Which rim for streetglide
Novice
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: Minnesota
Puller is right!! I went to a 21" on my 08', tire spun freely on the stand. Rode 200 miles on a saturday, got home and had an 8" burn mark on my fender... At higher speeds, the tire expanded just enough to rub. Higher the speed, higher the heat. Nothing a fender repaint couldn't fix. Lesson learned I guess. I oblonged the rear holes on the fender mount to tip the fender just a touch. I would say now I have about 1/4" clearance between tire and fender with no issues.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 10,968
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2000-2013 enlarge the holes in the stock fender. 2014 needs brackets. We have them if you need them. Give us a call.
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Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 106
Likes: 1
From: Woodinville, WA
2011 FLHTC 21" 120/70/21" Avon tire, no modification of the stock fender, no rubbing. Had to remove the front bumper though.
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Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 106
Likes: 1
From: Woodinville, WA
BLUF: Yes, it will effect handling. What you really need to know is will it "adversely" effect handling and my opinion as well as most others I have read on this and other forums is, no it will not adversely effect handling. Keep in mind that when you install a 21" front wheel you are making changes to the motorcycles contact patch to the ground, you are making slight changes in the front end geometry, however slight that might be it will have some effect on the handling. The rolling "weight" of the front wheel changes somewhat and therefore the gyroscopic effects from the front wheel will be slightly different. All of the wheel manufacturers and after market shops etc will tell you the bike is still within safe geometry angles for the front end. Rake and trail numbers are within safe operating parameters.
Is there a major "seat of the pants" noticeable change in handling, again in my opinion, no.
When I installed my 21" front, I also installed the mono tube cartridge system in the front forks lowering the front end 1" in the process. These have an impact on handling, a positive one in most opinions. I also installed 10" WO578 Bagger Bars, these give a different "feel" to the front end. I installed the 944 rear shocks which also have an impact on handling to some degree as the rear suspension now feels and behaves differently.
Does a 21" front wheel effect ABS? I would also say no to that. Your ABS will still continue to function. I converted to a 13" single disc brake system when I installed my 21" front wheel, ABS works as it's suppose to work, I got up to speed (started with various speeds, slowly increasing the speed) and pulled as hard as I could on the front brake, ABS works.
I'm very happy that I went with the 21" front wheel, I really like the look and to me there are no adverse effects to the handling or ABS functionality of the bike.
Pete
Is there a major "seat of the pants" noticeable change in handling, again in my opinion, no.
When I installed my 21" front, I also installed the mono tube cartridge system in the front forks lowering the front end 1" in the process. These have an impact on handling, a positive one in most opinions. I also installed 10" WO578 Bagger Bars, these give a different "feel" to the front end. I installed the 944 rear shocks which also have an impact on handling to some degree as the rear suspension now feels and behaves differently.
Does a 21" front wheel effect ABS? I would also say no to that. Your ABS will still continue to function. I converted to a 13" single disc brake system when I installed my 21" front wheel, ABS works as it's suppose to work, I got up to speed (started with various speeds, slowly increasing the speed) and pulled as hard as I could on the front brake, ABS works.
I'm very happy that I went with the 21" front wheel, I really like the look and to me there are no adverse effects to the handling or ABS functionality of the bike.
Pete
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kyleplusitunes
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Feb 1, 2016 07:45 AM