The Custom Motorcycle Magazine

Road King On A Rampage

New Wheels, Better Look

By Ernie Lopez, Photography by Ernie Lopez
Road King On A Rampage Sturgis Wheels
1. With so many wheels to pick from, it was a hard choice. In the end we liked the clean look of the Sturgis wheel. We went with a 21x3.5 for the front and 18x5 for the rear, along with matching rotors and pulley.
Road King On A Rampage Sturgis Wheels
1. With so many wheels to pick from, it was a hard choice. In the end we liked the clean

Something as minor as adding a few new pieces of chrome can change the way you feel about your bike, and in some cases make it feel like a new bike. Wheels are no exception; just swapping out the stock H-D wheels for new chrome ones in different sizes can change a bike's look and attitude. We wanted to see how we'd feel about some new taller wheels and rotors for our stock looking '04 Road King.

Enter Rampage Wheels of Anaheim, California, and owner/operator Wendell Smith. Wendell began in the wheel industry more than 35 years ago when he owned Western Wheel Co. and Ultra Wheel Company. A few years ago Wendell was co-owner of Renegade wheels until he sold his share in early 2009. He then opened his own line of custom billet wheels called Rampage Wheels.

With the passion to build and make every piece here in the USA, Wendell has continued in the custom V-twin wheel market with a whole new line of Rampage wheels. With more than 20 different styles of wheels and matching rotors and pulleys, there is a style for everyone. Every wheel comes with a two-year chrome warranty. The warehouse is well stocked for fast delivery on every order; no three-to-six-week wait for a set of wheels.

  • Road King On A Rampage Sturgis Wheel
    2. To get started, Wendell pulled out a set of Sturgis wheels and started to assemble the hubs. We wanted to stick with stock H-D hub sizes, which are his best sellers. Wendell then installed new bearings and a thrust sleeve into the two-piece hub.
    Road King On A Rampage Sturgis Wheel
    2. To get started, Wendell pulled out a set of Sturgis wheels and started to assemble the
  • Road King On A Rampage Rotor Installation
    3. With the hubs assembled the rotor was installed, with thread-locker applied to each bolt.
    Road King On A Rampage Rotor Installation
    3. With the hubs assembled the rotor was installed, with thread-locker applied to each bo
  • Road King On A Rampage Pulley Installation
    4. Next, the pulley was installed and each bolt was torqued to 60 lb-ft. The same went for the front wheel with the only difference being the two brake rotors.
    Road King On A Rampage Pulley Installation
    4. Next, the pulley was installed and each bolt was torqued to 60 lb-ft. The same went fo
  • Road King On A Rampage Rear Sturgis Wheel
    5. The finished rear Sturgis wheel was then ready for some tires.
  • Road King On A Rampage Avon Tires
    6. We contacted the guys at Wheel Works in Garden Grove, California, for a set of Avon tires. Wendell installed the new Avon Venoms to the Sturgis wheels with the help of a little tire lube.
    Road King On A Rampage Avon Tires
    6. We contacted the guys at Wheel Works in Garden Grove, California, for a set of Avon ti
  • Road King On A Rampage Adjuster Cam
    7. Once the tires were mounted and balanced to the wheels, Wendell had the bike placed on the lift and the old wheels were removed. Before pulling the old wheels off the, adjuster cam was marked as a reference point for the new wheel (arrow). This gives them a reference point when it comes time to adjust the belt.
    Road King On A Rampage Adjuster Cam
    7. Once the tires were mounted and balanced to the wheels, Wendell had the bike placed on
  • Road King On A Rampage Spacer
    8. The rear wheel fitment was perfect and there was no need to replace or adjust the spacer for wheel alignment. We wish we would have known this so we could have had a set of chrome spacers cut. Maybe next time.
    Road King On A Rampage Spacer
    8. The rear wheel fitment was perfect and there was no need to replace or adjust the spac
  • Road King On A Rampage Fl Fender
    9. Up front we went from a stock 16-inch wheel to a 21-inch wheel so there was a little clearance matter to tend to. On the FL fender, a bolt for the light and fender guard sticks out about an inch. This was removed with a small cutting wheel (arrow).
    Road King On A Rampage Fl Fender
    9. Up front we went from a stock 16-inch wheel to a 21-inch wheel so there was a little c
  • Road King On A Rampage Wheel Install
    10. The 21-inch Sturgis wheel covered in Avon rubber was then installed. As soon as it was in place we could already see a difference in the bike. The same thing went for the front wheel, there was no need to adjust spacing since both wheels fit perfectly.
    Road King On A Rampage Wheel Install
    10. The 21-inch Sturgis wheel covered in Avon rubber was then installed. As soon as it wa
  • Road King On A Rampage Brake Caliper
    11. Once the front wheel was lined up, the brake calipers were bolted back in place and the brake system was tested before the bike was pulled from the lift.
    Road King On A Rampage Brake Caliper
    11. Once the front wheel was lined up, the brake calipers were bolted back in place and t
  • Road King On A Rampage 2004 Road King
    12. There you have it, our '04 Road King rolling around on a new set of Rampage Sturgis wheels with new attitude. We're sad to say that the rear wheel with matching pulley is covered by the saddlebags making it hard to see its beauty, but the front stands out.
    Road King On A Rampage 2004 Road King
    12. There you have it, our '04 Road King rolling around on a new set of Rampage Sturgis w
SOURCES
Rampage Wheels
714-447-0020
www.rampagewheels.com
Avon Tires
www.avontyresusa.com
Wheel Works
By Ernie Lopez
Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!

*Please enter your username

*Please enter your password

*Please enter your comments
Comments:
Not Registered?Signup Here
(1024 character limit)
Hot Bike
  • Hot Bike