Lighter Touring Wheels
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,537
Likes: 4
From: The Great River Road, Wisconsin
When I bought my 07 Standard it had spokes, and simply due to astetics, I grabbed a set of Street glide wheels and put them on.
I did not weigh them, but there was a noticable difference. It became alot more sure footed with the added weight.
It makes sense that the added weight would dampen any deflections from road surface. Obvoiusly air pressure, and suspension play a role as well.
Here on the west side of Sconnie we have Highway 10, which is aging concrete, and has been diamond cut (so called resurfaced) a few times in the last 20 years (along with frost heaves), absolutely sux to ride on, and there was a difference.
I did not weigh them, but there was a noticable difference. It became alot more sure footed with the added weight.
It makes sense that the added weight would dampen any deflections from road surface. Obvoiusly air pressure, and suspension play a role as well.
Here on the west side of Sconnie we have Highway 10, which is aging concrete, and has been diamond cut (so called resurfaced) a few times in the last 20 years (along with frost heaves), absolutely sux to ride on, and there was a difference.
Banned
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,341
Likes: 0
From: Dover, Oh
Lightening a touring bike I not the way to go. Not that it needs to be a tank but it handles just fine te way it is. I can over ride the leaning capabilities of a bagger. Lighter or not, they can only lean so much before they scrape.
From someone that has had an raced sportbikes, I think HD naggers are well balanced and great riding machines.
From someone that has had an raced sportbikes, I think HD naggers are well balanced and great riding machines.
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
From: central ohio
Lightening a touring bike I not the way to go. Not that it needs to be a tank but it handles just fine te way it is. I can over ride the leaning capabilities of a bagger. Lighter or not, they can only lean so much before they scrape.
From someone that has had an raced sportbikes, I think HD naggers are well balanced and great riding machines.
From someone that has had an raced sportbikes, I think HD naggers are well balanced and great riding machines.
My point here is the lighter wheels would allow the suspension to perform better over bumps and in all dynamic (moving) situations as well. Less unsprung and rotating mass equals more acceleration for a given amount of horsepower or a little better gas mileage for the same rate of acceleration. Aren't these all good things? I'm not trying to be a ricky road racer - just want to improve my Road Glide - hell it's winter here and we are all just bench racing till spring comes.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 6,154
Likes: 2,561
From: CT/FL
You don't know me but I've become well versed in wheel weight, having raced at Loudon NH which is a very bumpy technical track. Lighter (or heavier) wheels DO NOT affect how far you can lean the bike. They DO affect keeping the rubber on the road on bumps, leaned over or straight. While a heavier wheel will resist movement as mentioned above, unfortunately it does move and will continue to move even after the bump is passed. That means the tire is in the air! even for a split second, that isn't good. Lighter wheels let the tire follow the bumps in the road. As for comfort, lighter wheels need less shock/fork damping, so they don't transmit the bumps to the rider as much. So this quest for lightness is important, even in an 800+ pound bike. Thanks, Joe
ps I have the front wheel off my bike and will weigh it tonight.
ps I have the front wheel off my bike and will weigh it tonight.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Joe, you are quite right. The only flaw is that stock Harley suspension is so poor. Having mentioned Howard of Motorcycle Metal, he can not only supply CF wheels and Ohlins shocks, but is also working on Ohlins cartridge forks. Now between them they would truly change the nature of our bikes!
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 322
Likes: 1
From: Montreal, QC
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
From: central ohio