Switching to a 21 inch front wheel with 18 inch rear
- Thread starter TIPSYXB
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I would think that your handling will decrease with a 21" on the front since you are losing the amount of rubber touching the ground as well as changing the geometry of the bike. I believe I've read that some people lower the front end a little bit when using a 21" front to level the bike out, not sure though. I've never been a fan of the 21" front look but that's just me.
As with anything there's always going to be some sort of downside. Wheels and tires always add a tremendous amount of cool factor.
I have always been that guy for the past 40 years with wheels and tires on every car and motorcycle owned. The ride has always suffered in all my cases. As for my previously owned HD 2002 Fatboy went from 16" wheels with tall sidewalls and fat profile tires to 18" wheels (WCC) short sidewall thinner profile tire wrecked the ride. tried shocks and springs no help. Damn it was only 2"!
Cars much the same in results.
Guess we never realize how much wheels and tires are an integral function of the suspension design and mechanics. Definitely smarter people than myself.
But it still looks cools. Only you can decide what's more important.
I absolutely promised my wife on this one...NO wheels and tires! I think I'll keep it. Other than the chrome version of the stocker! "That Cool Factor"
I have always been that guy for the past 40 years with wheels and tires on every car and motorcycle owned. The ride has always suffered in all my cases. As for my previously owned HD 2002 Fatboy went from 16" wheels with tall sidewalls and fat profile tires to 18" wheels (WCC) short sidewall thinner profile tire wrecked the ride. tried shocks and springs no help. Damn it was only 2"!
Cars much the same in results.
Guess we never realize how much wheels and tires are an integral function of the suspension design and mechanics. Definitely smarter people than myself.
But it still looks cools. Only you can decide what's more important.
I absolutely promised my wife on this one...NO wheels and tires! I think I'll keep it. Other than the chrome version of the stocker! "That Cool Factor"
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Don't take just my word for it. Others who chime with their opinions may vary. The CVO model for instance has an 18" rear wheel on it with a shorter sidewall same width. I haven't ridden one so I have no comparison to base anything from.
My "personal" experiences which are many are cool vs. comfort.
Pretty much you need to decide on function or fashion/looks.... HD designed the bikes suspension and handling based on 16" rear tires and 18" or 19" fronts. Not exactly the same thing but I can tell a huge difference in handling on my dirtbike when you using a wide low profile rear tire vs the stock tire that is a little narrower but much taller sidewall.
cool factor is a nice thing but i got this to ride on the open road. My cool bike is my 2015 breakout im building insane.
I think it depends how hard you ride the curves. I'm pretty aggressive. My buddy has 21,18 set up on his 16 SGS and he loves it, he's pretty aggressive also, it's higher clearance so I touchdown some and he almost never does. I rode it some and felt basically the same as my 14 and my 17. Be sure to stay with good rubber and you'll be fine
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Switching to a 21 inch front wheel with 18 inch rear
Everyone wants bigger wheels in the front and I'm planning on going the other way and doing a fat tire front end with an 18x5.5 front wheel with a 180/55r18 tire. I think it looks so badass and I'm all for a smoother ride
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Everyone wants bigger wheels in the front and I'm planning on going the other way and doing a fat tire front end with an 18x5.5 front wheel with a 180/55r18 tire. I think it looks so badass and I'm all for a smoother ride
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I didn't go much bigger, went from a 18 front to a 19 front. Haven't noticed any difference. Chris
