Ready to change your motorcycle? Then you must be thinking about your purchase of a new set of custom motorcycle wheels! This article is not the end-all of buying guides, but I hope to help you with a smooth, and satisfying buying experience.
The very first thing you need to decide is how much you are willing to spend. A good set of wheels can cost at least $2000, so you will need to budget your purchase wisely. Most custom motorcycle wheels are made from billet aluminum, in a CNC machine, and not mass quantity castings such as car wheels. Also, as you have noticed, custom motorcycle wheels have to look good on both sides, which is not the case for your car.
The next decision is what type of wheel you want. For example, do you want a spoke wheel? Do you want a chrome wheel? An option to consider is a polished wheel, or a black anodized wheel. A polished wheel will “weather” better in a climate such as Florida, where there is a lot of salt-air. A chrome wheel is easy to clean, but is more susceptible to the elements which cause corrosion. A polished wheel is well suited for these climates, but takes a lot of maintenance to keep their shine. A black anodized wheel or powder coated wheel is more of a “look” choice, and are not as durable as a chrome or polished wheel. (Though a black magic marker can often hide dings in these wheels.)
Once your decision has been made on the type of wheel, the next step is finding a design which looks good on your specific bike, and more importantly, that you love. Yes, I said love, because when you are spending this kind of money, you will probably not want to like your wheels, you will need to love them. This is why you should never “settle” for a wheel design.
There are many different media outlets to view wheel designs offered in the market. Most enthusiasts will subscribe to a type of motorcycle industry magazine, such as American Bagger. These magazines will have numerous wheel ads, with some of the company’s offerings. I would suggest going to the most common place to search for something, Google. Type in Custom Motorcycle Wheels, and click search. This will bring up the most popular company’s websites in the industry.
Spend some time going through each company’s website, looking at the different options you have. Most websites will have a motorcycle wheel selector. This allows you to view their wheels on your bike, a handy tool to help you decide what looks good on your bike. Don’t forget to look for specials, or eBay deals and steals, many companies have an eBay store for their clearance items. This is often a great place to find brand new wheels, with a large discount.
I think you have the resources to find the wheel design that fits your needs. The next decision is the size of the wheels you want to put on your motorcycle. For example, 2002-2008 baggers, or FLH Harley, have stock sizes of 16″ x 3.5″ on both the front and rear. From my experience, about 75% of customers will choose to upgrade to a 21″ x 3.5″ on the front, and 18″ x 4.25″ on the rear. These are the largest sizes you can upgrade to on this bike, without major modifications. You could also choose to only go to a 18″ x 3.5″ on the front. Keep in mind, the stock rotor size is almost 12 inches, so, on a 16″ wheel, you will only see 2 inches of wheel, whereas the 21″ wheel, you see 4.5 inches of wheel. This is significant when spending such a large amount of money on motorcycle wheels; you’ll want to see them!!
Some motorcycles will only have the stock sizes available. When you are speaking to a sales consultant, ask them what size options they have available for your bike. They will most often have a reference guide to size wheels for your specific motorcycle. One last thing to remember, when you change the size of your wheel, you will NOT be able to use your stock tires. I would suggest timing the replacement of your tires with the new set of custom motorcycle wheels, or you can sell those stock tires on eBay!
Once you have the design picked, pricing is the next step. Whether you are getting an email quote, phone quote, or looking at eBay pricing, there are some things to remember, and ask! When looking at a set, be sure the wheels come with hubs, and are ready to bolt on, without any additional parts or modifications. It may seem small, but ensure there are bearings in the hubs, and even valve stems. Some companies will try to save a few dollars, and don’t include these items. If you decide to purchase tires, is the package price with tires mounted and balanced? Does the package price include shipping? Where is the company you are doing business with? If you are located in the same state, you will need to pay sales tax. Most often, you will not have to pay sales tax, unless you are un-lucky enough to decide on a company in your state. Some companies will often give a larger discount to in-state customers, which can help offset the additional cost of sales tax. Be sure to ask these questions, you will save time and money!
While getting pricing on your wheels, you should also consider including matching rotors and a pulley in your purchase. Most custom motorcycle wheels will have a matching cut rotor, and pulley. Also consider your bike type and this extra expense. On a bagger, you do not see the rear rotor and pulley, so most customers opt not to purchase those items, and can save as much as $6-800 dollars. However, on a Dyna, you do see the rear rotor and pulley, so you may decide to change all the rotors, and pulley. For matching cut rotors, you should expect to pay from $239 upwards to over $350 per rotor. For a matching cut pulley, you can expect to pay from $429 upwards to over $500 for a pulley. Again, if you ask for package pricing, you will often receive discounts on all parts in the package.
When getting rotors or a pulley, be sure to inquire as to what hardware you will receive, such as bolts, and some brand of thread-locker. Most companies will not attach the rotors to the wheels before shipping, as they can easily be damaged in shipping. Don’t worry, attaching the rotors yourself is a simple process, or you can let your local dealer do the install.
As in any purchase, be sure to inquire about the products warranty, return policy, and any restock fees associated with a return. In custom motorcycle wheels, a good warranty is a 2 year chrome warranty, and a lifetime structural warranty. Also, be sure to ask if the warranty is transferrable, some warranties are void if the bike or wheels are sold to another individual.
Another important question to ask, when will I receive me wheels? Most manufacturers stock the most popular sizes of custom motorcycle wheels, but sometimes it can take up to 4-5 weeks to receive a complete package. So, it is very important to know the timeframe to receive your items.
An important decision to make is who does the installation of all these new parts? If you have been working on motorcycles for years, and have good mechanical knowledge, you should be able to the installation yourself. If not, please go to a local dealer to have them professionally installed. You will pay $200-450 for installation, but is money well spent to ensure the job is done properly.
Once your project is complete, don’t be afraid to raise questions if something doesn’t feel right with your ride. Don’t be satisfied, if you truly aren’t. Your new wheel purchased will no doubt wow your riding buddies, with all the shiny new chrome. A great set of custom motorcycle wheels will change your ride.
Don Smith
By: Don G Smith About the Author:
