Forgive me if this question has been asked many times before.

Anyone changed their front wheel rim on a FXST to a wider unit?

Just hate the skinny front tyre these things come with from the factory. 200 wide back tyre and 90mm front tyre,seems like it was designed with a pencil in one hand and a crack pipe in the other. The miss-match of the century.

It would appear that you can get a 21 x 3.5 rim off the web from USA that will fit a 120/70 x 21 front tyre.

Wondering if anyone has done this, and does it give more confidence through corners and in the wet. Or any other thoughts?

 

 

welcome to the forum

Hi Hot and Heavy

What type of rim did you go for, steel or aluminium.

I can get a steel chromed one for $350 US or a seamless Aluminium one chrome finish for $731 US. Not entirely sure of the pros and cons for either.

Will be able to fit a 120/70 x 21 inch tyre on them.

Thanks for putting that link in Ando. Your front wheel conversion looks mighty fine. Well done. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on how the wider tyre changed the bike's handling?. Also, what model sportster is that fender from that you used?, it fits like a glove.

As my model 2008 came out with spoked front and rear wheels I'll be going for a spoked front to match.

 

Mine was on 08 as well I
I used a smooth chrome rim and powder coated black and a breakout front wheel and then used a sporty front guard
It improved steering heaps and give more confidence to the front wheel

have to fatten da mudguard also ?

Went wider on the front and narrower on the back by putting on TC Fatbob rims, its a lot better handling on a Softail. Might not look as cool but rides significantly better. Wide rears are rubbish for handling as they want to stand up in the corners and they also sit out to the right hand side of the bikes centre line because you can't move the belt across any further to the left so the rim is shifted out to the right on the 200 mm or wider rims from the Harley factory. Putting on a wider front is only half doing the job if you have a wide rear end. Original skinny front and wide rear are only any good as a fashion statement and good for feck all else.  Mates who have done something similar like theirs too. If I knew now a few years ago I would have bought a Slim or a Deluxe instead and saved a lot of time and money.

Fat rear skinny front is great for drag racing

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/HARLEY-DAVIDSON-SPORTSTER-FRONT-GUARD-GENUINE-OEM-SCRATCHED-20C1632-/231349965439?pt=AU_Motorcycle_Parts_Accessories&hash=item35dd88527f

 

 

cheers for the link ando

There is quite a bit you can do to sharpen up the handling on the 07-09 FXST's, I have been through the exercise and the end result is day and night in difference.

I swapped out my my OEM 21" front wheel for a 19" with 3" rubber and at the same time reconfigured the front fork tuning with the installation of set of Race Tech Gold Emulating valves with rider weighted springs. At the rear I installed a set of Fournales.

Although I don't ride this sled much now as I prefer the Bagger for anything longer then half a day's ride which is most of my rides, the 09 FXST handles very very well with confidence to scape pegs on most occasions if desired, being an old bugger I keep this to days of hot black top.

Of all the mods I have implemented on the FXST, the front wheel with the Race Tech valving has been by far the best money for value of all. I am so impressed with the Race Tech that it was the first mod I installed on the Bagger.

Just a mention, I can ride at most speed bumps around town without backing off the throttle too much and the forks compress/rebound so my shoulders don't jar like they use to when forking was standard, but the real benefit is definatley when leaning into corners that start as slow sweeps and then half way through the corner they sharpen up so that your choice is to back off the throttle/rear brake or lean harder chancing your arm, I chance my arm confidently.

forsure if you want to put some bucks into her i hop-up a 2003 softie hole package ,  motor modification's RB race pipe etc  /body etc, on the handing side , 18" x 5.5" rear with fournales 13" floating rear disc 4 piston caliper , front 19x3" front with the 120 tyre , forks  gold vavles with race tech springs + air caps  , fork brace with  13" floating dual  disc with dual 6 piston calipers the list just goes on , what a beaut bike  one of the best softail's