If you're thinking about slapping a 23 inch front wheel road glide setup on your bike, you're most likely looking for that perfect balance among aggressive style and real-world rideability. It's one of the particular most popular mods in the bagger world right now, and for good cause. It's that "Goldilocks" size—bigger compared to typical 21-inch upgrade yet not nearly since temperamental or expensive as going in order to a 26 or a 30.
But before you pull the result in and order a wheel, there's a lot more in order to it than simply choosing a cool speech pattern. You've have got to think about angles, fender clearance, and how the bicycle is actually going to handle when you're leaning into the mountain curve from sixty miles per hour. Let's crack down what it's really like to live with a 23-inch front end.
Why the 23-Inch Wheel is the Sweet Spot
Intended for a long period, the 21-inch wheel was the king of the "easy" upgrades. You could usually fit this under a share fender (with several drilling) and it didn't mess with the handling as well much. But because bagger style progressed, the 21 started looking a bit small, especially upon the newer Road Glides using their substantial fairings.
The 23 inch front wheel road glide look is where the particular bike really begins to take on that will custom, high-end profile. It fills out the front finish perfectly. It provides the bike a taller, more commanding position without making it look like a toon. When you see a Road Glide with a 23, it simply looks "right. " It's proportional to the frame and the bags. Plus, you still get enough tire sidewall to soak up some of the bumps within the road, which is some thing you lose as soon as you start heading into those ultra-thin tires on the particular massive wheels.
The Big Question: To Cut delete word in order to Cut?
This is how things get specialized, and it's the part most individuals get stuck upon. You cannot—and I actually mean cannot —just bolt a 23-inch wheel onto the stock Road Glide and expect it to work. When you try, the particular wheel is going to hit the frame or the triple trees the second you hit a pothole, and your trail dimension is going to be so far off that the bicycle will feel such as it's trying in order to steer itself directly into a ditch in high speeds.
To run a 23 inch front wheel road glide properly, you will need "raked" triple trees. Now, you possess two choices here: bolt-on trees or even a full body cut.
Bolt-On Triple Trees
Most guys move this route. Companies make specialized multiple trees that change the neck position and the balance sufficient to accommodate the 23-inch wheel while keeping the particular trail numbers in a safe range. These are excellent because they don't need you to cut your frame, significance you can officially get back to stock in case you ever market the bike. It pushes the wheel forward just a bit and keeps the bike level.
Cutting the Neck
In the event that you want the absolute best dealing with and that perfect low-slung look, trimming the neck from the frame and welding on a fresh one is the "pro" method to do this. It's more long lasting and definitely more costly, but it allows for the most organic geometry. However, with regard to a 23-inch wheel, most people find that a high-quality set of bolt-on trees does the task perfectly well with no surgery.
Dealing with: What Changes within the Road?
Let's be honest: your bike isn't going to handle like a sportbike once a person put a 23 on it. It's going to sense different. The first thing you'll see is that the steering feels a bit slower. Since the wheel is bigger and pushed further out, it will take a bit more "oomph" to initiate a change.
On the highway, even though, a 23 inch front wheel road glide can in fact feel incredibly stable. That larger size creates a little bit more gyroscopic effect, which helps the particular bike track directly as an arrow. The downside is definitely low-speed maneuvering. Performing U-turns in the parking lot or even wiggling through large traffic requires a little bit more muscle along with a better understanding associated with your bike's stability.
You'll also notice that will the front finish sits a bit increased. Even with raked trees, the actual physical height of the wheel changes your type of sight over the fairing. It's not a deal-breaker, but it's some thing you'll have to get used to throughout your first few rides.
The Hidden Costs: Fenders and ABS
When you spending budget for this project, don't just appear at the price of the wheel. There's a whole "domino effect" of components you're going to need.
- The Fender: Your stock fender isn't going to suit. You'll need a wrap-style fender or even an expanded custom fender created specifically for a 23-inch wheel. And remember, that fender must be painted to match up your bike, which can easily include a few hundred bucks to the expenses.
- ABDOMINAL MUSCLES Recalibration: If your Road Glide has ABS, it's programmed to know how fast a 19-inch (or 21-inch) wheel is spinning. When you place a 23 on the website, the wheel rotates slower at the same road rate, which confuses the ABS computer. You'll need an ABDOMINAL MUSCLES correction module or a "tone ring" to fix this, otherwise, your AB MUSCLES light will remain on and the system might not really work once you actually need it.
- Tires: You're restricted on tire choices compared to share sizes. Most men run something such as a Metzeler or even a Pirelli. These types of tires are excellent, but they don't usually last as long as the chunky touring tires you're used to.
Brake and Performance
Stopping a larger wheel requires even more force. Some riders choose to stick with the dual-disc set up, which is the safest bet regarding a heavy touring bike such as the Road Glide. However, a lot of people go with the 23 inch front wheel road glide specifically to exhibit off the wheel design, so they switch to a single-disc setup using a massive 13-inch or 14-inch rotor plus a high-performance caliper (like a Brembo or a Beringer).
In case you go the single-disc route, don't cheap out. You're inquiring one rotor to complete the work of two. Getting the high-quality 6-piston caliper is almost essential if you want to keep your stopping power consistent, especially if you're driving two-up or transporting plenty of gear in your bags.
Suspension Upgrades are Not Optional
If you're still running stock front suspension, do yourself a favor and update it at the particular same time you are doing the wheel. A bigger wheel puts different stresses on the particular forks. Adding the set of efficiency cartridges—like those through Legend Suspensions or even Ohlins—will make a massive difference.
Good suspension system will help keep that will big 23-inch ring glued to the particular pavement and stop the particular "diving" feeling when you hit the particular brakes. It furthermore helps manage the extra weight associated with the wheel, producing the whole bike feel more grown and less "floaty" with the corners.
Maintenance and Long-Term Care
As soon as you've got your own 23 inch front wheel road glide out upon the road, you can't just overlook about it. You'll want to examine your neck bearings more often. The particular added leverage from the larger wheel and the changed angle from the triple trees may put a little bit more wear and tear on those bearings. If you start experience a wobble or a "clunk" when a person hit bumps, that's the first place in order to look.
Also, keep an in depth vision on your tire pressure. Since the sidewall is slimmer on a 23-inch car tire, running low pressure can result in rim harm easier than it would on the share wheel. A great TPMS (Tire Pressure Supervising System) is really a lifesaver here.
Will be It Worth This?
At the end of the day, installing the 23 inch front wheel road glide setup is about making a statement. It's for the rider who loves the "big wheel bagger" aesthetic yet still wants in order to have the ability to ride through state to condition without the need for a trailer.
Yes, it's an investment decision. Between the wheel, the trees, the fender, the tire, and the work, you're looking with a chunk associated with change. But the very first time you walk out of a diner and find out your bike sitting there along with that aggressive, custom stance, you'll know exactly why you did it. This transforms the Road Glide from a standard touring device into an attention-grabing custom that still has the spirit of a long-distance cruiser. Just do it right, don't cut corners on the geometry, and you'll love every mile.