The added "road feel" is not because you went with a bigger wheel, it is because of the lower profile tire. There is not as much sidewall to "cushion" the bumps. Adding different suspension wont change the outcome. Its just like in cars and trucks, the effects of lower profile tires are identicl to a bike.
@@Venomized95 I haven't experienced any issues with handling or slow speed riding or riding through twisty roads. My biggest issue is the kickstand (which is an east fix)
I own a 2019 CVO road glide with 21”wheel, took it off put 18” front wheel , it handles sooo much better, added race tech suspension. I don’t feel every bump, and not as worried of pot holes. This video is accurate.
Thanks for the feedback! I agree that the 18 is more comfortable. One thing I like about the 21 is the added lean angle. I was a little worried at first but quickly got over it and now I actually like it
It must be a older thing because my 21f and 18b ride perfect and finding tires aren't that bad I really believe ppl take the cheapest route when buying rims and tires which really plays a major effect.
I have run a 21" wheel for on every Harley and Victory I have owned over a 20 year span and have never had a problem with a 21 and actually found the ride to be better in most cases.
This video is spot on brother..was at the Harley dealership the other day and was told the same thing from other riders,I have a 2020 roadglide special with the chopped engine guard,if u get a 21 rim...when u hit a bump or pothole of any size..the middle of the fender will hit the center of the crash bar mount,especilly if u have the fang fairing installed like on the CVO, the only way it will work is to upgrade or change the front suspension....period.
Thanks for sharing this perspective. Ive never considered changing stock wheels but obviously there are some points to think about before making such a change. Ride safe and enjoy. 👊✌️👍
The speedometer is based off the diameter of the rear tire. You can put bigger rims on and still maintain the tire diameter. The front tire diameter could mess with abs but not speed.
Ive been running 21’s on all my bikes for quite some time. While everything youre saying is true, to each there own. All of these reasons can and many should be addressed when changing to this size wheel. IMO, the most important one being the front suspension internals and the ride height of the bike increasing when moving to a 21. Both of these can be addressed with an upgraded front suspension and thats what Ive done in every bike that has the 21 on it. I believe they ride better than stock in some ways and not as good in others. To each their own. Ride safe!
Interesting take mate. I'm running a 23" low profile on my Road King but I went into it knowing that I needed rake, suspension, fluid upgrades and changes. As for the tires, holy crap , glad you're okay mate! That would have dumped more than the brakes for me!
I put the fat front tire on mine and I love it!! a little heavier going into curves but no noticeable difference for me at slow speeds BUT I've never been on anything thats as stable riding down the highway at 80
I really enjoy watching your videos, as you offer some great advice and explanations of why or why not to make changes to your bike. Listening to you is just easy. Not sure if you're profession is teaching but you'd be a great teacher. Thank you for your videos!
Quite amazing the way fads come and go on Harleys. Way back in the day up today . Twisted chrome . Sissy bars , different pipes over the years . Seats , the old baggers gave way to the choppers , fat wheels . Tall wheels . Back to the street glides , to slammed baggers , big ass stereos , never got into the fads , still riding my 05 low rider almost 20 years later . I’ve noticed though … Bro hasn’t put the OEM stuff back on it . Looks cool AF
i went the other route and put the 18" 150 on the front of my Road Glide. absolutely love it. the ride is smooth and it eats up imperfections in the road.
I'm towering at a whopping 5' 8" so I think I'll stick with the stock wheel height. I do like the look of the 21" wheel filling in the fender but again, I like the way my RG handles as stock. Thanks for the honest info in this video.
progressive front springs with a slightly lighter fork oil at exactly the same level (left to right) will return you to stock or even better, adding a fork brace and an adjustable steering stabilizer will help even more
I put wheels on my Heritage and I was told by several Dealers not to go to a 21 because of the same reasons you mentioned plus it could throw off the ecm, So I went from 16's to 18's and it was fine, the bike now takes the same tire as the road king and I think it handles a bit better
The larger the front wheel the more gyroscopic effect is generated, the bike will be harder to turn the faster you go, the bike doesn't want to turn because of this effect, so the bigger the diameter the more effort you will have to put into the steering.
one other thing about the wheel issue that you mention about the mileage being off means it quite possibly can be throwing off the speedometer as well which in some place can get ya into trouble that get really picky about speeders. kinda like the way how going up or down in tire sizes with cars/trucks will throw off the speedometer if you don't match the factory specs with rims and tire size..
It's been over a year. I don't have any regrets getting the 21. I think the biggest issue was the change in ride quality, but the new suspension helped.
I live in a state with some of the most horrible condition and potholed roads as rated by Truckers, and a fat 130/90/16(at least!) is the only way to go! I had a friend who went over a storm drain grate with a broken slat and his 100/90/21 dropped in that extra-wide 'slot' and stopped his bike dead, putting him over the bars. I see lots of bent rims from riders who run low-profile tires too! And 21's are downright scary on rain-grooved roads or steel-grate bridges! 🥺 FWIW: If ya run laced (spokes) wheels and tubes, PJ1's Balance Plus works great! Originally designed for dirt bikes, it's work great in all my spoked rims/tires for over 30yrs.
@@RidingandWrenching I had them for over a year, no issue. It takes about 30 seconds to pair up to my phone. I highly recommend the FOBO Bike 2, you set your tire pressure in the app & notifications when the pressure is low.
I have an older FLH Shovel that came with 16" put a 21"up front years ago never really noticed any difference. Just picked up a used SG that someone installed a 21"up front, other then the front probably rides a tad taller really don't notice any difference in handling. I started out on rigid frames with springer front ends so everything after that has been a huge improvement to me, I'm sure stock is best all around but I've never been able to leave especially a HD stock.
Great video Cue! Love your content and wasn't planning on getting a 21" wheel but NOW I'm sure it would not be for me. I just love touring too much! Keep up the excellent video's.
Great video with a lot of good considerations to take into account if you’re thinking about upgrading your wheels. I will put two things out there. #1. Your miles you travel vs. what the odometer says could be because the standard in the US says that motorcycle gauges only have to be within 10% of true value. That means that your speedometer and miles may be off by up to 10%. #2. Is that your front wheel is on backwards. If it was on the proper way your 90 degree valve stem would be pointing the right way. The tread of the tire is made for water evacuation. The tips of the tread in the center of the tire should make contact with the road first and then force the water through the channel and out the side of the tire. The way yours is currently installed would actually force water into the center of the tire and could be a hydroplaning hazard while riding in the rain.
The wheel is mounted on the bike correctly. The stem is facing the wrong way. It will be an easy fix. I double checked my tire. The directional arrow on the sidewall indicated I have it mounted correctly.
Very imformative my friend, this is why when it comes to wheels,tires and suspension I stay with the recommended specs, it may not be HD parts, it is one way to avoid minor problems as you explained. Ride safe brother!
Great job explaining several reasons for not changing your wheel size. My concern has always been tire availability when traveling cross country and less handling performance. See ya this weekend.
I agree with everything you have talked about with the exception of odometer. The speedometer and odometer are controlled by the VSS (vehicle speed sensor) It is located in the top of the transmission and has nothing to do with the front tire. You could have a 36" tire and it will not affect the odometer or speedometer. Now when you change the back tire, that will affect both.
When you go to a 21” wheel to bring it back down on the front end you need to put in a 1” springs forks drop kit. I put the Legends 1” drop kit in my 2016 RGS and it’s perfectly fine and no issues with the kickstand.
Hello, thank you for this info. I did not see this before and just changed mine out on RK FLHR this weekend. I do need to get a longer kick stand for sure. I need now to search for one because it did make the lean different on the stand. Thank you again.
You can order a longer kick stand from JP Cycles. www.jpcycles.com/product/performance-machine-1-extended-kickstand-for-harley-touring-2007-2017 The other option is a kick stand block from Amazon amzn.to/3rpxPkm
My sg is set up to be a go bike not a sat nite parking lot show bike got the factory set up for the rim and tires and I carve thru the twistees no prob great video
Put 21 front 18 rear on my '97 Road king. It definitely lifted the bike. Especially with the police seat. I feel like I'm King of the road on that bike. She's old and no longer my daily. I keep a stock '17 Street Glide for that.
Cue thanks for the info. Same wheels and tires on my Street Glide. Being this my first Harley Davidson I haven’t noticed the difference yet. I smashed an armadillo a few weeks ago thank God no issues.
Yikes! Glad you're ok. I've managed to hit a bird (actually the bird hit me) other than that I've only hit that mystery object that destroyed both my tires
I appreciate this information my man!!! I think because of your video I made my decision to upgrade my wheels on my RG ST but keeping size 19! Thank you my man!
@@RidingandWrenching I 100% appreciate your opinion on this! I did that too but now doing my due diligence with research because it is a nice chunk of change! I can’t wait to get my wheels! Should be by next week!
Amen Btother. I just changed my 19 front on my street glide special, to a 17 off of an Ultra, and I could not be happier. It finally rides and handles like it should.
I like the way you are so detailed in your analysis of a major change. I had stock 17 rear and 21 in the front. Hated that tire mainly because it was very narrow. So I changed out to a 17 with a wider rim and now she handles like a dream. The rake will change so that is a consideration also.
Thanks for the feedback! I have no intention on changing the rake. I don't want a longer wheelbase....it would screw up the riding dynamics too much for my liking
@@RidingandWrenching My stock wheelbase with the 21 inch wheel was 5.2 inch trail. That's actually great for going straight. When I put the 17 on the front it went down to about 4.29 trail which in the world of biking is GREAT!
As far as the kickstand when you upgrade the wheel size you need to get the electrical and that's a bar that drops down directly up under the motor and rises to where it sets even
Call the center kickstand so it helps the bike sit up correctly when you going to a 21 and a 23 those are your safest highway rides but you also have to be sensible about your drivers with and on top of that if you're going to be traveling consistently you shouldn't have put a 21 on there anyway because you already have too much weight against you just touring with all the extra weight@@RidingandWrenching
I tell all of my customers that they should, upgrade their stock suspension whenever choosing to go with a 21" or any other bigger size wheel and tire size for these very reasons. The first thing they do is ask me if I did, so of course I have to show them one of my bikes. Before they're ready for spending this type of money, it's the least I can do. Ohh and I never recommend that they're doing this, on any bike that they're traveling cross country on especially when wanting to travel with a passenger. Great video.
Great video. I saw a gentleman riding a Harley on I-55 the other day with what must have been a 24 inch front wheel on it. It was a beautiful bike, all chromed out and painted darkish teal. It looked good, but that wheel's gotta make it uncomfortable as all hell going over bumps.
I have never ridden one of those big wheel baggers. 21" is the largest tire that you can put on a bike without making other changes (so I've been told). As much as the 21 changed the ride quality on my bike, I wouldn't dream of doing anything bigger
No I haven't done a video on the GT500. I will be doing a video on my 66 Mustang sometime soon. The GT500 get's driven the most (it has air conditioning!). It also has the glass roof option. I'll include the GT500 when I talk about the 66 Mustang.
Hey Que, I put a progressive lowering kit and that kit brought my bike down a 1inch in the front. You can do 2 inches and I also used a heavier oil as well. Great video
It definitely affects your speedo and odometer, a larger or smaller wheel for that matter either takes longer or shorter time to complete a full rotation. Easiest way to understand this is to watch runners on an ovular track or nascar or similar. The racers on the outside of the track start further forward than the racers on the inside of the the track due to the outside being wider and taking longer to complete a lap. Your Odometer and Speedo are calibrated to the the tire they came with and count the revolutions to decide your speed and distance. Take it to a mechanic and they can adjust that
I would imagine doing hard leaning twisties is out since low profile tires effect the how much lean you can do and have traction. Instead of grinding foot boards you end up grinding rims lol.
The taller tire actually gives me more lean angle. I have done tight u turns and other maneuvers with no issue. My big issue is ride quality and how low profile tires screw up the suspension
Thank you! Sadly, I sold my piano prior to moving into my new house (I didn't like it anyway). I had a tall upright piano. I want a 6.5' (ish) grand piano but I don't currently have room. We will be moving to Georgia in a couple of years. I plan to get my grand piano at that time. In the mean time I have a few recordings that I plan to use in future videos
The front wheel will not effect the speedometer but the rear wheel will. By performance I'm assuming you are referring to cornering and braking. The will both be reduced from stock performance. Good video. I'm sticking with the stock wheels. Performance is more important to me than looks.
I increased the size of the rear tire to an 18". I should have been clear that I was referring to the rear tire affecting the speedo/odometer. Stock wheels are much more comfortable!
I ride a raked 23 fat tire street glide. Love the setup. The rakes and everything are also made by engineers. I ride it everywhere and do not own a trailer. Sturgis, Milwaukee, etc from Colorado. To each their own. And yes Harley does have 21 standard tires. Not fat tired. Buy a shorter kickstand.
@@RidingandWrenchingides better then stock. Only difference is you cannot make a very sharp U-turn. But I don’t. You can get vertical valves stems, TPMS sensors and internal balancing. My friends who have ridden it and they loved it. Though it would be difficult to ride. Nope. And I got the Big Fatty from SMT machining complete setup!
It's been a few months for me since my install. The only remaining issue is the lean angle, but I found a fix that doesn't require a change of jiffy stand. I'll share that in a future video
Great video! People who put oversized wheels and tires on their vehicle rarely consider the increased rotating mass. Combine that extra mass with an already poor performing brake system on a Harley, and it's going to be troublesome.
@@michaelkywright2195 I've never heard anyone say that. I am planning to test stopping distance between my bike (with after market wheels) and a stock bike to see if the heavier wheels increase the stopping distance
I was replying to mark's comment. "Extra mass on poor preforming brake system on a Harley" people always got negative stuff ro say about Harley-Davidson but every motorcycle manufacturer Tries to copy what they do. I've never rode a metric Cruiser that didn't feel like it was a cheap version a HD. Honda civic vs corvette ya know.
I was replying to mark's comment. "Extra mass on poor preforming brake system on a Harley" people always got negative stuff ro say about Harley-Davidson but every motorcycle manufacturer Tries to copy what they do. I've never rode a metric Cruiser that didn't feel like it was a cheap version a HD. Honda civic vs corvette ya know.
19" and 18" prodigy wheels with 20 weight oil in the forks offers the best bag for the buck in terms of looks and performance my next upgrade will be legends fork cartridges for the forks to match my legends rear coil overs
All solid reasons to ponder if you want to make the switch. I appreciate you telling the truth about your experience.
I'm rolling a front 21 on stock suspension. Maybe it will hit me when I'm older but I don't mind the added "road feel". Ride safe ya'll!
My 53 year old back doesn't like a harsh ride!
The added "road feel" is not because you went with a bigger wheel, it is because of the lower profile tire. There is not as much sidewall to "cushion" the bumps. Adding different suspension wont change the outcome. Its just like in cars and trucks, the effects of lower profile tires are identicl to a bike.
@@Venomized95 I haven't experienced any issues with handling or slow speed riding or riding through twisty roads. My biggest issue is the kickstand (which is an east fix)
I own a 2019 CVO road glide with 21”wheel, took it off put 18” front wheel , it handles sooo much better, added race tech suspension. I don’t feel every bump, and not as worried of pot holes. This video is accurate.
Thanks for the feedback! I agree that the 18 is more comfortable. One thing I like about the 21 is the added lean angle. I was a little worried at first but quickly got over it and now I actually like it
It must be a older thing because my 21f and 18b ride perfect and finding tires aren't that bad I really believe ppl take the cheapest route when buying rims and tires which really plays a major effect.
21 road glide limited here. 18 inch on both wheels. I'm happy with them I'm used to the standard 16 rear and 17 front. It handles well.
My RGS came with 19” and 18” wheels. I changed to a 21” 4 years ago and haven’t had any issues at all.
I played your video again, you truly care about your audience. Good heart, I appreciate that a lot. Thank You again Cue.
Thank you!
I have run a 21" wheel for on every Harley and Victory I have owned over a 20 year span and have never had a problem with a 21 and actually found the ride to be better in most cases.
This video is spot on brother..was at the Harley dealership the other day and was told the same thing from other riders,I have a 2020 roadglide special with the chopped engine guard,if u get a 21 rim...when u hit a bump or pothole of any size..the middle of the fender will hit the center of the crash bar mount,especilly if u have the fang fairing installed like on the CVO, the only way it will work is to upgrade or change the front suspension....period.
I’ve done the big wheel bagger in previous builds and will happily stick w the stock FW great video keep up the grind
Thanks bro!
@@RidingandWrenching absolutely
Thanks for sharing this perspective. Ive never considered changing stock wheels but obviously there are some points to think about before making such a change. Ride safe and enjoy. 👊✌️👍
The speedometer is based off the diameter of the rear tire. You can put bigger rims on and still maintain the tire diameter. The front tire diameter could mess with abs but not speed.
I should have been more clear. I put an 18" tire on the rear (replacing the stock 15".)
@@RidingandWrenching you were very clear. People just need to have something to bitch about 😂
Ive been running 21’s on all my bikes for quite some time. While everything youre saying is true, to each there own. All of these reasons can and many should be addressed when changing to this size wheel. IMO, the most important one being the front suspension internals and the ride height of the bike increasing when moving to a 21. Both of these can be addressed with an upgraded front suspension and thats what Ive done in every bike that has the 21 on it. I believe they ride better than stock in some ways and not as good in others. To each their own. Ride safe!
What did you do for the jiffy stand (if anything). I ordered a longer stand, but I saw someone bolt a small block to the bottom of the jiffy stand
@@RidingandWrenching I have never done anything to the kickstands on my bikes for this. They work fine as-is.
Interesting take mate. I'm running a 23" low profile on my Road King but I went into it knowing that I needed rake, suspension, fluid upgrades and changes. As for the tires, holy crap , glad you're okay mate! That would have dumped more than the brakes for me!
I put the fat front tire on mine and I love it!! a little heavier going into curves but no noticeable difference for me at slow speeds BUT I've never been on anything thats as stable riding down the highway at 80
I want to ride a bike with a fat front tire. They look cool and I bet they ride nice too.
Right. The meltzer tire is good
I really enjoy watching your videos, as you offer some great advice and explanations of why or why not to make changes to your bike. Listening to you is just easy. Not sure if you're profession is teaching but you'd be a great teacher. Thank you for your videos!
Thanks for the feedback!
Great video.Thanks for the honesty. Guess I’m old think I’ll keep it stock . Chubby guys like me can use more suspension wherever they can get it
You might love the upgraded suspension!
Quite amazing the way fads come and go on Harleys. Way back in the day up today . Twisted chrome . Sissy bars , different pipes over the years . Seats , the old baggers gave way to the choppers , fat wheels . Tall wheels . Back to the street glides , to slammed baggers , big ass stereos , never got into the fads , still riding my 05 low rider almost 20 years later .
I’ve noticed though … Bro hasn’t put the OEM stuff back on it . Looks cool AF
I like my bike! I've gotten rid of most of the OEM parts that I removed. Compared to many other bikes, my "upgrades" are pretty subtle
Wonderful comment.
Double catastrophic blowout, rims outta round and no get off. Serious riding skills
I wish I could say it was skills. I'm calling it dumb luck! But in this case I'll take luck!! It was very scary....almost made me quit riding
@@RidingandWrenching
Excellent reflexes, and no panic. If that happens to me ,hope to get through it like you👍
There was a reason back in the day with the 16 inch rims in the front....Taller the sidewall more softer the ride.....
Agreed! Taller sidewalls make for a more comfortable ride
i went the other route and put the 18" 150 on the front of my Road Glide. absolutely love it. the ride is smooth and it eats up imperfections in the road.
I want to ride a bike with a fat front tire. I can only imagine that the ride has to be butter smooth!
I'm towering at a whopping 5' 8" so I think I'll stick with the stock wheel height. I do like the look of the 21" wheel filling in the fender but again, I like the way my RG handles as stock.
Thanks for the honest info in this video.
progressive front springs with a slightly lighter fork oil at exactly the same level (left to right) will return you to stock or even better, adding a fork brace and an adjustable steering stabilizer will help even more
I put wheels on my Heritage and I was told by several Dealers not to go to a 21 because of the same reasons you mentioned plus it could throw off the ecm, So I went from 16's to 18's and it was fine, the bike now takes the same tire as the road king and I think it handles a bit better
Awesome. Thanks for sharing!
16s are the best. On a softail chassis, I guess nothing really matters.
The larger the front wheel the more gyroscopic effect is generated, the bike will be harder to turn the faster you go, the bike doesn't want to turn because of this effect, so the bigger the diameter the more effort you will have to put into the steering.
one other thing about the wheel issue that you mention about the mileage being off means it quite possibly can be throwing off the speedometer as well which in some place can get ya into trouble that get really picky about speeders. kinda like the way how going up or down in tire sizes with cars/trucks will throw off the speedometer if you don't match the factory specs with rims and tire size..
The speedometer is off by about 3 or 4mph at higher speeds. It's weird because it isn't consistent. At lower speeds (below 40) it's accurate.
I'm so glad I stumbled upon your channel Mr. Rider. I was looking at putting a 21 inch front wheel on my Sportster. Now I think I will wait on it.😊
It's been over a year. I don't have any regrets getting the 21. I think the biggest issue was the change in ride quality, but the new suspension helped.
I live in a state with some of the most horrible condition and potholed roads as rated by Truckers, and a fat 130/90/16(at least!) is the only way to go! I had a friend who went over a storm drain grate with a broken slat and his 100/90/21 dropped in that extra-wide 'slot' and stopped his bike dead, putting him over the bars. I see lots of bent rims from riders who run low-profile tires too!
And 21's are downright scary on rain-grooved roads or steel-grate bridges! 🥺
FWIW: If ya run laced (spokes) wheels and tubes, PJ1's Balance Plus works great! Originally designed for dirt bikes, it's work great in all my spoked rims/tires for over 30yrs.
Great video, I installed the FOBO Bike 2 tire pressure & temperature sensor. It replaces your valve stem cap and the colors are black or chrome.
Sorry, it is Bluetooth connection to my phone.
How long have you had them on your bike? Any issues?
@@RidingandWrenching
I had them for over a year, no issue. It takes about 30 seconds to pair up to my phone. I highly recommend the FOBO Bike 2, you set your tire pressure in the app & notifications when the pressure is low.
Thanks Cue! Your insight is always appreciated!
Straight up honest, knowledge, and around my age.
I'LL BE FOLLOWING & PLEASURE MEETING YOU.
Sincerely,
Doc AJ
Thanks for the feedback!!
I have an older FLH Shovel that came with 16" put a 21"up front years ago never really noticed any difference. Just picked up a used SG that someone installed a 21"up front, other then the front probably rides a tad taller really don't notice any difference in handling.
I started out on rigid frames with springer front ends so everything after that has been a huge improvement to me, I'm sure stock is best all around but I've never been able to leave especially a HD stock.
The only difference you should feel is it being a little "heavier" feeling in low speed maneuvers.
Great video Cue! Love your content and wasn't planning on getting a 21" wheel but NOW I'm sure it would not be for me. I just love touring too much! Keep up the excellent video's.
Thanks! It's definitely more than just putting on a bigger wheel.
Great video with a lot of good considerations to take into account if you’re thinking about upgrading your wheels. I will put two things out there. #1. Your miles you travel vs. what the odometer says could be because the standard in the US says that motorcycle gauges only have to be within 10% of true value. That means that your speedometer and miles may be off by up to 10%. #2. Is that your front wheel is on backwards. If it was on the proper way your 90 degree valve stem would be pointing the right way. The tread of the tire is made for water evacuation. The tips of the tread in the center of the tire should make contact with the road first and then force the water through the channel and out the side of the tire. The way yours is currently installed would actually force water into the center of the tire and could be a hydroplaning hazard while riding in the rain.
The wheel is mounted on the bike correctly. The stem is facing the wrong way. It will be an easy fix. I double checked my tire. The directional arrow on the sidewall indicated I have it mounted correctly.
Very imformative my friend, this is why when it comes to wheels,tires and suspension I stay with the recommended specs, it may not be HD parts, it is one way to avoid minor problems as you explained. Ride safe brother!
Great job explaining several reasons for not changing your wheel size. My concern has always been tire availability when traveling cross country and less handling performance. See ya this weekend.
Thank you,,,so glad that I watched your video before buying,, saved me from making some mistakes
I like my 21" front wheel. My biggest regret is not considering the weight of the wheel. The other issues are fixable
I agree with everything you have talked about with the exception of odometer. The speedometer and odometer are controlled by the VSS (vehicle speed sensor) It is located in the top of the transmission and has nothing to do with the front tire. You could have a 36" tire and it will not affect the odometer or speedometer. Now when you change the back tire, that will affect both.
Gotcha. There was no impact to the speedo due to the bigger wheels.
Boy you coming with the bangers!
Good vid, just subscribed.
Yeah, been thinking of making the change. I don’t plan on racing my SGS. Looks & tunes. Appreciate you.
Thanks for the feedback.
When you go to a 21” wheel to bring it back down on the front end you need to put in a 1” springs forks drop kit.
I put the Legends 1” drop kit in my 2016 RGS and it’s perfectly fine and no issues with the kickstand.
The ride height doesn't bother me. I actually like the added lean angle. The problem is the jiffy stand.
Hello, thank you for this info. I did not see this before and just changed mine out on RK FLHR this weekend. I do need to get a longer kick stand for sure. I need now to search for one because it did make the lean different on the stand. Thank you again.
You can order a longer kick stand from JP Cycles. www.jpcycles.com/product/performance-machine-1-extended-kickstand-for-harley-touring-2007-2017
The other option is a kick stand block from Amazon amzn.to/3rpxPkm
Thank you again!!
My sg is set up to be a go bike not a sat nite parking lot show bike got the factory set up for the rim and tires and I carve thru the twistees no prob great video
Put 21 front 18 rear on my '97 Road king. It definitely lifted the bike. Especially with the police seat. I feel like I'm King of the road on that bike. She's old and no longer my daily. I keep a stock '17 Street Glide for that.
Cue thanks for the info. Same wheels and tires on my Street Glide. Being this my first Harley Davidson I haven’t noticed the difference yet. I smashed an armadillo a few weeks ago thank God no issues.
Yikes! Glad you're ok. I've managed to hit a bird (actually the bird hit me) other than that I've only hit that mystery object that destroyed both my tires
Nice vid . Love that Stang in your garage
Thanks! I am an X New Yorker too. It's a nice place to visit....but I'm glad I'm gone!
Thanks Cue. Good knowledge share! I've never been a fan of the low profile tires but never considered the effect on your ride.
Loving your content. I roll with a 21 on my road king and can agree with this. Keep producing quality content!
Thank you!
I totally agree,I have a 2020 roadglide special, I prefer bigger tires on the front, looking at fat tire kits for my bike,same size as back ,equal.
Thank you for this information. I’ll keep my stock rims.
I appreciate this information my man!!! I think because of your video I made my decision to upgrade my wheels on my RG ST but keeping size 19! Thank you my man!
Can't go wrong with the 19". I considered it, but I allowed myself to be influenced by others
@@RidingandWrenching I 100% appreciate your opinion on this! I did that too but now doing my due diligence with research because it is a nice chunk of change! I can’t wait to get my wheels! Should be by next week!
txs for your expertise! saved me a decission!
a laser w return buzzer ... will give you about 2 seconds warning of above ground obstacle warning!
Some great info. Ive thought about a 21 on my RKS, but this just solidified the reason to keep the 19". Probably just do a wrapped fender.
If I had the 19" I probably wouldn't have purchased these wheels. My Street Glide has 19" and it looks pretty cool. A wrapped fender would look good
@@RidingandWrenching thanks!
Amen Btother. I just changed my 19 front on my street glide special, to a 17 off of an Ultra, and I could not be happier. It finally rides and handles like it should.
That's awesome! You went in the opposite direction.
I did a 21 on my other Harley. Now I just stick WTH stock..👍
I have a 21” wheel on my 2014 HD street glide mine runs perfect!
getting ready to install rc laguna on my front 17x3.5 its right under 13 lbs
great video.
I was told by Harley Dealership that the front suspension is not designed for a 21 inch .
I like the way you are so detailed in your analysis of a major change. I had stock 17 rear and 21 in the front. Hated that tire mainly because it was very narrow. So I changed out to a 17 with a wider rim and now she handles like a dream. The rake will change so that is a consideration also.
Thanks for the feedback! I have no intention on changing the rake. I don't want a longer wheelbase....it would screw up the riding dynamics too much for my liking
@@RidingandWrenching My stock wheelbase with the 21 inch wheel was 5.2 inch trail. That's actually great for going straight. When I put the 17 on the front it went down to about 4.29 trail which in the world of biking is GREAT!
As far as the kickstand when you upgrade the wheel size you need to get the electrical and that's a bar that drops down directly up under the motor and rises to where it sets even
That would actually be quite cool. I may look into that
Call the center kickstand so it helps the bike sit up correctly when you going to a 21 and a 23 those are your safest highway rides but you also have to be sensible about your drivers with and on top of that if you're going to be traveling consistently you shouldn't have put a 21 on there anyway because you already have too much weight against you just touring with all the extra weight@@RidingandWrenching
I always upgrade the suspension and roll with a 21”/18” more lean angle. You’re definitely rt in that the ride changes. Just upgrade suspension.
I didn't realize how much of an improvement the new suspension would make! I'm really happy with it.
@@RidingandWrenching Nice channel bro
Great content Cue! Very informative.
NOTHING BUT HONEST FACTS HERE! Thanks for sharing man!
Great video sir and hit my interest in moving to the 21 inch tire.
Thank you!
I tell all of my customers that they should, upgrade their stock suspension whenever choosing to go with a 21" or any other bigger size wheel and tire size for these very reasons. The first thing they do is ask me if I did, so of course I have to show them one of my bikes. Before they're ready for spending this type of money, it's the least I can do.
Ohh and I never recommend that they're doing this, on any bike that they're traveling cross country on especially when wanting to travel with a passenger. Great video.
Agreed! I didn't factor in the cost of upgrading the suspension, but it was a necessity for me
Great video. I saw a gentleman riding a Harley on I-55 the other day with what must have been a 24 inch front wheel on it. It was a beautiful bike, all chromed out and painted darkish teal. It looked good, but that wheel's gotta make it uncomfortable as all hell going over bumps.
I have never ridden one of those big wheel baggers. 21" is the largest tire that you can put on a bike without making other changes (so I've been told). As much as the 21 changed the ride quality on my bike, I wouldn't dream of doing anything bigger
I appreciate this video as I was thinking of putting one of these rims on my 2016 Road king thank you. This was very helpful.
Glad it helped
I know this channel is about motorcycles but any video or another channel on that GT500 back there? My favorite car.
No I haven't done a video on the GT500. I will be doing a video on my 66 Mustang sometime soon. The GT500 get's driven the most (it has air conditioning!). It also has the glass roof option. I'll include the GT500 when I talk about the 66 Mustang.
Very good explanation. The only thing I would change is remove the mop bucket from the background :)
😂I'll make sure to move the mop bucket next time!
Great video bro and if they had rotated ur bearing on the front rim the valve steam would be on the right sight of the wheel its a simple fix 👍🏾
it's an easy fix. I'll address it when I get new tires.
Excellent - appreciate the honest comprehensive look.🇺🇸👍💥
Hey Que, I put a progressive lowering kit and that kit brought my bike down a 1inch in the front. You can do 2 inches and I also used a heavier oil as well. Great video
How did the lowering kit affect the ride quality?
@@RidingandWrenching my bike ride as if I still have a 19 inch wheel 🛞 on it.
@@kellybgliding I bought a longer kick stand. I'll let you know how it turns out. One thing I like about the higher ride height is more lean angle.
It definitely affects your speedo and odometer, a larger or smaller wheel for that matter either takes longer or shorter time to complete a full rotation. Easiest way to understand this is to watch runners on an ovular track or nascar or similar. The racers on the outside of the track start further forward than the racers on the inside of the the track due to the outside being wider and taking longer to complete a lap. Your Odometer and Speedo are calibrated to the the tire they came with and count the revolutions to decide your speed and distance. Take it to a mechanic and they can adjust that
That is exactly my point. I was told that the speedo feeds off of the transmission....but it still has to be calibrated with the wheel size
I would imagine doing hard leaning twisties is out since low profile tires effect the how much lean you can do and have traction. Instead of grinding foot boards you end up grinding rims lol.
The taller tire actually gives me more lean angle. I have done tight u turns and other maneuvers with no issue.
My big issue is ride quality and how low profile tires screw up the suspension
Very true same for cars as well
Absolutely! My 2012 Mustang has low profile (stock) tires. Hard ride, but you expect that from a sports car.
First time viewer. Really enjoyed your video. It was very informative. Also looking forward to the piano video. New sub. God bless.
Thank you! Sadly, I sold my piano prior to moving into my new house (I didn't like it anyway). I had a tall upright piano. I want a 6.5' (ish) grand piano but I don't currently have room. We will be moving to Georgia in a couple of years. I plan to get my grand piano at that time. In the mean time I have a few recordings that I plan to use in future videos
All very good points. My first two hogs, I upgraded to 21" wheels and tires strictly for the look...No consideration for anything else.
They look great! My only complaints are the lean on the kick stand and change on ride quality.....both are fixable issues
The front wheel will not effect the speedometer but the rear wheel will. By performance I'm assuming you are referring to cornering and braking. The will both be reduced from stock performance. Good video. I'm sticking with the stock wheels. Performance is more important to me than looks.
I increased the size of the rear tire to an 18". I should have been clear that I was referring to the rear tire affecting the speedo/odometer. Stock wheels are much more comfortable!
good info. was considering a 21" wheel on my CVO RG Limited
As long as your suspension can handle it, you should be fine. Also be prepared for the extra lean on the kick stand.
I ride a raked 23 fat tire street glide. Love the setup. The rakes and everything are also made by engineers. I ride it everywhere and do not own a trailer. Sturgis, Milwaukee, etc from Colorado. To each their own. And yes Harley does have 21 standard tires. Not fat tired. Buy a shorter kickstand.
I want to ride a bike with the fatty on the front. How does it impact the ride?
@@RidingandWrenchingides better then stock. Only difference is you cannot make a very sharp U-turn. But I don’t. You can get vertical valves stems, TPMS sensors and internal balancing. My friends who have ridden it and they loved it. Though it would be difficult to ride. Nope. And I got the Big Fatty from SMT machining complete setup!
Yeah ; I’m done with 21” . Great over holes and nothing else . I am looking at 19” ✊🏻👍👌
You almost change my mind in changing thanks for additional informations
Go with your first thought! I'm happy that I did the upgrade. I plan to do a 1 year follow up video sometime soon.
great review Q, things I didn't think about..
Thanks for the video brother! This is a big help!
Great video. Don't think I'll be doing this mod on my bike.
Thanks for the info. Changed my mind. I wonder what the 21 inch fat wheel does for performance.
21" front wheel all the way for that classic chopper look
I love the look!
Thank you for sharing your experience, it helps with me my choice.
It's been a few months for me since my install. The only remaining issue is the lean angle, but I found a fix that doesn't require a change of jiffy stand. I'll share that in a future video
One of the best HD videos I have watched in a long time. Thanks for taking the time to put it up. CAHDBiker.
That's a great compliment! I appreciate that!
Great video! People who put oversized wheels and tires on their vehicle rarely consider the increased rotating mass. Combine that extra mass with an already poor performing brake system on a Harley, and it's going to be troublesome.
I didn't consider the impact to braking. Time for some more testing!
Brembo brakes are poor performing?
@@michaelkywright2195 I've never heard anyone say that. I am planning to test stopping distance between my bike (with after market wheels) and a stock bike to see if the heavier wheels increase the stopping distance
I was replying to mark's comment. "Extra mass on poor preforming brake system on a Harley" people always got negative stuff ro say about Harley-Davidson but every motorcycle manufacturer Tries to copy what they do. I've never rode a metric Cruiser that didn't feel like it was a cheap version a HD. Honda civic vs corvette ya know.
I was replying to mark's comment. "Extra mass on poor preforming brake system on a Harley" people always got negative stuff ro say about Harley-Davidson but every motorcycle manufacturer Tries to copy what they do. I've never rode a metric Cruiser that didn't feel like it was a cheap version a HD. Honda civic vs corvette ya know.
I’m too short for big wheels.
Had to make a “mini-tourer” out of my low rider S
As long as your on two wheels, that's all that counts! Enjoy your bike!
Just put a 21 on my 21 road glide which came with a 19 looks good ride good i am concerned about the low profile tire tho...
Great Vid Cue ! Very informative
19" and 18" prodigy wheels with 20 weight oil in the forks offers the best bag for the buck in terms of looks and performance my next upgrade will be legends fork cartridges for the forks to match my legends rear coil overs
Interesting! I never thought about the impact of fork oil.
good advice -telling it like it is
I am happy with stock.
Excellent informative video. Thank You !
Thank you for watching!
My Shadow Spirt came with 21 on the front so I don’t know any difference. I will say my rear tire is leaking air from the spokes now 😅
Great video,thank you for all the excellent information ! 👍🏼
thanks for the info bro... i wanted to hear what a 21" would do on my softail....( not good ) thanks again...🙏
I don't know abt a soft tail. I'm sure it's been done though.
Thanks for sharing, I was thinking about upgrading the wheel size 👍👍👍
It's not a bad thing, you just need to go in "eyes wide open".