Mad Wheels 21-inch Reinforcer Bagger Wheel Install
One day Doug woke up and thought that there are probably more folks out there who just want a slightly bigger wheel (and one that matches their existing rear wheel) than dudes who will cut their frame in half to get big-inch bling wheels on their baggers.
Words and Photos: Dumptruck
It seems like everyone wants a bit bigger-than-stock front wheel on his or her bagger. And why not? America is all about freethinking and independent decision-making, right? Some of these wheels have just plain gotten silly with 32- and 30-inch varieties hitting the scene. Doug McGoon of Mad Wheels has been one of the mainstays of the über big-wheel bagger craze since its inception, and most of the big-wheeled bikes we feature in Hot Bike can be traced back to him in some way.
So Doug went to work designing 21-inch front wheels that closely match H-D’s production wheels. The first of them is the Reinforcer that you see here. It has a very similar design and texture to the 19-inch H-D Enforcer wheel that comes stock on many model baggers, but the Reinforcer is 45-percent different due to patent and trademark laws. Follow along as we make a small change to our 2016 Road Glide that makes a big difference to the overall look of the bike.
We took the bike over to Wheel Works where our pal Mat got busy loosening the front wheel axle and dual front brake calipers.
Words and Photos: Dumptruck
Mat removed the stock 19-inch H-D front wheel from the bike.
Words and Photos: Dumptruck
As you can see the 21-inch Reinforcer wheel (left) is substantially larger than the H-D Enforcer wheel (right) that came on the bike.
Words and Photos: Dumptruck
Mat then removed the front fender due to the fact that it will have to be lifted because of the larger circumference of the 21-inch Reinforcer wheel.
Words and Photos: Dumptruck
The lift is provided via these aluminum plates that will space the wheel up about a half-inch.
Words and Photos: Dumptruck
Once installed on the bike, the lift plates can barely be seen.
Words and Photos: Dumptruck
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Mat removed the dual brake rotors from the stock 19-inch wheel.
Words and Photos: Dumptruck
After cleaning them and checking the H-D rotors for trueness and wear, Mat installed them on the new Mad Wheels 21-inch Reinforcer wheel.
Words and Photos: Dumptruck
The new 21-inch wheel was then installed onto our 2016 Road Glide Special. Mat then checked all of the clearances and tightened the axle and brake calipers to factory specs. And we were done with the wheel swap!
Words and Photos: Dumptruck
These before-and-after images show what a drastic difference the Mad Wheels 21-inch Reinforcer wheel makes to a stock bike.
Words and Photos: Dumptruck
These before-and-after images show what a drastic difference the Mad Wheels 21-inch Reinforcer wheel makes to a stock bike.
Words and Photos: Dumptruck
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