spokes for a fatboy - Harley Forum

electricalman · #1 09-11-2007, 05:51 PM

I own a 04 fatboy. I want to ditch the solid wheels & inst. chrome rims & spokes. I've read, talked & looked. you guy's have any recommendations. would 17 inchers fit. I know it sounds funny but I would like to lean out the look of the bike. oh, & please no narrow side walls. I guess what I want is mean & lean. remember, real motorcycles have spokes. billet wheels is right up there w/"if it don't go chrome it".

#2 09-11-2007, 08:49 PM

I like the look of spokes. Have spokes on my front wheel.

However I have one major problem and another tiny one with them.

I have yet to find a tube that does not leak. I rarley have to put air in the back. Front I have to check before each ride.

They suck to clean. Way too many small places for the aluminum to show that it likes to pit and look like crap. Still like the looks........

myt evo · #3 10-08-2007, 08:22 PM

Electricalman, if you're going to use spokes i would recommend using Buchanan spokes 1st quality all the way! And JCOURNEYAP, next time you have your wheel off check your spokes and make sure the threaded end of the spokes don't extend beyond the nipple! If they do grind them down until they are just about even with the nipple and make sure the end is smooth! What usually happens is they work their way through the strap and right into the tube. This is something that most people don't even think about!

#4 10-08-2007, 09:19 PM

Thanks myt evo

I will check next time the wheel is off.

hotrodsporty · #5 10-10-2007, 01:03 AM

I love spokes, and the more the better, BUT, the fat boy solid wheel is that way FOR A REASON! Rember the a-bomb. I say fat boys should always run solid, but thats a personal opinion, and as everybody knows opinions are like A holes, everybody has one and most stink!

humpbackbob · #6 10-10-2007, 01:44 AM

I have been using the S100 Total Bike Cleaner and the wheel cleaner. It's pretty expensive, not too bad if you get the big bottle of concentrate. It does work. Grease, grime and bugs lift right off spoked wheels windshields and engines. I use the lawn blower to dry the bike instead of those $150 bike blowers. Makes spoked wheels easy to clean.

turtle9658 · #7 10-10-2007, 05:16 PM

I am in the other position of replacing spoke wheels for mags. I was advised to check and tighten the spokes every 400 to 500 miles where I always found several loose. Last week while riding my 07 Roadking through WV I developed a wobble. I pulled over and had several broken rear spokes. When I finally got to the nearset Harley Dealer, I had a total of 6 broken spokes. This was a scary ride and one I will never repeat!!!

Apparently these new spoke wheels for Harley have been a problem for the past two years. The manager also told me that he wouldn't ride a bike with spokes for this reason and the fact that a flat tire cannot be fixed on the road due to the inner tube.

Harley is replacing my rear wheel with a mag wheel and with more documentation of front spokes loosening will replace the front as well.

Good luck in your search, but IMO for safety reasons, you should stick with what you already have.

humpbackbob · #8 10-10-2007, 06:10 PM

Dunno if I've been lucky, I check tire pressure pre ride every day. I have had the Softy just about a year and have 8K on the clock. I have only had to put in air twice, and only about 1# each time. I actually let air out of the rear the first time. Same with the Sporty. Wire on the front only and never had to put air in that at all.

#9 10-11-2007, 12:03 AM

I have been lacing & truing wheels for over 25 yrs. I perfer stainless but I always use buchanan. I always torque to specs and I never had broken or had one loosen. Harley just uses crap from overseas. I never use rubber rim strips bur tape for a better seal agaainst moisture and punture resistance. I hope other who still lace wheels put there 2 cents into this this seems to be a dieing art.

#10 01-15-2008, 09:18 PM

personally im leery of the cast aluminum rim / spoke wheels. i have a steel rim spoke wheel on my 04 sidecar & its been perfect - just found a matching steel rim spoke wheel for the front of the 07 ultra - im going to watch the spokes for a bit. im thinking that a steel spoke rim should be ok, if i get any loose spokes ill put in the buchanan heavy duty large dia spokes. if none of that works ill put the cast front back on and go looking for a cast sidecar wheel [hd sidecar wheels are BIG bux....]

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