21x18 Ride and performance
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,981
Likes: 1
From: Los Angeles, CA (live in Manteca, CA)
RE: 21x18 Ride and performance
I lower my bike 1 inch just for the look. I will never go back to 16 tire. Look for the 23 I just order it will take 6 months to get here.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,806
Likes: 1,754
From: New Bern NC
RE: 21x18 Ride and performance
ORIGINAL: YodaddyKeith
I can directly compare my stock 16" King to my Sporty custom with 21 stock front wheel.....The Sporty gets twitchy at high speeds due to the tall narrow front tire and leading fork tubes........After 35 years of riding mostly cafe style bikes at insane speeds, I know the reason for it.
Lower your touring bike in front and all should be well(and look better).....It's great when your bike looks good, but it's hard to hide the fact your azz has puckered and makes a sucking sound whenever you try to pry it off the seat.
I can directly compare my stock 16" King to my Sporty custom with 21 stock front wheel.....The Sporty gets twitchy at high speeds due to the tall narrow front tire and leading fork tubes........After 35 years of riding mostly cafe style bikes at insane speeds, I know the reason for it.
Lower your touring bike in front and all should be well(and look better).....It's great when your bike looks good, but it's hard to hide the fact your azz has puckered and makes a sucking sound whenever you try to pry it off the seat.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 266
Likes: 0
From: MD
RE: 21x18 Ride and performance
Very nice thread. Some say lower , some no. The 21x18 is my choice for looks. Thats a lot of $$$ to shell out,no knowing whether o lower an 1" or 1 1/2" or not to lower so that you don't twitch , or the twich is not enough to matter xcept maybe suction to your seat.I am sooooo confused ,save forthe lookof 21x18. Thanks guys for making up my mind for me
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 266
Likes: 0
From: MD
RE: 21x18 Ride and performance
[
][][], Guys now I'm really confused, lower not to lower, may twitch, no not to worry about twitch, I know the 21"x18" is the look i want, but I do not want sacrifice any performance issues if I decide to get up in the numbers atad ! Thanks thoughfor putting my brain to thetest. I have over the winter to make up my mind although I wanted to do it now, I'll keep watching .
[IMG]local://upfiles/14158/AF98E2D59CCC440C91A952C105B06223.jpg[/IMG]
][][], Guys now I'm really confused, lower not to lower, may twitch, no not to worry about twitch, I know the 21"x18" is the look i want, but I do not want sacrifice any performance issues if I decide to get up in the numbers atad ! Thanks thoughfor putting my brain to thetest. I have over the winter to make up my mind although I wanted to do it now, I'll keep watching .[IMG]local://upfiles/14158/AF98E2D59CCC440C91A952C105B06223.jpg[/IMG]
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,231
Likes: 0
From: Nor-Kal
RE: 21x18 Ride and performance
I used the racetech package with the emulators etc., you want to bring the front end down at least an inch... By using the racetech stuff you can lower the bike and improve the ride quality.
http://www.racetech.com/evalving/eng...ngname=english
On an FLHX I'd lower it even without the 21" wheel because it has been lowered in the rear an inch already. By adding a 21" wheel up front you will lift the front end a little over an inch. This needs to be corrected...
http://www.racetech.com/evalving/eng...ngname=english
On an FLHX I'd lower it even without the 21" wheel because it has been lowered in the rear an inch already. By adding a 21" wheel up front you will lift the front end a little over an inch. This needs to be corrected...
Thread Starter
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,282
Likes: 52
From: DFW
RE: 21x18 Ride and performance
While not a very large sample, 14 say as good or better than stock, 7 say some or significant loss of ride and performance. I was hoping to seea much smaller number of the latter. While a pretty large majority (67%) are very happy with their choices, (33%) is a pretty large number that say the ride and performance worsens. Polls being what they are, it does mean something to me, that as far as I can tell, none of the 33% have actually posted any comments as it relates to negative experiences, or of switching back to smaller wheels and tires, leading me to believe it is likely only hear say or pre conceived notions. If that isn't the case, I'd love to hear from those in that category about their first hand knowledge and experience, as we have from those in the majority. While I greatly respect those members who have bothered to vote and comment, and am happy to see a large sample of happy 21" riders, I have to admit that if the poll were to stop here, and it were my only basis for the decision, a33% negative numberis too high a number to lay out the kind of cash required to gain entrance to this very attractive modification. But this won't be the onlybasis for my decision and hopefully the poll will go on a bit. This is like seats, butto a much more expensivelevel, where it's just nearimpossible totrybefore you buy.I'd gladly rent a bike for a day with this setup if it were possible. I hope to see more input and comments. I'd love to hear from some of the 7 folks, if they have had first hand experience with these wheel/tire sizes.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,598
Likes: 52
From: South Jersey
RE: 21x18 Ride and performance
Ok, after reading all the posts I have what may seem like a dumb a$$ question but it's something I've been wondering about for some time.
When you change the circumference of the wheels does it make your speedo inaccurate in regards to MPH and the odometer?
I think years ago I changed wheels on an old cage and had to change something in the transmission to compensate for the new diameter of the wheels. Something like that.
Can anyone answer this?
When you change the circumference of the wheels does it make your speedo inaccurate in regards to MPH and the odometer?
I think years ago I changed wheels on an old cage and had to change something in the transmission to compensate for the new diameter of the wheels. Something like that.
Can anyone answer this?
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 58
Likes: 1
From: Abu Dhabi, UAE
RE: 21x18 Ride and performance
I also have a 21x18 setup on my street Glide and I have to say that my ride has degraded at speeds over 95 mph. At that speed I'm getting some high speed wobbles which I minimized by buying a swingarm stabilizing kit. However the rubber I have on (Metzlers) are awesome and has a good grip in corners.
Thesize difference isobvious the minute you put the stock 16 wheel/tire next to the 21" one (I have some pictures which I can post later). So I went ahead and ordered a Progressive front fork lowering kit in hopes to make my bike more stable.
Do I like the way it looks? Hell YES!! From what I read here it seems that my problem could be isolated.
Thesize difference isobvious the minute you put the stock 16 wheel/tire next to the 21" one (I have some pictures which I can post later). So I went ahead and ordered a Progressive front fork lowering kit in hopes to make my bike more stable.
Do I like the way it looks? Hell YES!! From what I read here it seems that my problem could be isolated.
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Thread Starter
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,282
Likes: 52
From: DFW
RE: 21x18 Ride and performance
ORIGINAL: upirons
I also have a 21x18 setup on my street Glide and I have to say that my ride has degraded at speeds over 95 mph. At that speed I'm getting some high speed wobbles which I minimized by buying a swingarm stabilizing kit. However the rubber I have on (Metzlers) are awesome and has a good grip in corners.
Thesize difference isobvious the minute you put the stock 16 wheel/tire next to the 21" one (I have some pictures which I can post later). So I went ahead and ordered a Progressive front fork lowering kit in hopes to make my bike more stable.
Do I like the way it looks? Hell YES!! From what I read here it seems that my problem could be isolated.
I also have a 21x18 setup on my street Glide and I have to say that my ride has degraded at speeds over 95 mph. At that speed I'm getting some high speed wobbles which I minimized by buying a swingarm stabilizing kit. However the rubber I have on (Metzlers) are awesome and has a good grip in corners.
Thesize difference isobvious the minute you put the stock 16 wheel/tire next to the 21" one (I have some pictures which I can post later). So I went ahead and ordered a Progressive front fork lowering kit in hopes to make my bike more stable.
Do I like the way it looks? Hell YES!! From what I read here it seems that my problem could be isolated.
Thread Starter
|
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,282
Likes: 52
From: DFW
RE: 21x18 Ride and performance
ORIGINAL: Streetrunner
Ok, after reading all the posts I have what may seem like a dumb a$$ question but it's something I've been wondering about for some time.
When you change the circumference of the wheels does it make your speedo inaccurate in regards to MPH and the odometer?
I think years ago I changed wheels on an old cage and had to change something in the transmission to compensate for the new diameter of the wheels. Something like that.
Can anyone answer this?
Ok, after reading all the posts I have what may seem like a dumb a$$ question but it's something I've been wondering about for some time.
When you change the circumference of the wheels does it make your speedo inaccurate in regards to MPH and the odometer?
I think years ago I changed wheels on an old cage and had to change something in the transmission to compensate for the new diameter of the wheels. Something like that.
Can anyone answer this?