Fat Spokes for Touring
Former Sponsor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 10,968
Likes: 54
I prefer a 120/70/21 Michelin Commander on my ride. The stock tire (Dunlop) is hard as a rock in my opinion. Of course that is my opinion. If you want matching tread that is the only way to go with a stock rear if the bike is 09 or newer.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 6,129
Likes: 143
From: Santa Cruz
I also have been riding a while on all kinds of bikes with spokes. Only one I really had trouble with was the rear on a Frankenstein rigid dresser. It would snap a spoke once and a while but it never left me anywhere because of it. Just keep an eye on them.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9,193
Likes: 494
From: Richmond, VA
I ran the Midwest fat spoke on my Dyna and am running a DNA fat spoke on my Road King . So far, not an issue with either one. And to my knowledge, I don't even think its possible to true one of these fat spokes. At least in the traditional old school way. Ride Wright makes a great wheel. You can't go wrong with their stuff.
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: Nebraska
I ran the Midwest fat spoke on my Dyna and am running a DNA fat spoke on my Road King . So far, not an issue with either one. And to my knowledge, I don't even think its possible to true one of these fat spokes. At least in the traditional old school way. Ride Wright makes a great wheel. You can't go wrong with their stuff.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 10,968
Likes: 54
I hate to pull this one out of the closet but I think anyone considering sealed spoke wheels should read it.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/softa...killed-me.html
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 689
Likes: 6
From: Glen Rose TX
Spokes look great and certainly have a classic look.
You'll spend more time cleaning em than repairing em by a long, long shot.
If properly built they will last..
To maintain them I suggest that after a thousand miles or so to go around the wheels and strike each spoke with your "Spoke Wrench" and listen to the tone....
They should all have relatively the same tone...
Any that sound flat are a little loose
I go around the wheel and make sure that I don't have more than a few of them "Loose". I'd then give each one about 1/4 - 1/3 of a turn. Use a little common sense while torqueing them by going to opposite sides as much as possible.
if during the initial inspection you find a cluster of loose spokes in an area then you should probably do some investigating.
You'll spend more time cleaning em than repairing em by a long, long shot.
If properly built they will last..
To maintain them I suggest that after a thousand miles or so to go around the wheels and strike each spoke with your "Spoke Wrench" and listen to the tone....
They should all have relatively the same tone...
Any that sound flat are a little loose
I go around the wheel and make sure that I don't have more than a few of them "Loose". I'd then give each one about 1/4 - 1/3 of a turn. Use a little common sense while torqueing them by going to opposite sides as much as possible.
if during the initial inspection you find a cluster of loose spokes in an area then you should probably do some investigating.
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Tourer
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 268
Likes: 1
From: Cleveland
Other then cleaning you shouldn't have a lot of maintenance if you buy a quality spoked wheel. Just don't hit any major potholes, but those will jack up a non spoked wheel as well.
If you want the look of spokes but a solid wheel - check out wheels like the Primo Cali or the Thomason Performance Spokin
If you want the look of spokes but a solid wheel - check out wheels like the Primo Cali or the Thomason Performance Spokin
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transam7969
Dyna Glide Models
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May 29, 2010 09:03 AM