One thing we can usually count on is how important the look of your bike is to you. If you didn't build your bike from the ground up, you more than likely picked up a stock bike. If so, it may look like every other bike out there made by the same company, from Harley-Davidson to Big Dog. If you're not interested in messing with the paint job, what else can you do to change up your bike's look? What about wheels? A new set of wheels is one thing that can change the look of a bike without too much work and downtime. These days, almost every wheel company has custom and OEM replacement equipment. Landmark is one of these companies. It has a full line of spoke wheels to handle any custom job and all factory replacements. We wanted to take on a bike makeover, starting with a new set of spoke wheels to change its look. We'll then work our way to the sheetmetal, and eventually to the paint. The bike here was at one time a stock '98 Fat Boy, but now it's just a sort of mutant bike with style in every direction. To get started, we called Landmark Motorcycle Accessories in Oceanside, CA, to get a catalog of the company's wheels. What we got was a lot more. Landmark has a full line of accessories, from mirrors, grips, and pegs to shift linkages and gas caps. The company also has a line of rotors and pulleys to go along with its spoke wheels. We gave the people at Landmark a call and let them know what we were doing with this bike. They told us to head on down so we could take a few photos as the wheels were getting assembled. 1. Here's the bike with the stock Fat Boy solid disc wheels. They have got to go-sorry! 2. Landmark has a full line of chrome wheels and more than 28 different powdercoated colors to choose from as well. Then you can go with 80-spoke wheels or 40-spoke wheels. There are also 40 fat spokes that are the same style as the thin spokes, just with a fatter spoke. We wanted to stay with the flat black for now; the bike will get color later.2. Landmark has a full line of chrome wheels and more than 28 different powdercoated color 3. Doug Craig is the shop manager at Landmark and pulled all the parts we needed for these wheels. There is a chart to use so that you get the right-size wheels for your bike.3. Doug Craig is the shop manager at Landmark and pulled all the parts we needed for these 4. When it comes to rim sizes, Landmark has just about everything to handle thin tires and any wide-tire builds as well.4. When it comes to rim sizes, Landmark has just about everything to handle thin tires and 5. Doug pulled an 18x5.5-inch flat-black rim band and matching H-D replacement-size hub. 6. For H-D hub replacement wheels, Doug needed to press in the race for the Timken bearing.6. For H-D hub replacement wheels, Doug needed to press in the race for the Timken bearing 7. This is going to be an 80 diamond-cut spoke wheel. To get started, all the spokes got the threaded end dipped in a special oil to help keep the threads from binding when being tightened down to the stainless-steel nipples.7. This is going to be an 80 diamond-cut spoke wheel. To get started, all the spokes got t 8. There are 80 spokes; 40 are inside spokes, and 40 are outside spokes. The one on the left is the inside (A) spoke: a little longer nub end and a slightly tighter angle. The spoke on the right (B) is an outside spoke.8. There are 80 spokes; 40 are inside spokes, and 40 are outside spokes. The one on the le 9. First, all the inside spokes were installed onto both sides of the hub. This is a crossover-four pattern; one spoke will cross four spokes to get to the rim band.9. First, all the inside spokes were installed onto both sides of the hub. This is a cross 10. Then the inside spokes were installed to the rim band with the stainless-steel nipples. All the nipples were snugged, but not tightened yet.10. Then the inside spokes were installed to the rim band with the stainless-steel nipples 11. Next, all the outside spokes were installed. 12. With all 80 spokes installed and snugged down, the wheel was then placed on a set stand, which allows the hub offset to get established. Knowing which bike ('98 Fat Boy) the wheels would be going on, all the tech needed to do was refer to the chart to find the offset.12. With all 80 spokes installed and snugged down, the wheel was then placed on a set stan 1 | 2 | » | View Full Article By Ernie Lopez Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!
