Hey guys has anyone got a Softail preferably a modern one but any year  will do  with a 19" front wheel on or has in the past ...  would love to see a pic or two to see how the whole flow of the bike looks and to hear what people thought of the differences in handling were ... am looking at putting some Fat Spoke wheels on my 2008 but am just exploring my possibilities ... will most likely go with a 21 x 3.5" front with a 18 x 5.5 rear .

Had a good mate back in the mid 80`s who had a old Shovel in a rigid frame with a 19" front and man he could ride the hell out of that thing and it looked great as well ... and seeing as though the modern Softails have that same rigid look , well that is why i am courious .

 Hope to hear from some of you good folks.

Tim .

 

Go the 21"

Hi Tim
Got a 19'' v-rod wheel -19 x 3 rim & low profile 19x70x120 Tyre in a 07 deuce -shit hot handling -there was pics on page 29 of show u r bike-softail-they're gone now-but hopefully smdf who helped put them up can make them re appear?
Also the mongrels post has some info -its a few before yours.
I'd be checking cost & availability of rim & tyres -as I don't think 21x 3.5 is a standard production size-mine being v-rod at least is a factory bike so availability & cost is reasonable.
There was an excellent post on 19" wheel conversion a few years ago- I think the guy was from S.A -very informative,with pics -helped me decide.
Cheers Wayco

Thanks Wayco ... will look into that option ... yeah i reckon the handling has to be better but i dont want to destroy the look of the Front end , which i dont think it will but was the reason for checking out some pics ... the 21 x 3.5 is definitly a better look with the advantage of more tyre on the road .

I reckon i can see the post coming that will say if i wanted a Harley that handled then i shouldnt have got a Softail , Lol ... but hey isnt the whole idear of owning these beautiful machines all about individuallity ... any how appreictate your response .

Tim .

Tim,
U r right if u want ducati handling buy a ducati.
its u r bike,at the end of the day u have to be happy ,& u have to pay for the mods-sometimes the $$$ required can restrict u r plans .
Good luck with whatever u choose.
Wayco

Got my front wheel relaced to 19", handles heaps better. The best thing is the extended tyre wear. I was changing the front tyre every service with the 21" but ive just gone past 15 thousand with the 19" and still looking good. Sorry no pics on this computer

Gidday all ... Hey Odinsvolk , thats a interesting idear , i`m presuming you used your stock 21" hub and got a 19" rim and new spokes ... what size rim did you go with and did you have to do much mods to the front guard .

Sparra have you seen VPW`s prices ... i`m sure he has the 21 x 3.5 for less than $500 and thats for his Fat Spoke range , he has standard size spoke wheels as well .

Just in case people think i go on about VPW a bit to much , well for the record i dont work there or have ever met the man or even got any of his products ... Yet ... just thought i would try the local guys first ... there is also some guys up here in Sunny { Wet } Qld who have simurlar wheels , such as Birdz Bitz up near Caboltourer and another mob called Easyrider ... not totally sure about that last name , think they used to be Twin Power , in a suburb called Geebung ... both of their prices were between $ 1600 & $1800 but that was for both front and rear in the Fat Spoke range .

Gidday KiwiDave , nice looking Old School Cool you have there ... you may not remember but you gave me some great advice some time back about choice of bikes as well as some books to source which i did ... they were and are very imformitive ... although i had a old 76 SuperGlide back in the late 80`s early 90`s this past couple of decades have seen me on Jappa`s ... old Zed`s mainly , so getting used to the 21" on my 2008 Softail is taking its time , hence the investergations into getting a bit more meat on the road ... it`s all good though , it`s a great learning trip i`m taking and so far enjoying very much .

Thanks all , Safe riding ... Tim .

Stock hub, stainless spokes , 19 x cant remember, no guard mods just slightly bigger gap but not much in it. Tyre spokes and rim about $500 from memory

Thanks Odinsvolk ... that is definitly something to think about .

 

Thanks for the pics Odinsvolk ... that looks pretty trick ... bloody love those Tear Drop Air Cleaners ... just ordered myself the modern version called the Air Stream cover to go with the S&S Super Stock Air cleaner kit from M&M Cycles out of The Good ol US of A ... that set up along with the Freedom shorty`s from the same place will hopefully help the ol girl to breath a little better and give me a little more top end ... will let you know which way i end up going with the wheels .

Yeah Sparra , i got the same info from him as well ... not that it matters but does anyone know if Walka is still with the Forum , i noticed VPW are not sponsors anymore ... anyhow getting close to the end of Feb so will be interested to see what he`s got .

Then the next problem ... Chrome rims , Spokes and Hub or Black rims , polished Stainless Steel Spokes and Black Hub ... dicissions dicissions dicissions ... Thanks guys .

Tim .

Just checked again and VPW seem to be back as sponsors ... good to see .

Tim .