25,000 miles on a 21" rim - enough is enough
 

After 25,000 miles of running a 21” front rim, I have decided to go to an 18” front rim.

It may not be as sexy as the 21”, but I was tired of fighting the bike as slow speeds, stopping, driving my crappy rough county road to get to the main highway and getting it up off the side stand.
The 21” wasn’t really bad, just different ……………..and not an improvement different.

The 21” is like dating a stripper, it’s hot, lots of fun to look at, but enough is enough.
I need a stable relationship. lol

Here's a couple crappy pictures:

18"
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t...May%2011/3.jpg

21"
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t...v%2010/h66.jpg

I love my 21, have no intentions on going back, but never say never.

I love my stripper. I'll keep her

Agreed.

Is the slightly greater lean on the stand that much harder to lift, I haven't really noticed that part at all.

I live on a 300 yard garvel rd, that was one of the reason for getting a 18inch wheel (wider than a 21)..love the look of a 21 but I have heard alot of bad comments about 21s. I had a roadking with a 18 and love it.
Wideglide had a 21..had all kind of trouble on the gravel rd..
http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/4201/p1030709s.jpg
Uploaded with ImageShack.us

It didn't really bother me getting it up off the side stand. I'm still somewhat healthy,
but it was funny seeing friends try to stand it up that weren't use to it.

Like I said, you get use to anything but I am just tired of it being 90% as good as stock.
I'm getting old enough I need my chit a little eaiser and more comfy I guess. hahahahaha

I think the 18" looks good too, but she just ain't a stripper no mo'. lol

18 looks good, but I'm not giving up my 21 yet. :)

Knock the rivets off the fender and lower it, that'll make it look like a 19.5" wheel!!

I just did mine for different reasons, 1) to get rid of those lovely rivets and 2) to level the fender. It's in the booth being painted as I type.

I'm happy with the way the fender is fitting. I actually had damage to my fender with the 21" because of not enough clearance. Those damn AVON tiers get so sticky, rocks stick to the tread and try to spin around inside the fender with the tire.

I had my fender adjusted for the 21" but they had been doing a complete road rebuild on my local highway the past two years and it had lots of loose gravel. I made it about a year and a half.

I think the 18" is plenty big enough. The big front wheel look is cool, but so many people are going there it lost it's uniqueness. JMHO. I know plenty will disagree.