Wider front wheel for Softail?

[admenk]

I'm thinking of replacing the front wheel on my softail with something a bit fatter. The bike's a 1991 HD Softail FXSTC with the standard single disc 21" front wheel. It's stepped out a few times on me in the wet, and I had a low speed slide in the wet this week when the front end went under braking. It may well have been my fault (too much brake !) but I'd like to get a wheel with a bit more rubber on the road for my own piece of mind. I've currently got the widest tire for that rim that my local dealer can get.

Does anyone know of (or has anyone done it) a wider front wheel that would fit without any major modifications? (and what model would it be off) I'm assuming something like a 19" shouldn't mess with the geometry of the bike too much and would hopefully be a bit wider.

Any ideas would be appreciated - cheers

[popelli]

its a common modification

choices are find another wheel or get a new rim spoked onto the existing hub

16" rim is claimed to improve the handling

you will probably have to change the front guard to suit the smaller wheel

[TripleZee Dyno]

I'm thinking of replacing the front wheel on my softail with something a bit fatter. The bike's a 1991 HD Softail FXSTC with the standard single disc 21" front wheel. It's stepped out a few times on me in the wet, and I had a low speed slide in the wet this week when the front end went under braking. It may well have been my fault (too much brake !) but I'd like to get a wheel with a bit more rubber on the road for my own piece of mind. I've currently got the widest tire for that rim that my local dealer can get.

Does anyone know of (or has anyone done it) a wider front wheel that would fit without any major modifications? (and what model would it be off) I'm assuming something like a 19" shouldn't mess with the geometry of the bike too much and would hopefully be a bit wider.

Any ideas would be appreciated - cheers

As already said pretty common conversion.
"easiest" way is get a new rim relaced to your hub. This way brakes, axle etc will all fit. Speedo will read high, get a drive off a bike (HD) that uses the same size front wheel you are convering to. There may be a little bit of fooling about with the speedo drive because some of them incorporate the axle spacer. Matter of making it the same as the one you are taking off. Or dont worry about it.
If you fit a wheel off say a superglide or sporty then disc spacer, axle spacers will have to be made up to suit.
We used to put back wheels on the front and convert to twin disc. A bit of fooling about getting everything to fit up but it all works.
If you are going to a 19" then your stock guard will be OK but if going to a 16" then another guard. Fatboy or FL. If you are handy with tools then a cutdown rear guard will do the job as well.
4 pots off a jap bike
17" wheels from said Jap bike
The possibilities are endless