My FatBob diet. Thinking of going carbon fiber or other options.

[N-gin]

It seems the more I do to get more performance just adds more weight... Like for instance the chain conversion.. However I've been told the belt sprockets weight more, Im willing to bet the chain tips the scale.

[04 SE Deuce]

Chain is more efficient at transferring power.  FWIW   -Rick

[dirty jim]

I ALWAYS LIKED THE BST CARBON FIBER WHEELS, BUT $7,000 FOR A PAIR? PLUS THE TIRES AND ALL THE LITTLE BITS THAT GO WITH A WHEEL CHANGE? $7,000 WILL BUY A LOT OF HORSE POWER AND BRAKES.

[turboprop]

I ALWAYS LIKED THE BST CARBON FIBER WHEELS, BUT $7,000 FOR A PAIR? PLUS THE TIRES AND ALL THE LITTLE BITS THAT GO WITH A WHEEL CHANGE? $7,000 WILL BUY A LOT OF HORSE POWER AND BRAKES.

BST carbon fiber wheels are NOT $7k a pair. More closer to half that figure.

http://www.brocksperformance.com/FL_Series+C395.aspx

[Just Nick]

Don't want to steal the tread but does anyone make cf wheels for the 09up touring bikes

[N-gin]

I've made the decision if I'm going to replace the wheels I'll go with 18s. They look better and I believe they will be less weight then what's on there now. Like i said earlier these rims are not light.
My thinking is the smaller sidewall of the tire....it also appears that most of the 18 inch wheels have less meat on the wheels (more machining), for lack of a better term.
Would be nice to get some weight numbers on some of the 18 inch wheels out there.
I've looked at spokes, however nothing catches my eye. I don't think I like the spoke look..
Anyone with a fat Bob have spokes? Or maybe just for the front

[1FSTRK]

Spokes are HEAVY!

[turboprop]

Looking to find info on locating some carbon fiber option or just going lighter.
Items include brake and clutch levers, 18x3.75 wheel (front), front fender,  and possibly different brake setup.
For 09 FatBob

Here is my old softail with 18" rims front and rear. When I switched out the 16" wheels there was an immediate improvement in handling, then I put on the apes.....

[FBobPilot]

Here is a nice looking Fat Bob from a member over at HD Forum with 18" wheels, unknown how much weight was reduced:

[N-gin]

Looking to find info on locating some carbon fiber option or just going lighter.
Items include brake and clutch levers, 18x3.75 wheel (front), front fender,  and possibly different brake setup.
For 09 FatBob

Here is my old softail with 18" rims front and rear. When I switched out the 16" wheels there was an immediate improvement in handling, then I put on the apes.....

Nice lookin softtail. Did you notice if the spoked wheels weighted more? I'm trying to figure out if the better handling was from a lighter wheel or bigger rim..

[m1marty]

Spokes are HEAVY!

one of my customers has a set of (i think) Sun rims he had custom laced. 18 rear and 19 front. They are super light. Buchanan's is the place that made them.

[jmorton10]

After a crash diet to remove unnecessary bling - weight 400 pounds

Bro, that bike is so beautiful.  I would give anything to have my old 57 Pan back.......

~John

[turboprop]

Looking to find info on locating some carbon fiber option or just going lighter.
Items include brake and clutch levers, 18x3.75 wheel (front), front fender,  and possibly different brake setup.
For 09 FatBob

Here is my old softail with 18" rims front and rear. When I switched out the 16" wheels there was an immediate improvement in handling, then I put on the apes.....

Nice lookin softtail. Did you notice if the spoked wheels weighted more? I'm trying to figure out if the better handling was from a lighter wheel or bigger rim..

Hard for me to say if the spokes weighed more, as this bike had 16" spoked wheels before the change to 18" spoked wheels. It never had a set of cast wheels on it.

[vdop]

I took a bunch of weight off my street bob but I never figured out exactly how much or weighed the whole bike. I did the xb wheels because they were the lightest cheapest option. Just the sport bike rubber can take 5-10 lbs a piece off. I'm running the ti-moly sidewinder sprocket which I agree is very heavy but it has held up well. I just got their basic o-ring 530 chain which seems pretty light compared to other 530s I have, much lighter than the race chain I mocked up with. It's also held up great, only adjusted twice in 8k miles and I'm not nice to it. Took a bunch of weight off the front and rear brakes, light calipers and mounts and cut the huge steel caliper mount off the swingarm. You could consider eliminating the dual disc and doing a big single with light 6 piston. I'm running aluminum dirt bike handlebars which are very light, aluminum v-rod front fender. Then added things like true track, fork brace, oil cooler, so some of it evens out. There's a lot more I'd like to do eventually, but everything I've done up to this point has been very cheap or free. Aluminum swingarm, aluminum tank and rear fender would be nice, light inverted front end. You're right about the boarzilla, the muffler is very heavy. I noticed a big increase in vibration with that thing hanging off there and it kept breaking the bracket. I'm now running a v-rod thunderheader muffler on the zilla headpipe which was probably half the weight.

[boooby1744]

Ceramic bearings are supposed to be a little lighter. Anyone here use them?

[ThumperDeuce]

I run them with the BST wheels.  No problems to date.

BST Carbon Wheel spins for over 6 minutes with Ceramic Bearings installed