So I still have the stock wheels on my 03 Road King. I like the classic look and want to buy some wire wheels. My questions are

Does the ride Quality change if I were to put 21"front and 18"rear?
Will wire wheels bend easier than mag wheels? (potholes)

I tried the search option but most of you guys have aluminum wheels which looks awesome but I'm trying to go for the old school look.

 

Wire wheels have been around since the 1800's, and roads back then were a lot worse than the roads of today. In fack you won't find a Harley ride now days that will even take their bikes into a dirt parking lot. I have had wire wheels on my 2000 FLHT since I bought it, that being said I would go to mags in a heart beat if I could afford it right now. I would even put on stock mag wheels. You are dead in the water when you get a flat, and I have. the only thing that saved me was harleys towing plan, and a cell phone. So think this one over. Wire wheels are not going to stop me from doing the four USA state corners ride next year. will be gone three months, But yea I do wish I had mags on.
Good luck with your decission either way.

 

I think a 21 on the front looks great, but your going to give up some ride quality. I would run an oem 16 on the rear. I think (but Im not sure) that a 16 will carry more load than an 18 and give a smoother ride.

I put 16/16 on my FLHT because they are new take-offs. When the front tire wears out Im going with a 21, if I still own the bike.

 

After experiencing a flat on my wire wheels and little I could do (plug,etc.) and since I had been in the boondocks and if I had the flat there, no where near a dealer to call, I decided to replace the wire wheels with the mag type. At least now I can attempt to plug the tire. I also run ride on sealant in the tires as a added precaution. I love the looks of a wire wheel but the maintenance on them is much extra than a mag wheel.

 

I had same worry but DNA wheels say their spoked wheels are sealed and be treated the same as mag wheels so planning to go with them

 

I run 21/18 60 spoke DNA wheels on my Road Glide and have been since 2007. It rides a bit rougher than the stock 16/16, dooesn't have the same load rating as stock, doesn't handle as well as stock, but that has never been a problem for me. I don't scrape floorboards everytime I hit a corner and I don't mind the rougher ride. I'll jump on my bike and go anywhere, anytime and keep pace with just about anyone I ride with. My rims are sealed and I carry a plug kit and a small compressor. I've been on dirt roads, ridden through rain that you could hardly see through, even hit snow a few times. If I have to replace a tire on the road, then I might have to wait a day or two to get one. It's all part of the adventure.

That's just me.

Zach

 

IMO wire wheels are stronger and lighter. That is why BMW GS models have wire wheels. I like the looks of wire wheels, but I have cast wheels because they're easier to repair on the road.

I have a friend that rides a Road King with wire wheels. He switched to a 21 inch front. I think his RK handles great with the 21 inch front. No problem at all.

 

Even with sealed wire rims I would still run a tube.

I havent had a flat on anything in over 20 years.

 

Perfect

 

biglu,

I went with 16" rear and 18" front. I bought Drag Specialties Rims and Buchanan Twisted Stainless spokes. My indy re-laced the rims to the stock hubs. I added Dunlop E-3's and the handling is quicker, really sure and over-all better than stock. They'll always be a PIA to clean, but the stainless makes life with spokes much easier. 18" tires are getting more common so I'm not any more concerned about a replacement (on the road) than I was with the stock 16" front.