18" front wheels for Vaquero

Puckman77 · 04-07-2016, 11:11 AM

I want to moderately change the look of my bike by simply changing the diameter of the front wheel to 18" and going from a 130/90/16 to 130/70/18 front tire (which are readily available) such that it fits just like the current setup does and you wouldn't even be able to tell the difference when looking dead on from the front. I would retain the front fender, brake set up etc.
Problem is, I can't find any 18" front wheels for the Vaquero!
Has anybody either looked into this already, or knows of a diverse wheel manufacturer?

hlknvlcn60 · 04-07-2016, 11:42 AM

You can go to Phatperformanceparts.com for wheels...they have some real pretty 18x3.5 rims for under a grand or one I saw for 982.00 and change. If you really want to make it right, trash the funky front fender like I did and go to cruisercustomizing.com and get a klockwerks front fender. The one I have is the hugger "level" fender that fits the stock 16 inch front rim or any of the 18 inch wheels Phat has. The fender mounting kit allows you to flip the mounting blocks for either rim size mentioned 18 or 16.

Puckman77 · 04-07-2016, 01:41 PM

Thanks! While it doesn't say on the website, do the stock brake components just swap right over?
I'll give that Klockwerks fender a look as well.

hlknvlcn60 · 04-08-2016, 11:34 AM

The brake rotors may or may not be applicable for a new wheel.....although I would bet more on the + side for that one. You can get Phatperformance on the phone and ask them about that.....the stock wheel bearings and brake rotors should fit the new 18 rim they offer, along with stock spacers. I think it would be cool if they had wave rotors available for stock replacements. If a different set of rotors had to be purchased, they are not a lot of money although the whole setup must work with the calipers as well. The guys at Phat are knowledgeable and will help you all the way with any questions you may have.

hlknvlcn60 · 04-08-2016, 11:40 AM

Here's my Klockwerks fender on mine....on the stock 16 inch rim. The mounting blocks can be flipped over to fit the fender on the 18 inch rim with say, if you get the 18x3.5 rim over a 130/70-18 tire. They have a few different styles to choose from in this format.

Gypsy Dragon · 04-08-2016, 02:03 PM

Check these guys out too. They have a bunch of different wheels in several sizes. They are bolt on and you can use the stock rotors or get matching rotors.

http://www.rotation.mx/wheels-metric-cruiser/

Fried Chicken Blowout · 04-09-2016, 04:33 PM

While we're on the subject, anyone know of a kit to swap on a Harley 18" front wheel? There's some Nice Harley CVO take off wheels for cheap on eBay. I know there was a Nomad thread where it was done, but was hoping there was an easy way to do it. Sounded like that guy did some machining to get it to work.

hlknvlcn60 · 04-09-2016, 09:42 PM

Rotation first I knew of them thanks Gypsy for the tip. Looks like great selection and even better when the stock rotors and wheel bearings and spacers all fit right. It would otherwise be a real pain in the ass and not be worth the trouble. I replaced that bulbous funky front fender on my Vaquero with a Klockwerks hugger and painted it black. It made all the difference in the word and actually made the 16 inch front wheel look 10 times better....even my friends noticed and remarked about it. Fender and paint, $650.00 total.

**smokier** · 04-10-2016, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fried Chicken Blowout

While we're on the subject, anyone know of a kit to swap on a Harley 18" front wheel? There's some Nice Harley CVO take off wheels for cheap on eBay. I know there was a Nomad thread where it was done, but was hoping there was an easy way to do it. Sounded like that guy did some machining to get it to work.

There is another thread on this same topic, which points to this interesting article.
https://sites.google.com/site/rodsv2...awasaki-vulcan

Ride safe,
Smokier

hlknvlcn60 · 04-10-2016, 10:13 AM

Wow nice article and I am wondering if it is really all that worth it, the work for the HD wheel. I did however, know that the axle and other componentry for the HD setup is actually metric as one day I found this out when my friend was wondering if my axle tool would fit his 2014 Street glide. It did. Harleys are not all that SAE anymore....things are changing. Many parts for Harleys are made overseas these days as the company is always looking for mega sales profits and finding ways to make parts cheaper. So for all you HD guys who think those bikes are still "all American", take a closer look....they're not.

sho_greg · 07-07-2019, 10:41 PM

Thinking of buying a Voyager.. already thinking of front wheel mod...

So is there a 18 inch on any other Kawasaki or Suzuki bikes?

Currently have a 2nd gen venture.. put a Stratoliner wheel on it... any chance the stratoliner could fit?

Puckman77 · 09-03-2019, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sho_greg

Thinking of buying a Voyager.. already thinking of front wheel mod...

So is there a 18 inch on any other Kawasaki or Suzuki bikes?

Currently have a 2nd gen venture.. put a Stratoliner wheel on it... any chance the stratoliner could fit?

Turns out there are many choices, particularly from RC Components where I got mine almost three years ago. I ended up with a 19" wheel, Straight swap, went with 130/60/19 tire.

04-07-2016, 11:11 AM	#1
Puckman77 Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: NJ Posts: 62	18" front wheels for Vaquero I want to moderately change the look of my bike by simply changing the diameter of the front wheel to 18" and going from a 130/90/16 to 130/70/18 front tire (which are readily available) such that it fits just like the current setup does and you wouldn't even be able to tell the difference when looking dead on from the front. I would retain the front fender, brake set up etc. Problem is, I can't find any 18" front wheels for the Vaquero! Has anybody either looked into this already, or knows of a diverse wheel manufacturer? Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

04-07-2016, 11:42 AM	#2
hlknvlcn60 Advanced Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: crooked river ranch oregon Posts: 723	You can go to Phatperformanceparts.com for wheels...they have some real pretty 18x3.5 rims for under a grand or one I saw for 982.00 and change. If you really want to make it right, trash the funky front fender like I did and go to cruisercustomizing.com and get a klockwerks front fender. The one I have is the hugger "level" fender that fits the stock 16 inch front rim or any of the 18 inch wheels Phat has. The fender mounting kit allows you to flip the mounting blocks for either rim size mentioned 18 or 16. __________________ 2012 Vaquero S.E. Chuckster's tear drop intake, Freedom true dual racing exhaust, Ivan flash, Clearview windscreen, Corbin gunfighter seat, Clockwerk's hugger style front fender, Kawasaki KQR backrest and luggage rack, kuryakyn iso grips and rear passenger boards, front highway pegs, revolutionspeed clutch and primary covers and reservoir and switch box covers and Kuryakyn skeleton rearview mirrors.
	0

04-08-2016, 11:34 AM	#4
hlknvlcn60 Advanced Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: crooked river ranch oregon Posts: 723	The brake rotors may or may not be applicable for a new wheel.....although I would bet more on the + side for that one. You can get Phatperformance on the phone and ask them about that.....the stock wheel bearings and brake rotors should fit the new 18 rim they offer, along with stock spacers. I think it would be cool if they had wave rotors available for stock replacements. If a different set of rotors had to be purchased, they are not a lot of money although the whole setup must work with the calipers as well. The guys at Phat are knowledgeable and will help you all the way with any questions you may have. __________________ 2012 Vaquero S.E. Chuckster's tear drop intake, Freedom true dual racing exhaust, Ivan flash, Clearview windscreen, Corbin gunfighter seat, Clockwerk's hugger style front fender, Kawasaki KQR backrest and luggage rack, kuryakyn iso grips and rear passenger boards, front highway pegs, revolutionspeed clutch and primary covers and reservoir and switch box covers and Kuryakyn skeleton rearview mirrors.
	0

04-08-2016, 02:03 PM	#6
Gypsy Dragon Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Round Rock, Tx. Posts: 493	Check these guys out too. They have a bunch of different wheels in several sizes. They are bolt on and you can use the stock rotors or get matching rotors. http://www.rotation.mx/wheels-metric-cruiser/ __________________ 1997 KZ1000 Police 2003 Kawasaki Z1000 w/ 149k mi (sold) (un-sold!) 2013 Vaquero in Green (the fastest color) Thunder Mfg Prototype Hi Performance Kit Rev 2 109 cid Klockwerks Windshield Corbin Young Gun Throttle Mod Freedom Performance 2-1 Roarin Toyz Intake PCV with AutoTune Ivanized ECU
	0

04-09-2016, 04:33 PM	#7
Fried Chicken Blowout Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Mead, Colorado Posts: 70	While we're on the subject, anyone know of a kit to swap on a Harley 18" front wheel? There's some Nice Harley CVO take off wheels for cheap on eBay. I know there was a Nomad thread where it was done, but was hoping there was an easy way to do it. Sounded like that guy did some machining to get it to work. __________________ If driving a car is like watching a movie... Then riding a motorcycle is like staring in a movie... And riding a motorcycle with a stereo is like staring in a movie with a great soundtrack!!!
	0

04-07-2016, 01:41 PM	#3
Puckman77 Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: NJ Posts: 62	Thanks! While it doesn't say on the website, do the stock brake components just swap right over? I'll give that Klockwerks fender a look as well.
	0

04-09-2016, 09:42 PM	#8
hlknvlcn60 Advanced Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: crooked river ranch oregon Posts: 723	Rotation first I knew of them thanks Gypsy for the tip. Looks like great selection and even better when the stock rotors and wheel bearings and spacers all fit right. It would otherwise be a real pain in the ass and not be worth the trouble. I replaced that bulbous funky front fender on my Vaquero with a Klockwerks hugger and painted it black. It made all the difference in the word and actually made the 16 inch front wheel look 10 times better....even my friends noticed and remarked about it. Fender and paint, $650.00 total. __________________ 2012 Vaquero S.E. Chuckster's tear drop intake, Freedom true dual racing exhaust, Ivan flash, Clearview windscreen, Corbin gunfighter seat, Clockwerk's hugger style front fender, Kawasaki KQR backrest and luggage rack, kuryakyn iso grips and rear passenger boards, front highway pegs, revolutionspeed clutch and primary covers and reservoir and switch box covers and Kuryakyn skeleton rearview mirrors.
	0

04-10-2016, 10:13 AM	#10
hlknvlcn60 Advanced Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: crooked river ranch oregon Posts: 723	Wow nice article and I am wondering if it is really all that worth it, the work for the HD wheel. I did however, know that the axle and other componentry for the HD setup is actually metric as one day I found this out when my friend was wondering if my axle tool would fit his 2014 Street glide. It did. Harleys are not all that SAE anymore....things are changing. Many parts for Harleys are made overseas these days as the company is always looking for mega sales profits and finding ways to make parts cheaper. So for all you HD guys who think those bikes are still "all American", take a closer look....they're not. __________________ 2012 Vaquero S.E. Chuckster's tear drop intake, Freedom true dual racing exhaust, Ivan flash, Clearview windscreen, Corbin gunfighter seat, Clockwerk's hugger style front fender, Kawasaki KQR backrest and luggage rack, kuryakyn iso grips and rear passenger boards, front highway pegs, revolutionspeed clutch and primary covers and reservoir and switch box covers and Kuryakyn skeleton rearview mirrors.
	0

07-07-2019, 10:41 PM	#11
sho_greg Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: South Carolina Posts: 315	18" wheel Thinking of buying a Voyager.. already thinking of front wheel mod... So is there a 18 inch on any other Kawasaki or Suzuki bikes? Currently have a 2nd gen venture.. put a Stratoliner wheel on it... any chance the stratoliner could fit?
	0