Got laced wheels on both my sporty and RK. Check them every oil change, no problems

 

I attended a HD tune up seminar last Saturday and spoke wheels did come up. I didn't pay a lot of attention because I don't have the spokes. I do remember him say that they need to be tighten at each tune up. My husband has a 2004 RKC never had a problem my brother in-law has a 2008 RK and always having his tightened.

 

It scared the sh*t outta me the first time it happened, the bike would start shaking really bad when I let off the throttle. I checked the neck bearing and other parts but not the spokes. My friend got on mine and with in 1/2 a block knew what it was. I did feel the spokes and they were loose, I thought it was weird cause it was only 6 or so. Maybe I'll stick a spoke front wheel and a mag back.

 

Spoke wheels are cool! But... they do require more maintenance - tightening & cleaning. Also, don't get a flat tire in the middle of nowhere with no cell phone coverage...

 

I ride 2 up 95% of the time, lots of times bike loaded like the Clampets moving to Beverly.....never once had an issue with the stock spoke wheels on my Road King, probably had 90K miles on them. I got ride of them only because I wanted a tubeless wheel, was never a maintenance issue.

 

Might wanna take a look at the motor mounts too. Happened to me once, thought the front end of the bike was comming off every time I let off the throttle. Stopped, check the wheel, disc, rotor....got back on, rode another 50 miles, stopped again, repeat repeat repeat until I made it back home from Tucson. Rolled into the stealership and they spotted the front motor mount trouble right away.

 

Bikercrap that's how this guy was. I was going to follow him to his house about 5 blocks away, him on my bike and me in my truck. He pulled out of the driveway, accelerated, decelerated, stopped and showed me the loose spokes. He checked everything else for me too, no other issues.