When I bought my bike it had the factory spoke wheels. After 3 seasons of riding my bike started wobbling during deceleration which was caused by loosened spokes. My indy/friend told me the spokes were pulling out of the hub and I should get a non spoke wheel. He said they were pulling out because I do a lot of 2 up riding and when I ride solo I ride pretty hard. I powdercoated a fatboy wheel gloss black and installed that.

I don't have the extra money to spend $3500 on a whole set of wheels, rotors and pulleys. I really want an 18x3.5 wheel in the rear with a 21x3 in the front and I've been looking at some of your bikes with spokes and they're growing on me. Has anyone ever had this problem or was I misled? Any info would be helpful. What kind of maintenance is required for spokes?

 

Spokes on mine for many moons no problems. If you are a rodder then you need to check them periodically for tightness as undo stresses WILL cause stretching. If your wheel was not rusting out then the spokes pulling out of the wheel is indicative of rodding.

Change your style of throttle twisting or stay with cast wheels. JMHO.

 

+1

I ride two up 75% of the time. I bought my Dyna with 10,000 miles on it and now at 22,000 (I check my spokes every 5,000 service) I've never even had to tighten a spoke.

 

I have spoaks on my XL50 front and raar, use to ride 2 up on it and ride it very hard and only ever had a few lose spokes and no real issues with them. I think your buddy might be smoking something.

 

On my stock powertrain Electraglide, 99% two up and often loaded for touring, no problems with stock laced wheels. Mine are profile aluminum, not steel. H-D has been putting laced wheels on motorcycles for a long time, but maybe higher horsepower is a factor.

 

30k and 4yrs and I ckeck mine every yr, usually a couple needs tightened a little.

 

5yrs no problems

 

18 Harleys, 1 Fatboy, 1 FLH with mags, and all the rest spokes. Never even checked ONE, and never a problem. I think someone is horsesassin' ya!

 

It's part of maintaining the bike. Check the spokes. Every 5,000 miles or so. How long do you think spokes have been used on motorcycles? They even make torque wrenches for spokes now.

 

I know they've been used forever. I just never checked the spokes, pretty good about other stuff. All part of the learning curve, I guess.