Rebuilding the bike from the July crash and found a front wheel I really like. The thing is that the wheel manufacturer tells me that I will have to measure and make wheel spacers to accommodate the newer hub on my older 1999 ultra. Is this a big deal? Are we talking about a couple chunks of steel at a length I will have to identify with a hole for the axle in them? Aggravated I guess because at every turn its something else that is not standard on this old American made classic!

 

Might be able to find your spacers HERE. Few pages, various sizes.

 

Thanks for the response Dawg! The really aggravating thing is that their site clearly said the wheel would arrive "bolt on" just use stock spacers. All my planning and figuring and thinking and planing and asking questions and hope'n etc......may not have paid off! There seems to be some sort of curse on the 1999 scooter! :-)

 

The right size spacers are very important so that your brake rotor sits centered in the caliper and the other issue is the forks, too short of spacers will squeeze the lower tubes, to big will spread them, Booth off these scenario's could have serious consequences. I would be on the wheel makers Tech department for more help. They should be able to help you more than what they are doing and no it is not a good idea to just cut a piece of tube, Use spacers made for the gob.

 

The only difference between your 99 and newer bikes is the 3/4" axle vs the 1" that we run now. I would be interested in knowing what that wheel is designed to fit originally. Spacers, are available through any of the Aftermarket books down to about 1/16" difference. Alignment always starts at the rotors, and if you're aligned there, the measurements are pretty straight forward. Hope that helps...

 

I think a 1999 has tapered roller bearings and the 2000 up have sealed bearings with either a 3/4", a 1" or 15mm bore. What brand is the wheel?