21 inch wheel?

[EvilWayz]

So I got that narrowglide front end i wanted, and I wa thinking i'd like a 21 inch wheel like my 1200c had. Think this will work, and what model/year should i be looking for that will fit them forks?

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[nwpaironhead]

If the stem is under 1" I think its a sportster front. I believe a 74 to 77 hub will work. If its a 1" dia. stem I think a 73 to 80 lowrider hub will work. They may be interchangrable. Wait for more responses. If you need to lace the new hub to your wheel, a place called oceana cycles helped me out with the proper length spokes. You can find them on ebay motors . Just use their name in your search. I used a lowrider hub with a 2005 softail rim. They fixed me right up.

[piniongear]

Originally Posted by EvilWayz

So I got that narrowglide front end i wanted, and I wa thinking i'd like a 21 inch wheel like my 1200c had. Think this will work, and what model/year should i be looking for that will fit them forks?

The best way to get a 21 inch front wheel is to build it yourself.
You have the hub already on the front end you bought.
You have the axle that fits both the hub and the front forks, don't you?
If so, you are set.

Contact Buchanan Spokes in California. (626-969-4655)
http://www.buchananspokes.net/

Here is what I had on my Dyna. A 19 inch cast wheel. I hated the thing.



I wanted to build a 21 inch wheel with stainless steel spokes and nipples.

I needed a hub however. Looking on Ebay I found a complete 19 inch front wheel with tire for sale and I bought it.
This wheel came off a late model (2000) Sportster. My disc bolted right on to the hub.
When it arrived, I dismantled the wheel, tossed the spokes, nipples and rim along with the tire.
I was after that hub. It polished up pretty nicely too.

Then I called Buchanan and bought the spokes, nipples in a stainless polished finish. I also purchased the 21 inch Aluminum Ankront rim from them. This is all first class material.
Most people buy chrome but it is going to rust, and sooner rather than later. I like stainless myself.

Once you get started, the build is easy. This is an excellent task to teach yourself, because once you have rolled your own you will never again have a shop do the work. I can give you a bit of help if you want to learn how to do it...........



The build is done working in sets. A wheel has 40 spokes. There are 4 spokes to a set, so you are working with 10 sets. I always like to mark each set with masking tape as shown.....



The wheel is trued up using a good fitting spoke nipple wrench. You can make your own wheel stand as I did, or use the front forks as your build stand.
The dial indicator is not needed. I used it only because I have a bunch of them laying around the shop. Most shops use a simple piece of coat hanger wire as an indicator.
When I finished this build I was pleased with the result. The side to side run-out was only .011 inch, and the concentric run-out was also .011. No need to get it this close but I just like making things as close as I am able to get............



And here is what I had on the Dyna when I finished the build. Notice the fit between the 21 inch wheel/tire and the fender compared to the first pic of the 19 inch cast wheel/tire.
Nothing was done to the fender location. The factory must locate the fender to accommodate both sizes of wheels. I think the 21 looks better myself........



pg

[EvilWayz]

Does anyone have an opinion on not running with a front fender at all? i saw a chopper earlier today with a springer front and no fender and it looked bad ass.

I guess i'll be building a thingy to put my wheel that I'm building myself on. Also, what brand of spoke wrench do you use, i figure if it works for you it's prolly worth the money.

[bikerlaw]

I didn't run a front fender on my Springer for quite a while, but there are times it really sux. Those times would be when it rains. But the truth is, fenders are just a few bolts and a few minutes to install. If theres a chance your gettin' stuck in the rain, put it on.

[piniongear]

Originally Posted by EvilWayz

Does anyone have an opinion on not running with a front fender at all? i saw a chopper earlier today with a springer front and no fender and it looked bad ass.

I guess i'll be building a thingy to put my wheel that I'm building myself on. Also, what brand of spoke wrench do you use, i figure if it works for you it's prolly worth the money.

Yes, I have an opinion.......
A bike that has no front fender looks bad ass indeed........
A rider who rides this bike in the rain also looks bad assed indeed.
Which is the worst looking is the question. I think the soaked rider claims the title.
Seriously, put a fender on the front. You will wish you had one the first time you get caught on a wet street.



Here is my spoke wrench. Notice it does not say Harley Davidson on it. I got it at a Yamaha shop many years back.
The important thing about a spoke wrench is that it fits the nipples snugly. The second thing of importance is it is fairly hard and not made of pot metal, as many from China may be.
Just buy a wrench from whoever you buy the nipples and spokes from. Buchanan is the best in my book!
pg

[nwpaironhead]

Originally Posted by piniongear

Here is my spoke wrench. Notice it does not say Harley Davidson on it. I got it at a Yamaha shop many years back.
The important thing about a spoke wrench is that it fits the nipples snugly. The second thing of importance is it is fairly hard and not made of pot metal, as many from China may be.
Just buy a wrench from whoever you buy the nipples and spokes from. Buchanan is the best in my book!
pg

Ya know, cleeeear across the country, I had several people recommend Buchanan. They MUST have it goin' on! I searched for Buchannon and didn't find 'em. Oops. Got the spelling right for next time!

[piniongear]

Originally Posted by nwpaironhead

Ya know, cleeeear across the country, I had several people recommend Buchanan. They MUST have it goin' on! I searched for Buchannon and didn't find 'em. Oops. Got the spelling right for next time!

Yep, they are very, very good!
http://www.buchananspokes.net/

I remember the first time I called them up.
A young lady answered the phone.
I asked,.....'Can you connect me with someone who can fix me up with a spoke set?'
There was a hesitation........ Then she coldly replied.....'What can I help you with?' I could feel the ice on the other end of the line. I had it coming because I clearly thought I was talking to a receptionist.

She rattled off questions about what rim did I want to use?, 3 cross or 4 cross build?, what hub did I have? Rim size and type?

Ha-Ha I could hardly answer her questions on some items.
By the end of the conversation she had warmed up considerably and quoted me the price of all of the parts.
I placed my first order with them.
Still amazed at how much knowledge that young lady had about building wheels.
Dealt with no one but Buchanan ever since.
pg

[straydog13]

yamaha?...... hissss! ....hissss!
just jokin...japanese tools are good.taiwanese tools have gotten alot better over the years.i would even say good.most import stuff today is from china or worse...india/pakistan.you might as welll just use a pair of pliers as to rely on that.
if you have any issues concerning availabilty because of a 73 hub i beleive some fxrs uses the same hub but i cannot remember the years.--i have a 73 hub on my 81 as i have found out.
i personally wouldnt be concerned about how a front fender looks.i agree with pinion on this.besides its not like youre gonna put an indian chief fender on it...jst put somthing that does the job it will still look cool.
evil--FINISH THIS BIKE. i really want to see it.my little thing i have below from yoda...i am not a star wars freak ...its just a cooler way to say what an old friend taught me."youre gonna do or youre not gonna do it" or somthing to that effect.i can tell youre doing it and not just talking....i am excited to see this bike when youre finished.good luck

[EvilWayz]

Ya got the quote backwards friend, it's " do, or do not. There is no try."