Trying to run 21" front on this front end...

[Milk_Jesus]

Ok, I've read the "All the "21 inch front wheel" swap/info in one place" thread and I haven't quite had my questions answered. I will start by saying I AM A NEEWBIE! 100%

I picked up this front end for $30 and figured I could rig it somehow to run a 21" wheel and I already knew it was a 35mm...but that's all I knew about it.

here are my questions:

-what kind of front end is this? (year/sportster(?))
-the hd axle is about 7/8 inches in diameter which is the same diameter as the hole on my xs650 forks...but the hd axle is too short to go through because the xs triple trees are wider...what do i do?
-what wheel should i buy that will fit the front end?

 

[mouser]

Early 70's Ironhead Sportster

 

[Milk_Jesus]

Early 70's Ironhead Sportster

Awesome, thank you. Now what route would you reccomend I take to run a 21" front wheel? I've been told to buy an Akront high shouldered 21" rim and lace it to an xs650 hub and I can just use my xs front end, but is there an easier way?

 

[Tim of DO THE TON]

Because you're admittedly new at this, I strongly recommend:

Getting the stock front end that goes with your frame - looks like a post 1973 frame so any XS650 front end should bolt on - later models were 35mm.

Get an XS650 front hub setup.

Buy a 21" 36 hole rim drilled for a disc hub - might find one at MikesXS or online somewhere like eBay.

Buy the spokes you need to lace it up - i.e. from MikesXS if you buy their rim or Buchanan's if you're matching a different 21" rim to your XS650 hub.

Honestly the Sportster front end isn't worth spending all the time and trouble of making it fit your frame, let alone then finding and sorting a 21" rim for it.

Keep it simple - nothing wrong with the XS650 front forks if they're in good condition and there's lots you can do to improve them like fresh springs and cartridge emulators.

 

[stuntdouble]

...later models were 35mm...

Don't mean to hijack but real quick, what year did the 35's start?

 

[Tim of DO THE TON]

Can't remember - later than I usually think. 76 maybe?

 

[Ironsled77]

what Tim said is right. Its eaiser....

But if you keep that front...run all HD stuff. Forget the xs hub, wheel, brake and such. Get a HD narrow glide dual disc wheel with a 21 on there.(seen one for sale on chop cult) that way you can run all stock axle, rotors,calipers and such. The one thing you are going to change is the neck stem or bearings but that is some thing you will have to search for. I keep my xs's with xs parts and my harleys with HD parts..

 

[Ironsled77]

Don't mean to hijack but real quick, what year did the 35's start?

73 started the 35mm... prior was the 33.4mm with drum brake

 

[Milk_Jesus]

So I've read that these Akront high shouldered rims fit the xs650 axles. So should I pick this up and would I have to switch out the hub for a xs front hub

http://bit.ly/xjZw2Q

 

[Tim of DO THE TON]

73 started the 35mm... prior was the 33.4mm with drum brake

You sure about that? I'm 99% sure the 35mm forks didn't start till 1977.

 

[Tim of DO THE TON]

So I've read that these Akront high shouldered rims fit the xs650 axles. So should I pick this up and would I have to switch out the hub for a xs front hub

http://bit.ly/xjZw2Q

Chances are you could make that rim work on an XS hub, but the spoke hole angles might be a little off given the design of the hub it has in it now. That looks like an XT500 front hub. Interesting wheel.

This might work:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/21-x1-60-36...ies&hash=item4163586eea&vxp=mtr#ht_500wt_1413

Or this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/36-Hole-All...ies&hash=item4ab4e52023&vxp=mtr#ht_786wt_1396

Not sure how many spokes this one takes:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1999-Suzuki...es&hash=item2c63208f81&vxp=mtr#ht_1103wt_1163

 

[Milk_Jesus]

Chances are you could make that rim work on an XS hub, but the spoke hole angles might be a little off given the design of the hub it has in it now. That looks like an XT500 front hub. Interesting wheel.

This might work:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/21-x1-60-36...ies&hash=item4163586eea&vxp=mtr#ht_500wt_1413

Or this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/36-Hole-All...ies&hash=item4ab4e52023&vxp=mtr#ht_786wt_1396

Not sure how many spokes this one takes:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1999-Suzuki...es&hash=item2c63208f81&vxp=mtr#ht_1103wt_1163

so all i would need to run say that top one you linked is an xs hub and a 21" 36 spoke kit from mikesxs?

 

[Tim of DO THE TON]

I'd think so. You might want to ask the seller what the rim was off, but as long as the hub it was laced to was about the same diameter and width as the XS650's hub it should lace up fine.

Keep in mind most of the 21" rims out there are pretty narrow so you're going to be into a skinny tire.

 

[AceofSpades]

73 started the 35mm... prior was the 33.4mm with drum brake

my 75 has the thinner forks, all stock. I have a set of trees off an 80 or 81 that are the larger, 35mm, tubes. which will also work with my leading axle Honda forks I intend on using.

 

[XSLeo]

On the Harley's the 35 mm forks did start in 73 as Ironsled77 said.
On the xs650 the 35mm forks started with the 77 model year.
Use those forks you have, Get a harley wheel. As Ironsled77 said, but you need to get an axle made and add some spacers to center the wheel. The xs650 forks are 7 1/4 inches ctc. The Harley forks are 7 inches ctc. You will need 1/8 inch spacers for the axle on each end and brake rotors. The axle spacers 3/4 inch washers will probaly work there. On the brake rotors you need to make or get made.
With those calipers the Harley rotors will work, xs 650 rotors won't.
Leo

 

[Tim of DO THE TON]

Ahhhh... we're talking about 2 different bikes Sorry for the confusion.

 

[Milk_Jesus]

I'd think so. You might want to ask the seller what the rim was off, but as long as the hub it was laced to was about the same diameter and width as the XS650's hub it should lace up fine.

Keep in mind most of the 21" rims out there are pretty narrow so you're going to be into a skinny tire.

that was going to be my next question. visually, i like a smooth looking tire, not into the dirt tire look, so what kind of tire would you suggest i look into?

p.s. thanks to everyone helping me out here and being patient with me, like i said IM NEW! haha

 

[Tim of DO THE TON]

http://www.avontyres.com/node/3309

AVON Speedmaster MkII - 21-3.00 size. Minimum rim size is 1.6 inches, which is what many 21" rims are (they're typically off dirt bikes).

I'm running a 21" front wheel off an XT500 and will be using that tire with the MkII rear 18-4.00 size.

 

[mouser]

This issue is complicated! I just looked at the pic again. It looks like you have 650 trees and fork tubes, with lower legs and calipers from the harley. You could change the trees to a Sportster tree setup by changing the steering stem from an xs then get a duel disc superglide wheel to fit. Then you have duel disc and no issues with axle or rotors and 21 inch rim etc...or you could get an xs lower legs, caliper, rotor, axle, and still have to lace a 21 wheel..... I have a set of sportster trees and fork tubes if you should want to go that route.

 

[jamesgs4]

For simplicity sake, get a set of 35mm harley trees to match and find a harley 21" to run on that front end. there are hundreds of wheels on ebay that will simply just bolt on to those forks. the tapered bearing trick will let you run harley trees in the xs neck.