New sportster build/what size rear tire -250 or 300

[Shay ski]

I've been slowly buying parts for a new build, it will be my first build so I thought going with a sportster/buell driveline would be my best bet. I grew up un a family owned body shop, painting and wrenching on cars and bikes my whole life as well as going to school and getting a motorcycle mechanic certification years back, so I am very experienced in hands on repair work but have no build experience at all, and definitly could use some help. I have a lot of questions, starting with what size rear tire should I run? I'm going to buy a set of rims either a 250 or 300 rear tire set up, I would rather have the 300 set up cause I think I like the looks of the wider tire better. I am aware of the set backs on handling with the wider tire, my big concern is I've heard that with a sportster/buell build anything bigger than a 250 tire can turn into a nightmare in both cost and just coming up with some of the needed parts such as the offset for a front sprocket / pulley, plus it can be a problem getting it all properly lined up. I'm ready to purchase my wheels and order my frame as soon as I make a decision on how to proceed with this size issue. Please anybody with some experience or knowledge with this issue I'd love to hear your input and advice about this situation.

[Miamio96]

I think Atlas Precision has some sporty offset parts (offset sprockets, bearing supports)

[flysocal77]

The sportster motor and tranny is one unit so you wont be able to move the tranny over without also moving the engine. You're going to need to run an offset pulley or sprocket for the wide rear tire. Running a 300 is going to be difficult I don't think it will be a well balanced bike. Frame builders start offsetting tranny's with a 180+ rear, something you can't do with a sporstster. My advice is if you want a 300 rear run a big twin motor and custom frame with RSD tranny for much better balance.

[RedWings]

anything is possible probably the biggest problem will be an offset sprocket. You can have 1 made but with that much offset it puts a lot of strain on the tranny mainshaft and sporty trannies are not knowned to be the strongest thing in the world

[pop 28]

i say , go for it ..your going to need a small offset sprocket to lessen the strain on the tranny and a custom built jack shaft set up to accommodate that tire . and you will be good

[Shay ski]

Everything you guys are saying makes a lot of sense and I completely agree with, but why am I finding so many frame mnfg. Building frames for sportsters with 300 tires. But I've never seen a completed bike set up with sportster motor and a 300 tire. Does anybody know someone who has done this?

[pop 28]

Originally Posted by Shay ski

Everything you guys are saying makes a lot of sense and I completely agree with, but why am I finding so many frame mnfg. Building frames for sportsters with 300 tires. But I've never seen a completed bike set up with sportster motor and a 300 tire. Does anybody know someone who has done this?

here Mutants

quality frames and check out the builds theres a few 330 tire builds.. on Monday call them up and pick there brain but for more info... there good guys

[Shay ski]

Thanks will give them a call.

[Shay ski]

I talked to the guys over at redneck today and they said they build bikes with 300 and 330 tires all the time and have no problem with it. So I think I'm gonna go with the 300. A couple more months and I should be ready to start this build. Hopefully will have it on the road by the end of summer.

[pop 28]

good to hear... keep it touch with some pics