Heres my story. I ride all year round in NorthEast PA as long as theres no snow and its not in like the single digits(although I have in the past). I rode about 6 weeks ago we had a warm spell with snow melting and of course mixed with salt but fuggit I'm riding. About 100 miles that day and then wham it gets cold in the late afternoon-too cold to break out the frozen hose and rinse the bike. So I put it away. Less than 2 days later I wash it in my garage. Next day I'm looking at the wheels(and the rear pulley and caliper bracket) and they are salt and corrosion city. Tried sanding with 2000 grit, never dull, etc bottom line-wheels are done. So with income tax return rolling in I bought a set of 2007 smooth(not the stepped ones)chromes spoke wheels with front tire on the front rim and all supposedly are 700 mile takeoffs including the tire- for about 430.00 inc shipping. Now my dealer is like yeah we'll put em on for about 140.00. Great, too great to me. So I call back and get the regular service guy- hes like 245.00 on the high side unless you get the front wheel with the tire already monuted then a little less. I know you gotta switch rotors and drive pulley and mount up the wheels but I'm thinking of borrowing a friends jack and 2005 FLHT service manual and DIY it. By the way any drawbacks to the spokes? I couldn't see putting the same wheels on and having it happen again, mainlybeacuse I'm going to ride the bike when I want to not when the wheels permit it. Bottom line unless you WANT spokes rinse your aluminum right after a salty ride.

 

Wheels + SALT = corrosion guaranteed!

 

do it yourself.i am in middle of swapping in hog pro wheels and it is easy.use a little locktie on the bolts for rotors and pulley.

 

When you take off the front wheel do the brake pads fall out? Do I need to take the calipers off first?

 

CALIPERS OFF 1ST. THEN WHEEL ..

PS: WHY WOULD 1 RIDE WITH SALT ON THE GROUND CAUSE YOUR WHEELS AND CALIPERS TO BE USELESS??? IVE RIDDEN IN ALL KINDS OF WEATHER SALT INCLUDED.. NEVER HAD TO REPLACE MY WHEELS+ CALIPERS ETC ..

 

Thanks. Nowon the caliper theres a bolt with a like 10 or 12 head raised ridges if I remember correctly. What kind of socket is that? I don't think I have those.

 

no, the pads have bolts through them..i pulled the calipers loose first and moved them out of the way.tire will slide right out this way

 

The front wheel won't come off with the calipers in in place. Remove them first and tie them back so they don't ding up your fender. The padswill not come off.
Jeff

 

Nick theres not useless but I guess because I let them dry they pitted like a ****. Even the rear caliper bracket I noticed yesterday looks like ****. I mean you don't see it so I'm leaving it but alos the drive pulley is pitted too.

 

10 mil ,12 point socket