Everything You Need to Know About Standard & Performance Harley Hubs What’s a Hub? Wondering what all the hubbub is about motorcycle hubs? Located in the center of the bike’s front and rear wheels, the motorcycle hub connects the wheel to the motorcycle's axle. It is the core of the wheel assembly, housing the wheel’s bearings and providing the attachment point to the wheel’s spokes or...
Everything You Need to Know About Air Cleaners and Air Filters SMT Harley Performance Parts — S&S Air Cleaners with K&N Air Filter Complete your custom motorcycle build with an American-manufactured S&S air cleaner made of high-quality billet aluminum and bolt-in parts. Included with the purchase is a custom cover to match your SMT wheel design and a performance K&N...
Are Harley OEM Wheels Better Than Aftermarket? We see a lot of people online comparing OEM vs aftermarket wheels. So, are Harley Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) motorcycle wheels better than aftermarket wheels? Well, it depends on what you are looking for. Let’s take a look at four key considerations: Cost Customization Performance Choices 1. Cost Harley-Davidson offers a little...
The ultimate fitment guide to front and rear Harley wheels without the need to purchase and install a rake kit, new fender, wider rear swing arm, or heavy modifications. This guide also includes matching tire sizes. What's The Largest Front Wheel I Can Install On A Harley Without Expensive Modifications? Larger and wider motorcycle wheels make your Harley look tougher, but there are...
You often see custom baggers with oversized 34-inch rims on the front wheel. If you own a custom bike shop, putting 34-inch wheels on a motorcycle may be a frequent request from your clients. It's not an easy job to do, so most everyday riders won’t risk-taking on the task themselves. However, it is not so easy for bike shops to find 34-inch rims for bagger bikes either. That's where...
Last October, bagger racing officially became a thing. The King of the Baggers race series was a tremendous success, and because of it, a new league has been announced: The Bagger Racing League. If you missed the commotion last year, don’t worry, we have you covered. Learn more about the (short) history of Bagger Racing and what to expect from the 2021 League. The History Of...
At SMT Machining, we have been proudly leading the way in the custom motorcycle industry for more than 20 years. That hard work has paid off. We are honored to have been featured on the cover of Urban Rides 10 out of 12 issues in the past year. Urban Rides is a leading custom motorcycle industry magazine run by custom bike enthusiasts. It fills in the gaps for the custom motorcycle...
If you’ve owned a motorcycle for any length of time, then you know how expensive customizing parts and accessories can be and how quickly your build can add up. Aftermarket parts can be even more costly for trike conversions and fully custom bikes. So, you may be wondering what drives these high costs. The answer comes down to simple economics and manufacturing. Motorcycle wheels are...
Let’s face it. Shop prices can be a real downer. Are you looking to do some upgrades to your touring Harley-Davidson but don’t want to break the bank by paying for parts and labor? One simple upgrade you can do at home is a 21-inch wheel upgrade. You’ll love how it transforms the appearance of your bike. Getting Started with Your 21 Inch Wheel Upgrade To get started with your wheel...
Riding a motorcycle is a good way to treat your lockdown blues, whether to do your essential traveling or, where states allow, just to get out of the house and enjoy the fresh air. States are in various stages of stay-at-home lockdowns and re-openings, with some regions seeing some leveling off in COVID-19 cases while others are spiking. Regardless of where you may live, chances are...