Hi guys, I've got a 98 Road King Evo carb FLHR with sidecar and I love it. I've got a clearance question regarding the front tyre and guard. It's got a near new HD Dunlop 402F MT90B-16 tyre fitted by the local Harley dealer before I got the bike.

The previous owner dropped the bike at a slow speed he said, scraping the crash bar underneath, left footboard underneath and the fender tip and Road King emblem on the left side of the guard are both damaged.

I have very little clearance between the tyre and the right side of the guard, only about 4mm. I can't even slide my finger in between the tyre and the guard bracket it's so close. Same on the left side but it's about 5mm, still too close for my liking. The guard does not look bent or twisted.

Is it normal to have such little clearance on these old Road Kings? Anyone else got this model can fill me in please?

I went to the dealer today but the head mechanic was away. They have an Ultra classic Electra-Glide in the showroom so I ran my finger along the guard and tyre which is the same as mine almost. Wow it's got heaps of clearance, 3 times more.

I suspect my whole front guard has been pushed in or something. But before I go removing the guard and attempt to bend brackets etc I wanted to check about this tyre? The USA HD website says it is for my model, 1998 Road King FLHR.

Any suggestion of front tyre to guard clearance would be greatly appreciated, cheers

Sounds bent to me but could well be spaced in the axle to ofset the side-car. We used to do a very similar thing to a Z1R outfit at the bikeshop to stop it scubbing out the front tyre. Have a little look at the spacers on the front wheel.

I own a 1997 FLHT evo electroglide so not far off your model.

The front guard is a snug fit. There is about 10mm at the edge to the tyre but when you go to the brackets inside the distance drops to about 5mm. I did have it off (long story as the bike took a year or so to bring back to good as it had been parked for 16 years) and found the clearnaces were all good and standard but still very close. The bike almost brand new and undamaged so standard.

I can take some photos if that helps so PM me and I'll send them direct.

Spacers are even both sides as I found them when I got the bike which had no sidecar then. Local dealer fitted the new Dunlop HD 402 tyre so they would have installed the wheel as is.

yes Navvy your guard sounds like what mine is doing, plenty of clearance at the front but at the brackets is my concern. So 5mm at the brackets is normal? Isn't that a bit close for comfort?
When cornering doesn't the tyre wall bend out? Poor design maybe? SOme photos would be great, I will inbox you cheers,
thanks guys

Navvy I went to your profile but I can't find anywhere to inbox you? I'm new here, where can I send you a PM?

On the left under his name there is a pm button....

Sent the pics as a PM so it should be in your indox. (RH side of this page, click on Unread Messages). Better than cluttering the forum with images and anyone interested can track me anyway and I can resend to them.

The setup of the guard is tight but I have had no issues with touching and I am running new rubber on new standard rims. I did pay extra care to ensuring all bolts were tight and Locktite assisted as you do not want one to loosen even a bit as it would cause tyre damage before you had time to notice anything awry.

Let me know if you need anything more.

oh yes thanks I see the yellow PM button now, cheers

I can see by the PM pics your guard is the same as mine. Can't believe your clearance is also 5mm. Hope I never pick up a stone. When I installed the rails I added a spring lock washer and blue Loctite to the mounting bolts. I wonder if a later model guard would fit. I notice the Ultra Classic Electra-Glide has about 12 -15 mm clearance at the brackets, it could have been a twin cam model. I would definately replace this guard if I could find a replacement with more clearance. I'm not comfortable about it have to say.

thanks for the help, cheers