Spoke Wheel Question
Banned
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 607
Likes: 107
From: Dark Side of the Moon
Originally Posted by Sethc1020
It will definitely being hitting the highway, its not like its a 30".Just trying to cover all my bases. Others in this thread commented that they have had issues and have heard that the bigger bikes have had more issues with them as well.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6,186
Likes: 2,412
From: USA
By no means am I anti spoke. But there are some things worth thinking about and considering.
A blown tube on a Harley spoke wheel is not a fun fix on the side of the road. With a tubless tire, you can plug it and be on your way in just a few minutes.
A tubless tire on a sealed rim, in general, leaks down less than a rubber tube does through an unsealed rim.
There is more flex with a spoked wheel than a cast wheel.
Possibly the best of both worlds is a sealed rim using external spokes and a tubeless tire.
A blown tube on a Harley spoke wheel is not a fun fix on the side of the road. With a tubless tire, you can plug it and be on your way in just a few minutes.
A tubless tire on a sealed rim, in general, leaks down less than a rubber tube does through an unsealed rim.
There is more flex with a spoked wheel than a cast wheel.
Possibly the best of both worlds is a sealed rim using external spokes and a tubeless tire.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 66,948
Likes: 4,573
From: TOAK western branch
Nothing wrong with a spoked rim. Easy to remove the tube and patch on the side of the road. 140,000 miles running a 21" spoked rim on my front. Run Ride-on tire sealant/balancer in it.
Novice
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 20
Likes: 1
From: Philadelphia
How it going all? I have a 2012 RG and am thinking about getting some spoke wheels, probably a 21 in the front and 18 in the back. A buddy of mine is trying to steer me away from getting the spokes because they can be a PITA and will leak. Are they really that bad? I was thinking about going with a DNA Fat Daddy/Mammoth because I love spokes but don't want to have to worry about leaks or lose spokes all the time. Any one out there with spokes that can give me some first hand info on them? Are they really that much of a PITA maintenance wise?
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,601
Likes: 679
From: San Francisco
In general, you'll want to use a rim band and a tube with spoke wheels. Every time I sell a tire to a customer with laced wheels, they get a new tube and rim band no questions asked. Periodically the spokes will need to be tightened and runout checked and corrected. They aren't necessarily "bad", they just require a little more maintenance and a few extra parts.
I ran DNA and Ultima fat spokes on my 2017 Street Glide without any issues. And I ran that bike hard and a one time long trip to LA from SF.
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 49
Likes: 6
From: missouri
I had trouble with one of their distributors. They sent me the wrong wheel and when I would call this distributor to try to resolve the issue, the guy would say the paperwork was upstairs, etc., and indicate they would call me right back. I never received a call back. This occurred about 5 times. The problem was this distributor did not want to send me the correct wheel. I called DNA themselves to talk to them about this distributor and they wouldn't even talk to me about it.
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