21 18 Wheel Conversion
#21
#23
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Bay Area 41510 To Vegas!!!
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RE: 21 18 Wheel Conversion
ORIGINAL: IceHeritage
1) The handling is a little more responsive
2) Non just install and Ride
1) The handling is a little more responsive
2) Non just install and Ride
#24
RE: 21 18 Wheel Conversion
Those giant wheels sure have cool factor. But then, I'd be on a Wide-Glide if cool factor was all there was to riding. From Thunder Press Magazine, May 2007, Motorhead Memo, by Kip Woodring:
"..;change to 18" wheels and you affect gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), with the low-profile tires required in such a swap. There goes the option to safely load the scoot to the gunwales on road trips...Wheels: 18 X 3.5 " billet PM, likely less flexible than factory "mags" and certainly stiffer than spoke wheels. But, they are heavier, and being a larger diameter, they carry more mass at the outer edges. That increases the gyro effect at speed and makes for less crisp turn-in. the resulting slower steering response and harsher ride quality are no big deal on freeways and in smooth sweepers, but tight or bumpy switchbacks are liable to be a lot more work for the rider..."
Yep, I drool over 'em at the watering holes! But I do so much of my ridingin mountain twisties around the backroads that this modification just takes away a little more than it gives for me.
"..;change to 18" wheels and you affect gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), with the low-profile tires required in such a swap. There goes the option to safely load the scoot to the gunwales on road trips...Wheels: 18 X 3.5 " billet PM, likely less flexible than factory "mags" and certainly stiffer than spoke wheels. But, they are heavier, and being a larger diameter, they carry more mass at the outer edges. That increases the gyro effect at speed and makes for less crisp turn-in. the resulting slower steering response and harsher ride quality are no big deal on freeways and in smooth sweepers, but tight or bumpy switchbacks are liable to be a lot more work for the rider..."
Yep, I drool over 'em at the watering holes! But I do so much of my ridingin mountain twisties around the backroads that this modification just takes away a little more than it gives for me.
#25
RE: 21 18 Wheel Conversion
i can't comment on riding a harley with bigger wheels... but have however ridden many different sportbikes with different sized wheels, most notably the cbr900rr... when first released (and for many years following) the cbr9 had a 16" front wheel (17" rear) and the older ninja's had 16's front and rear)... when each of these bikes finally went to a 17" wheel they got noticably more stable at speed and handling picked up quite a bit... now, on older 1st gen GSXR's they had 18" fronts and when they went to 17's they picked up a slightly crisper handling characteristic and tended to be a bit "twitchy" at speed... imho, based on what I've experienced, i don't think that on a harley touring bike that moving to 18's would present any problem... 21's I don't know, but I'd definitely consider 18's if I had the $$ to do it... if they made a 17" i'd get those and install some good rubber that's generally available for most sport bikes...
#26
RE: 21 18 Wheel Conversion
I have riden sport bikes (I guess I am whatsomeone on the forum so kindly referred to as a CRB, crotch rocket bastard) and can appreciate a good handling bike. Irun a 21" front 18" rear and disagree thatthe turn-in is any less crisp. I find the bike to be very neutral at speed and quicker on turn-in at low speed. I have notice improved handling but that may be dueto running the Metz vs. the Dun-rocks.
The look is still unique here in Minnesota. I have only seen one other bike, last weekend as amatter of fact, with the 21"/18" combo.Iget lots of compliments and I don't think most even know why it looks so different.
Cheers,
CRB (AKA RJ)
The look is still unique here in Minnesota. I have only seen one other bike, last weekend as amatter of fact, with the 21"/18" combo.Iget lots of compliments and I don't think most even know why it looks so different.
Cheers,
CRB (AKA RJ)
#28
RE: 21 18 Wheel Conversion
ORIGINAL: 04harleyboy
I would like to see a copy of this article. I am an engineer by trade, and would love hear what they have to say. I have only been running my set up for a couple of months now (not as long as Ice Heritage has), but I have logged over 2,000 trouble free miles on them so far. Please feel free to send me a link to that article if you can.
I would like to see a copy of this article. I am an engineer by trade, and would love hear what they have to say. I have only been running my set up for a couple of months now (not as long as Ice Heritage has), but I have logged over 2,000 trouble free miles on them so far. Please feel free to send me a link to that article if you can.
Check it out: http://www.thunderpress.net/MONTH_AR...orheadMemo.pdf
Thunder Press url: http://www.thunderpress.net/month.html
#30
RE: 21 18 Wheel Conversion
ORIGINAL: Firetender
Those giant wheels sure have cool factor. But then, I'd be on a Wide-Glide if cool factor was all there was to riding. From Thunder Press Magazine, May 2007, Motorhead Memo, by Kip Woodring:
"..;change to 18" wheels and you affect gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), with the low-profile tires required in such a swap. There goes the option to safely load the scoot to the gunwales on road trips...Wheels: 18 X 3.5 " billet PM, likely less flexible than factory "mags" and certainly stiffer than spoke wheels. But, they are heavier, and being a larger diameter, they carry more mass at the outer edges. That increases the gyro effect at speed and makes for less crisp turn-in. the resulting slower steering response and harsher ride quality are no big deal on freeways and in smooth sweepers, but tight or bumpy switchbacks are liable to be a lot more work for the rider..."
Yep, I drool over 'em at the watering holes! But I do so much of my ridingin mountain twisties around the backroads that this modification just takes away a little more than it gives for me.
Those giant wheels sure have cool factor. But then, I'd be on a Wide-Glide if cool factor was all there was to riding. From Thunder Press Magazine, May 2007, Motorhead Memo, by Kip Woodring:
"..;change to 18" wheels and you affect gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), with the low-profile tires required in such a swap. There goes the option to safely load the scoot to the gunwales on road trips...Wheels: 18 X 3.5 " billet PM, likely less flexible than factory "mags" and certainly stiffer than spoke wheels. But, they are heavier, and being a larger diameter, they carry more mass at the outer edges. That increases the gyro effect at speed and makes for less crisp turn-in. the resulting slower steering response and harsher ride quality are no big deal on freeways and in smooth sweepers, but tight or bumpy switchbacks are liable to be a lot more work for the rider..."
Yep, I drool over 'em at the watering holes! But I do so much of my ridingin mountain twisties around the backroads that this modification just takes away a little more than it gives for me.