Howdy All,

Early last year, I've upgraded my original wheels on Street Bob (2008) to a set of Ride Wright Fat 50.

The front wheels is 21 x 2.25 while the rear is 18 x 5.5. I am currently running very popular metzler mez2 tyres.

Just came back from a 1500 km ride (over 3 days with lots of corners) and overall the handling has been compromised.

What i've noticed is how 'reluctant" the bike is to turn into the corner. Gone is a feeling of grip and security.

While I was running the original tyres and wheels combo, I could lean the bike way over and still have a feeling of grip and confidence. The bike turned in quite easily and kept line through the corner.

Since the upgrade, I feel that the bike is very reluctant on turn in. When trying to "tighten" the line mid-corner, the bike seems to be "fighting" me all the way to apex. When leaned over in the corner, the bike no longer inspires any confidence. Also gone is a feedback I used to get from the front end.

 

So the bottom line  is - did I severely compromise handling by changing to Ride Wright Fat 50 wheels and more so my selecting a 21  x 2.25" front wheel?

Any experience/opinions/recommendations are most welcome!

Cheers

Vlad

 

Vlad, what tyre widths are you running ?
what is the difference in the height front and rear compared to stock ?
Did you lower the forks to compensate for the change in rake/trail ?
A 21" front will usually steer a lot slower than a smaller diameter wheel, partly due to the gyroscopic effect.

You've probably upset things a little more by going to a wider rear tyre.
I'm also guessing the front wheel is now heavier than the one it replaced ?

Thanks for your suggestion boys.
You both are completely right.
I am running ME880 on front and rear.
The front rim is 21 x 2.15 which has 21/90 on it.
The rear is 18x5.5 running 180 on it.

I think the extra weight of the rims and smaller tire are also playing part.
I also find that I barely get any feedback from the front end. It's very vague and not confidence inspiring.
I certainly had no such issues with a stock wheels.

Anyways, I might be selling these soon and going back to stock. How hard would it be to powder the original wheels and hubs?

Easy enough to powdercoat, the only hassle is you would need to pull the wheel bearings due to the heat when baking.
The other way would be to get them spray painted with two pack epoxy or similar.
The problem is if you need to adjust the spokes, you would damage the finish.

Expensive lesson but wide tires and larger diametre rims over stock will result in poorer handling (tracking, slow turn in etc). If you want handling bang on some good sticky rubber on stock wheels and enjoy.

Why do you call the wheel swap an "upgrade" if it's less pleasant and confidence inspiring to ride? Sounds like a downgrade to me.
Because the front tire is narrower and the rear is wider, the angle the line between the front and rear contact patches makes with the center line of the motorcycle is increased, changing the intensity of steering forces.  I am assuming you selected the wheels for their looks and not for their steering dynamics.  If you want better handling, then put the stockers back on. 

Take it easy guys
Obviously I've chosen the Ride Wrights for the LKS.
Surely no one in the right mind would choose them for outright performance. Mind you the wheels are solidly built. Given the Ozzie roads, your light alloys wheels might not last the distance.

Prior to buying the set, I've done fair bit of research and couldn't find much negative feedback. Anyway, I do like my corners and the Ride Wrights are certainly no your "sports" wheel. They are heavy, but not much heavier than stock.

I think my main mistake, was going for 21" instead of keeping the stock 19" diameter.
I wasn't aware that CVO dyna come standard with 21". If so, I wonder what is the rim width? I think standard dyna is 2.15".

mulletmun - increasing the pressure will decrease the tire contact area with the road and hence reduce the grip. I run mine at 32 psi.
Obviously the turn in will improve with higher pressure but I am not willing to sacrifice the grip.

Dynamic - upgrade is used as a figure of speech. Obviously is this case it was a downgrade.

The od of a 90/90 21 isn't significantly different from a 110/90 19. That isn't the source of your problem and so lowering the front end won't make that much of a difference. Some, yes.
When the bike is straight up, the contact patches are in line. Imagine that line drawn on the ground. Now lean to one side, as if into a corner. The contact patch moves outboard on the tire. If you have a thin front tire, the patch moves a little outboard. Depending on speed, the steering of the front wheel into the corner also moves the patch slightly to the side of the turn. If you have a wide rear, he patch moves a lot in the same direction. Now draw a line between the two patches in the leaned over position. The second line makes an angle with the first line. Changing that angle to any significant amount will alter the steering dynamics. Heavier wheels, particularly the front, will also make directional changes slower and require more input and amplify the steering changes caused by the wider rear/narrower front.

I am runing ME880 on the front 90/90/21.
The rim is 2.25" wide.

I've ridden my buddy's CrossBones (I know it's not a Dyna so it is inferir by default) which has 21x3.5 running 120x70 and the front end feels more planted and better.
Would it be correct to assume that if I had a wider rim say 21x3.5 running 120x70 the front end would be little more confidence inspiring?

I will try lowering the front end, but I agree with Dynamic, I doubt that it would change things too much!
Dont' get me wrong boys, I like bike to handle half decent, but I am under no illusions about it. It's never going to be an R1 beater.(no do I want it to be)

Anyways, I see heaps of guys running 21x3.5 wheels laced to the original 19" hub. Most use 120x70 ME880. I've yet to hear anyone complaigning.
So what gives?

Vladt, I would doubt that would help the handling at all on the Dyna, but if you have the money to try it, why not.
I use Phil at Lightfoot Engineering in Melbourne for spoke wheel building.

As you say, the Crossbones is whole other kettle of fish !
Crossbones 32.5 Deg'rake 160mm trail
Streetbob 29 Deg' rake 119 trail

Why not try and find a test ride on a new Wideglide, and see how they handle for reference.

hmm Hilly,
That's what's bugging me. Everyone I talk to who runs 120x70x21 doesn't seem to have any major handling issues.
Could it be that my narrow rim and tire contribute to the handling issues?!

I guess it comes down to whether I should go back to stock or sell my 21 and get the 21x3.5 instead?

I have 18x5.5 with 200 Avon on mine and it corners as good and grips way better than standard set up

I am already running 18x5.5 on the rear with 180. I don't really have any issues with it, my main gripe was with the front end.
Anyway, I've decided to go for 21 x 3.5, running 120x70.

I know it's a gamble, but it is probably worth taking.
If that doesn't improve things, my ride wrights are getting sold and I am going back to stock wheels.
Lets' hope all the boys who are running 21x3.5 are not wrong!

Cheers

How did this work out for you vladt?