16" front rim?

[Bill J. from Austin]

I've searched several forums, but not finding what I need. A lot of people want to install a taller front rim (19" or 21") on their Freewheeler or Tri-Glide, but I'm considering going the other direction. I want to remove the OEM 19" rim from my 2016 FLRT and install a 16" rim. Has anyone here done this? Any advice or caveats?

I've searched around, and while there doesn't appear to be a 16" front rim that will match my OEM Enforcer rear rims, it appears that certain Electra-Glide rims will work, and not look terrible. Any suggestions?

As always, thanks in advance for any assistance you might offer.

 

[Papa Zook]

I've searched several forums, but not finding what I need. A lot of people want to install a taller front rim (19" or 21") on their Freewheeler or Tri-Glide, but I'm considering going the other direction. I want to remove the OEM 19" rim from my 2016 FLRT and install a 16" rim. Has anyone here done this? Any advice or caveats?

I've searched around, and while there doesn't appear to be a 16" front rim that will match my OEM Enforcer rear rims, it appears that certain Electra-Glide rims will work, and not look terrible. Any suggestions?

As always, thanks in advance for any assistance you might offer.

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Hi Bill,

I'm wondering why you're looking to go smaller? The availability of 16" tires are becoming more scarce since non of the OEMs are using them.

 

[RKplus10]

Bill, search “Blue Bee With Mods”. That 18” front looks pretty sweet.

 

[Bill J. from Austin]

I'm wondering why you're looking to go smaller? The availability of 16" tires are becoming more scarce since non of the OEMs are using them.

Shows how out of the loop I am. I did not know the OEMs were moving away from 16"s. :Shrug:

As for why? The lower profile 19" tire doesn't handle the shyte roads around my house as well as the 16"s I've run on other bikes.





To be fair, my shovel has spoke wheels, which are a bit more forgiving. At various times in the forty-five years I've had her, I've run 16", 18", 19" and 21" rims, and they all handled well.



However, like the FLRT, my FXRS and two FLHs I owned all featured cast wheels. I'm hoping a little more sidewall might help cushion the blows.

 

[Bill J. from Austin]

Bill, search “Blue Bee With Mods”. That 18” front looks pretty sweet.

Thanks. I'll have a look.

 

[Harleymsn]

Shows how out of the loop I am. I did not know the OEMs were moving away from 16"s.

As for why? The lower profile 19" tire doesn't handle the shyte roads around my house as well as the 16"s I've run on other bikes.

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To be fair, my shovel has spoke wheels, which are a bit more forgiving. At various times in the forty-five years I've had her, I've run 16", 18", 19" and 21" rims, and they all handled well.

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However, like the FLRT, my FXRS and two FLHs I owned all featured cast wheels. I'm hoping a little more sidewall might help cushion the blows.

Bill did you ever do the change to the 16" wheel? I have the same issue with the 19" on my '16 FLRT. Also regarding the comment about 16" availability, Tire selection for the 16" is a lot better than the 19"