/85, but you may have to trim the belt guard. I suspect a 150 will be too wide, but measure the gap between your belt (not the guard) and tyre, so we can work out what is likely to fit.
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Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2012
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From: Lake Havasu
Ok, I don't currently have a belt on the bike. Can I measure from the inside of the sprocket, or should I just wait till I put a belt on? I purchased this bike for $1k and she needs a little help, replaced missing rear fender, Needs a new belt, seat needs to be recovered, new tires, and brakes and she should be good to go. 4K miles on an 03 for $1000 didn't sound to bad to me? Its just been neglected and sitting in the Lake Havasu sun for years.
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Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Bedford UK
If you have a tyre on the rim and a pulley on the hub, you can make a first judgement with that. Look down the side of the wheel, at the pulley. Imagine a straight line across the edge of the tyre, from one side to the other, and measure to the pulley, where the inner edge of the belt runs. That is how much clearance you currently have.
To fit a 140/85 (MU) tyre you need around 1/4" minimum. To get in a 150/80 you need a minimum of 7/16". Bear in mind that the nominal width of a tyre is not identical to its width when fitted! They do vary in my experience. Also different brands of tyre measure up differently.
Let us know what you find!
To fit a 140/85 (MU) tyre you need around 1/4" minimum. To get in a 150/80 you need a minimum of 7/16". Bear in mind that the nominal width of a tyre is not identical to its width when fitted! They do vary in my experience. Also different brands of tyre measure up differently.
Let us know what you find!
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Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Wheeling, WV
The largest I was able to go was up to a 140 on my '00. You'll end up with ~1/4" clearance between the edge of the belt and tire on the right side and ~1/4" under the fender on the left side between the bolt heads/fender and tire edge. Under the right side of the fender you'll have a larger gap than the 1/4", more like 1/2", because the wheel is slightly off set to the left.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Wheeling, WV
Oh, but forgot to put......You're not really ever going to notice the wider tire under the stock fender, as you're not really gaining all that much on each side. And I've never had someone come up and say, "Hey dude, that 1/32" of extra tire on each side really fills out that fender nicely!"
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Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2012
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From: Lake Havasu
Good point! I ran a straight edge on my Stock tire, fully aired up, and measured into the inside edge of the rear pulley and came up with .413". WVhogrider, what are you running as far as brand? Do you like it? You mentioned a 140, is that the 140/85-16 your running? I've found the MU85-16 for around $140 Not sure if that's a good price or not? This is my first HD so yea I'm a virgin when it comes to these bikes. Everything else Ive owned ran on rice! Lol
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Wheeling, WV
I'm currently running Avon Venoms. I ran Metzler 880's before the Venoms. 
I'd have to look at the size, as I can'tthe remember if I went with the stock size or the 140.
I'd have to look at the size, as I can'tthe remember if I went with the stock size or the 140.
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Joined: Dec 2010
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From: Temecula, CA
I use the same 150 they use on the 04+ Sportsters on my 99. However, here's what you need to do:
1. Remove belt gaurds. I wanted mine gone anyway but some people like them.
2. Change the way you mount your fender. Using carriage bolts, slide the bolts in from the inside of the fender so you have the threaded part potruding out of the strut on the outside. Then use accorn nuts on the outside of the struts. This gives you more clearance between the fender and the fasteners.
3. Widen the swingarm. Using a scissor jack, you need to widen the swingarm by about 1/2".
4. Spacers. You'll need a 3/8" thick spacer for your pulley and then more spacers to takeup the play in the axle for the widened swingarm. Here's a link for the pulley spacer. http://vulcanworks.net/store_4/home.php?cat=2
5. Pulley bolts. Get new pulley bolts as the stock ones are torque to yeild bolts. Since you have to put a spacer between the wheel and pulley, you'll be removing the stock ones and they should not be reused. Ask me how I know...
That's the short list. Here is a more detailed description and I strongly, repeat STRONGLY suggest you read it first to know the details of the project:
http://xlforum.net/vbportal/forums/s...ad.php?t=15361
Good news is that it's a pretty easy modfication and can be done with relatively simple tools.
Here is how it looked on mine. First before:
After:
In this picture you can see one of the accorn nuts just above the left turn signal to give you some idea of what they look like when on.
I think it really fills up the fender. Just be careful and make sure all your turn signal wiring is tucked up real tight against the inside of the fender. There is NOT a lot of clearance between the fender and the wheel with this setup.
1. Remove belt gaurds. I wanted mine gone anyway but some people like them.
2. Change the way you mount your fender. Using carriage bolts, slide the bolts in from the inside of the fender so you have the threaded part potruding out of the strut on the outside. Then use accorn nuts on the outside of the struts. This gives you more clearance between the fender and the fasteners.
3. Widen the swingarm. Using a scissor jack, you need to widen the swingarm by about 1/2".
4. Spacers. You'll need a 3/8" thick spacer for your pulley and then more spacers to takeup the play in the axle for the widened swingarm. Here's a link for the pulley spacer. http://vulcanworks.net/store_4/home.php?cat=2
5. Pulley bolts. Get new pulley bolts as the stock ones are torque to yeild bolts. Since you have to put a spacer between the wheel and pulley, you'll be removing the stock ones and they should not be reused. Ask me how I know...
That's the short list. Here is a more detailed description and I strongly, repeat STRONGLY suggest you read it first to know the details of the project:
http://xlforum.net/vbportal/forums/s...ad.php?t=15361
Good news is that it's a pretty easy modfication and can be done with relatively simple tools.
Here is how it looked on mine. First before:
After:
In this picture you can see one of the accorn nuts just above the left turn signal to give you some idea of what they look like when on.
I think it really fills up the fender. Just be careful and make sure all your turn signal wiring is tucked up real tight against the inside of the fender. There is NOT a lot of clearance between the fender and the wheel with this setup.
Last edited by Robotech; Mar 5, 2012 at 10:11 AM.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,122
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From: Boise Idaho
You can get certian 140's on and a 150 will go on but it's a real PITA, I have a 150 on my 2000, used a Zippers chain conversion and it still took a lot of work to get everything to clear, chain, wiring, fender bolts, ETC, ETC, ETC.