Oversize Front Tyre on Dyna

[AlexB]

Anyone tried fitting an oversize "fat" tyre on the front of their Dyna ? I think they look better than the originals and you see plenty of examples on part or fully customised Dyna bikes (well, all Harleys for that matter).

Harley's "official" view is that they're not "safe" and don't recommend.

Anyone done this and found it to be unsafe in any tangible way ?

[Tee]

Don't know about on a Dyna but wouldn't mind finding out if anyone knows. The same issues would apply to me I suppose, I have a Nightrain and the skinny wheel on the front gets a bit skitish from time to time so I was thinking of doing something similar to mine. Sorry if I'm hijacking the thread a bit but it seems to be a similar question to one I was about to ask.

[DeuceBG]

Originally Posted by AlexB

Anyone tried fitting an oversize "fat" tyre on the front of their Dyna ? I think they look better than the originals and you see plenty of examples on part or fully customised Dyna bikes (well, all Harleys for that matter).

Harley's "official" view is that they're not "safe" and don't recommend.

Anyone done this and found it to be unsafe in any tangible way ?

Depends what size the back tyre is I guess but my FXDF runs 180 rear and 130 front as standard and that's a great combination IMHO.
Were you thinking of going wider than that Alex?

[Chris L]

PM kevin bolden, hes done this to his Superglide.

[Moby_Duck]

Originally Posted by Tee

Don't know about on a Dyna but wouldn't mind finding out if anyone knows. The same issues would apply to me I suppose, I have a Nightrain and the skinny wheel on the front gets a bit skitish from time to time so I was thinking of doing something similar to mine. Sorry if I'm hijacking the thread a bit but it seems to be a similar question to one I was about to ask.

Did this to my 2005 Softail Std last year.

Much better handling and looks the part too i reckon.
Used an ebay sourced 16 x 3 rim, stainless spokes and had it built & laced by Kev @ LeRock using a hub he had lying about, he had to jiggle a bit with spacing for disc i think but results are well worth it IMHO.
Guard is a standard Fatboy which slotted straight in there.

MD

[simonDyna]

If you have a wide glide front end, then there are many options.

If you have the narrow glide dyna/sportster front end, then be careful what you do. Clearance against the fork leg can be an issue.

[SX 150]

I fitted a 150/80 on a Devon Wheel rim stainless 16 x 5 1/2" rim which I laced to a standard junk yard H-D front hub,-it was the widest that could be fitted on a wide glide front clearing the forks by 1/4"ish each side.
In a straight line it was great but trying to get around corners was hard work and very heavy. (it's still sitting in my outhouse if any one is interested in it.)


I've got one weak arm and it was too unmanageable doing slow speeds around town so I've gone the other way to a 21" rim- which is finger light.

[Oilslick]

Originally Posted by Tee

Don't know about on a Dyna but wouldn't mind finding out if anyone knows. The same issues would apply to me I suppose, I have a Nightrain and the skinny wheel on the front gets a bit skitish from time to time so I was thinking of doing something similar to mine. Sorry if I'm hijacking the thread a bit but it seems to be a similar question to one I was about to ask.

Fozz recently put a 16" front wheel on his Softail to replace the 21".

[dirk]

I have just fitted a 150/17 , it has slowed the handling up a little but its not dangerous . go on you know you want to .

[Tee]

Originally Posted by Oilslick

Fozz recently put a 16" front wheel on his Softail to replace the 21".

Thanks Pete, I did know this, just forgot. Although I think that he had it done at the stealers, I don't think he did it himself. I was actually thinking of going more for a 19" though as the 21" gets pretty scary at about 90. I suppose it might be that the wheel needs balancing though, something else that I kinda knew about but had forgotten.

You wouldn't know that I used to work as a tyre fitter in my teens would you? Just around the corner from MotorCycle City in Farnborough (bought my FS1E Purple Peril there). Opposite the RAE it was. In my defence, it was 34 years ago

Anyway - let's get this back on track shall we ...... I'll give Fozz a bell and see what he says about it.