I recently bought a 2000 XL1200C sportster from one of my co-workers. The bike has 10K miles on it. One of my factors in buying the bike is he just had the bike into the HD dealer for the 10K service and also had 2 new tires installed on the bike. I saw the ticket for the work done and I rode the bike home from the dealer. Now...here is where I need some advice from everyone. Yesterday in the garage I noticed the lip on the edge of the rim where it meets the tire has a spot that is flat for 6" or so. It looks like the rim maybe hit something or was dropped without the tire on it. It's a spoked wheel with a new tube and rim strip , is this something the dealer should catch while mounting a new tire on it? Is this a safety issue? Is my front rim weak now and what should be my next move? Any opinions would be helpful and appreciated. Thanks , Jason.

 

Post a pic. If it's chrome it can probably be fixed no problem as long as there's not a crease.

Should the dealer have said something? Yeah, maybe, but they probably only balanced the wheel and didn't "true" it. It's most likely from a curb or big pothole hit if the chrome isn't damaged. If the wheel was dropped without the tire and hit hard enough to create a flat spot it would've marked the chrome a good one.

 

Since it was at a dealer, they should have a rim clamp type machine. it holds the rim when putting the tire on and off. it should not have been taken off the machine while the tire was off. so I don't think they would have dropped it. but then ya never know.

 

I will try to get a pic posted Friday for you guys to evaluate. Would it be ok to assume the bike is ok to ride until I can get it back to the dealer to look at? I am thinking about just buying a new front rim so it isn't on my mind. If anyone has a 21" rim they would like to sell let me know. Maybe now would be a good time to get a sweet custom mag

 

As long as it ain't leaking air and the front end ain't shaking when you're riding it, you're okay. If you're shimmying when riding, it's out of true. Mine's in the shop and looking at $150 for truing. A 1 to 2 hour job, depending how bad it is.

 

Without seeing it I can't say for sure but you're probably ok. If you feel like you must replace it you don't need to buy the whole wheel. You can just buy the hoop.

$150 to true a wheel? DAMN!!!

 

Guys I have a 5 spoke alum HD rim coming I found on ebay. Here are some pics of my spoked rim , sorry about the flash. Let me know what u think.

 

Yeah, with a little work and alot of patience that can be fixed. You're safe to ride on it for now.

If you're replacing that wheel with another I'd buy it from you if the price is right.

 

I already have the other on it's way. It will be here Thursday. I have no clue what my spoked rim is worth but if you want to buy it , anything is better than it collecting dust in my garage! Thanks for the response by the way.

 

Send me a PM if you can think of a price...remember that it's damaged! lol.