Street Glide front wheel installed on a Vulcan 1600 (pics)

Vulcan Bill · 07-15-2013, 09:56 PM

Being one of those who likes the look of a larger wheel on the front I started looking around to see if there was a dual disc wheel off another bike that might be adapted to fit the Vulcan 1600. While visiting the local Harley dealer I noticed the 2010 (and up, current 2013) HD Street Glide has a nice looking 18 " dual disc 5 spoke mag. A little research turned up the fact that both the Vulcan and Street Glide wheel use the same size axle (25mm) and the same size brake rotor (300mm). As it turns out the wheel bearings are interchangable, same-o, same-o.
Hmmmm...very interesting. At this point it seemed everything was a go on this mod so I purchased a 2010 SG wheel on Ebay and started figuring out how to go about it. One month and not to many $ later the new wheel was installed. I have almost 3000 miles on it now and have had absolutely no problems.
The actual modifications required were minimal. .125 inch (1/8th) had to be machined off the lower leg (slider) brake caliper mounts (4 places) to move the calipers out to line up with the SG wheel rotors. Also, the OEM Vulcan wheel spacers had to be cut down to two different finished lengths of 1.205 inches (left) and 1.295 inches (right). The difference in length is due to the right SG wheel bearing being inset deeper in the wheel than the left bearing (for whatever reason).
That's it! It bolts right on. This mod does not significantly raise or lower the front. If you compare the 130/70-18 tire to the OEM 130/90-16 in a tire calculator you'll find the diameter of the new tire to be only .04 inches less.
So there you have it. You CAN have a custom wheel on the front of your Vulcan 1600. Now that these mods have been made, I can bolt on any aftermarket wheel made for the 2010 to 2013 Harley Street Glide. I already have my eye on a purty chrome one!
Vulcan Bill

ADDED 1/22/14
Thanks to member dshelly and his machinest skills for spotting the inset bearing and determining the correct spacer lengths.
ADDED 3/26/14
10,000 miles on this mod now and no issues of any kind. Still glad I did it.
UPDATE 3/29/16
Over 20K miles now, no issues. Harley Davidson has continued using the same size rotors, axle and wheel bearings up thru current 2016 so these wheels will fit too. In 2015 they went to a nice looking 19" wheel.

1500ccs · 07-15-2013, 10:11 PM

Very Nice. I think the harley fenders also can be adapted without too much difficulty. I have seen fatboy fenders on nomads..

Vulcan Bill · 07-15-2013, 10:14 PM

Thanks. Yeah, I was planning on putting a Fatboy fender on later but I'm beginning to really like the looks of the Vulcan fender with this wheel.

**plumber63** · 07-15-2013, 10:57 PM

Looks good

lar · 07-15-2013, 11:50 PM

That's a great looking setup.

Bud2rat · 07-15-2013, 11:57 PM

I think that you should leave the stock fender on. It looks really good with the setup that you have. Good job.

jandreu · 07-16-2013, 12:03 AM

Excellent

cactusjack · 07-16-2013, 12:21 AM

That looks really sharp, Bill.

**Jared** · 07-16-2013, 12:56 AM

Nicely done. It looks like you polished up the fork lowers while you were at it. :)

cactusjack · 07-16-2013, 01:16 AM

It's amazing what a Harley wheel can do to dress up a bike!

Kevinhyland · 07-16-2013, 03:47 AM

Looks good, I like the stock fender.

VulcanE · 07-16-2013, 06:19 AM

That does look sharp!

**ringadingh** · 07-16-2013, 08:27 AM

Nice job, You seem to have figured everything out quite well.

davidhollinger · 07-16-2013, 11:43 AM

That is very very nice looking bike! I love a black bike and that wheel just pops! Great job!

Vulcan Bill · 07-16-2013, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cactusjack

It's amazing what a Harley wheel can do to dress up a bike!

After I put the custom intake on I plan on hanging an OEM Harley Horn on the left side of the engine where the filter box is now...just to have a spot of chrome there.
I'm slowly turning my 1600 into a hybrid. A Vulcan-Davidson!

07-15-2013, 09:56 PM	#1
Vulcan Bill Sr. Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Mesa Az Posts: 1,400	Street Glide front wheel installed on a Vulcan 1600 (pics) Being one of those who likes the look of a larger wheel on the front I started looking around to see if there was a dual disc wheel off another bike that might be adapted to fit the Vulcan 1600. While visiting the local Harley dealer I noticed the 2010 (and up, current 2013) HD Street Glide has a nice looking 18 " dual disc 5 spoke mag. A little research turned up the fact that both the Vulcan and Street Glide wheel use the same size axle (25mm) and the same size brake rotor (300mm). As it turns out the wheel bearings are interchangable, same-o, same-o. Hmmmm...very interesting. At this point it seemed everything was a go on this mod so I purchased a 2010 SG wheel on Ebay and started figuring out how to go about it. One month and not to many $ later the new wheel was installed. I have almost 3000 miles on it now and have had absolutely no problems. The actual modifications required were minimal. .125 inch (1/8th) had to be machined off the lower leg (slider) brake caliper mounts (4 places) to move the calipers out to line up with the SG wheel rotors. Also, the OEM Vulcan wheel spacers had to be cut down to two different finished lengths of 1.205 inches (left) and 1.295 inches (right). The difference in length is due to the right SG wheel bearing being inset deeper in the wheel than the left bearing (for whatever reason). That's it! It bolts right on. This mod does not significantly raise or lower the front. If you compare the 130/70-18 tire to the OEM 130/90-16 in a tire calculator you'll find the diameter of the new tire to be only .04 inches less. So there you have it. You CAN have a custom wheel on the front of your Vulcan 1600. Now that these mods have been made, I can bolt on any aftermarket wheel made for the 2010 to 2013 Harley Street Glide. I already have my eye on a purty chrome one! Vulcan Bill ADDED 1/22/14 Thanks to member dshelly and his machinest skills for spotting the inset bearing and determining the correct spacer lengths. ADDED 3/26/14 10,000 miles on this mod now and no issues of any kind. Still glad I did it. UPDATE 3/29/16 Over 20K miles now, no issues. Harley Davidson has continued using the same size rotors, axle and wheel bearings up thru current 2016 so these wheels will fit too. In 2015 they went to a nice looking 19" wheel. Login or Register to Remove Ads Last edited by Vulcan Bill; 03-27-2016 at 11:13 AM.
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07-15-2013, 10:57 PM	#4
plumber63 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: NE Indiana Posts: 984	Looks good __________________ Troy Donat VBA #02401 2015 Voyager 2006 1600 Nomad black(sold) 2016 Salem, Antlers, 2017 Eureka Springs, Lake George, Antlers 2018 Custer NR, Antlers
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07-15-2013, 11:50 PM	#5
lar Sr. Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Concord, NH Posts: 1,407	That's a great looking setup. __________________ Larry Martel 02 1500 Nomad VBA 01565 VROC4737 Patriot Guard Rider Login or Register to Remove Ads
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07-15-2013, 11:57 PM	#6
Bud2rat Sr. Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: St. Pauls, NC Posts: 2,089	I think that you should leave the stock fender on. It looks really good with the setup that you have. Good job. __________________ Robert Torrey VBA# 02077 Vroc# 27672 1996 800A Customized (SOLD) 2001 1500 Nomad (The Mistress) 2013 Voyager 2014 SE Rally - Elkins, WV 2016 SE Rally - Helen, Ga
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07-16-2013, 12:03 AM	#7
jandreu Sr. Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Makawao, Hawaii Posts: 1,409	Excellent __________________ James Andreu '07 1600 Red/Silver VBA Member #1356 jandreu@hawaiiantel.net
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07-15-2013, 10:11 PM	#2
1500ccs Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 87	Very Nice. I think the harley fenders also can be adapted without too much difficulty. I have seen fatboy fenders on nomads..
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07-15-2013, 10:14 PM	#3
Vulcan Bill Sr. Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Mesa Az Posts: 1,400	Thanks. Yeah, I was planning on putting a Fatboy fender on later but I'm beginning to really like the looks of the Vulcan fender with this wheel.
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07-16-2013, 12:21 AM	#8
cactusjack Mega-Contributor Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Where it doesn't snow...ever! Posts: 21,926	That looks really sharp, Bill. __________________ Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08\|Custer '09\|Cortez '10\|Crescent City '11\|Kanab '12\|Antlers '12\|Estes Park '13\|Antlers '13\|Orofino '14\|The Dalles '17
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07-16-2013, 12:56 AM	#9
Jared Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Greeley, Colorado Posts: 6,772	Nicely done. It looks like you polished up the fork lowers while you were at it. :) __________________ Jared VBA #1051 (Former President)
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07-16-2013, 01:16 AM	#10
cactusjack Mega-Contributor Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Where it doesn't snow...ever! Posts: 21,926	It's amazing what a Harley wheel can do to dress up a bike! __________________ Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08\|Custer '09\|Cortez '10\|Crescent City '11\|Kanab '12\|Antlers '12\|Estes Park '13\|Antlers '13\|Orofino '14\|The Dalles '17
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07-16-2013, 03:47 AM	#11
Kevinhyland Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: California Central Coast Posts: 158	Looks good, I like the stock fender. __________________ VBA Member 02305 2011 Kawasaki Vaquero, Black Cobra Tri Ovals Exhaust Cobra Power Pro K&N High Intake Air Filter EOM 15 Inch Windshield EOM Aux Driving Lights EOM iPod Kit, iPod Touch Mustang Wide Touring Studded Seat Castrol Full Synthetic Racing Oil Kuryakyn Black Iso Grips Kuryakyn Stiletto Grip Ends Kuryakyn Offset Highway Pegs Kuryakyn Black Scythe Mirrors Michelin Commander II Tires
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07-16-2013, 06:19 AM	#12
VulcanE Sr. Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Cartersville, Georgia Posts: 4,838	That does look sharp! __________________ Cliff "VulcanE" Evans 2005 Blue & Silver 1600 Nomad VBA # 320 VROC # 20381
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07-16-2013, 08:27 AM	#13
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	Nice job, You seem to have figured everything out quite well. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
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07-16-2013, 11:43 AM	#14
davidhollinger Sr. Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Central Alabama Posts: 2,188	That is very very nice looking bike! I love a black bike and that wheel just pops! Great job! __________________ I would be patient, but it takes too long!! David Hollinger 2002 Beige 1500 "Hannah2" VBA # 02195
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