HQ + Road King Classic Warning
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,033
Likes: 29
RE: HQ + Road King Classic Warning
ORIGINAL: Manish_Hawg
Get your bike off the ground remove your bags (if applicable) and pull on the spokes withyour hand. If they wiggle and wobblethey are loose. I know HD sells a spoke wrench but I think they can be tighten with a small adjustable wrench. Mine will be tighten tonight and this will be my first time seeing this done. I don't think tightening them will cause your wheel to be out of balance but I know loose ones will cause your front end to wobble making you think your forks are about to fall off. I also know you want to try to tighten all your spokes evenly.
Get your bike off the ground remove your bags (if applicable) and pull on the spokes withyour hand. If they wiggle and wobblethey are loose. I know HD sells a spoke wrench but I think they can be tighten with a small adjustable wrench. Mine will be tighten tonight and this will be my first time seeing this done. I don't think tightening them will cause your wheel to be out of balance but I know loose ones will cause your front end to wobble making you think your forks are about to fall off. I also know you want to try to tighten all your spokes evenly.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,128
Likes: 27
From: florida swamp
RE: HQ + Road King Classic Warning
spokes are sharp looking but on a heavy bike, no thanks....I can cruise at 90 on my RK police without any problem....been to 100, no sweat...mag wheels all the way
Former Sponsor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,360
Likes: 453
From: Davie, FL
RE: HQ + Road King Classic Warning
4.6lbs. & 5.4 lbs. The lighter the wheel the less the parasitic horse power loss. Drag racers on full out bikes where 1/1000 of a second is great, we get 0.2 of a second. Fast, strong, and expensive. They are not for everyone. I have them on both of my bikes. I have no intrest in bling, just the best available bar none.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,515
Likes: 6
From:
RE: HQ + Road King Classic Warning
Spokes suck on heavy bikes and thats just the hard truth. But harleys are not unsafe as you say. I ran my 07 road glide over a 100 many times and it was smooth as glass, my 05 RK custom runs nicely at 90 +. If your harley wobbles its got a problem, figure it out and fix it. Or I guess buy a beemer
Most every police force in ga. runs harleys and has for years even though they could have bought beemers or hondas but that might change now that used cop bikes are not bringing the resale they once did. One harley dealer that sells to Atlanta PD just refused to take back a large amount of cop bikes in trade on new ones, so look for a bunch of APD bikes at the county auctions this year.
Most every police force in ga. runs harleys and has for years even though they could have bought beemers or hondas but that might change now that used cop bikes are not bringing the resale they once did. One harley dealer that sells to Atlanta PD just refused to take back a large amount of cop bikes in trade on new ones, so look for a bunch of APD bikes at the county auctions this year.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 466
Likes: 0
From: Ontario, Canada
RE: HQ + Road King Classic Warning
To me spoked wheels have the 'look' but personally I just don't trust their integrity.When I went shopping formy used RK one of therequisites was thatit had to have cast wheels. Although I don't ride as fast as a lot of others for the speeds I do cruise at I've had nowobbles or any other issues butas the saying goes..."never say never."
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 3,116
Likes: 0
From: Glendale, AZ.
RE: HQ + Road King Classic Warning
ORIGINAL: biz44
Yet another reason me and spoked wheels dont get along. Yea....sure on a MX bike, or a trail rig.....but on a big street bike, they are a thing of the past IMHO. A mag wheel looks better IMHO....will stay balanced better, requires no maintenance, and should you get a flat....can be rigged on the side of the road with a "fix a flat kit", where with a tube type tire/wheel set-up, you do not have this lux.
Yet another reason me and spoked wheels dont get along. Yea....sure on a MX bike, or a trail rig.....but on a big street bike, they are a thing of the past IMHO. A mag wheel looks better IMHO....will stay balanced better, requires no maintenance, and should you get a flat....can be rigged on the side of the road with a "fix a flat kit", where with a tube type tire/wheel set-up, you do not have this lux.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,750
Likes: 0
From: east cen.miss
RE: HQ + Road King Classic Warning
I had the same problem with my 05 RKC,rear wheel wobble.Mine was still under warranty and MOCO replaced it without a problem.I love spoke wheels but my next bike will not have them.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,981
Likes: 1
From: Los Angeles, CA (live in Manteca, CA)
RE: HQ + Road King Classic Warning
Only the HDand the other thin spokehave these issues. I had the Fat Daddy on 2 bikes and never had this problem. I stay burning rubber and never had a loose spoke.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,415
Likes: 197
RE: HQ + Road King Classic Warning
While I don't own anything with spokes anymore, the 80 spoke and fat daddy wheels gave Very good service on some past rides. The main trouble with spokes on a heavy cruiser is they're not enough spokes, or big enough spokesin the factory wheels! Heap on some extra ponies, and things go south fast. If I wanted to keep the spoke look, I'd just replace the rear wheel with a mag. (preferably a disc)