Rake Kit done for you?

[Hocky]

So what has your rake kit done to increase the enjoyment of your trike? Anything besides making the steering easier?

[Gold Rush]

So what has your rake kit done to increase the enjoyment of your trike? Anything besides making the steering easier?

I haven't really noticed much if any change in anything except the effort it takes to manuver and the lack of pain in my shoulders after riding all day. Those two go hand in hand and are worth every dime it cost to do the rake kit.

[sparkman]

So what has your rake kit done to increase the enjoyment of your trike? Anything besides making the steering easier?

Mine came with 6 degree Campion conversion kit .... last trike had none .... steers very easy, with the independent suspension on the rear, I easily keep up with my two wheel buddies. The best part is I think it makes me feel more in control. Met a guy on last ride that had a new Tri-Glide I rode same roads he did .... he hated his bike no rake or independent suspension ......Tail of the Dragon this spring ....

[dirtdobber]

A 6 degree rake will make the steering like power steering thus making it more enjoyable riding. Not much effort needed. You make the bike/trike do the work. kinda like using counter steering. It makes the bike/trike do the work which will cut down on the effort.
Hope this makes sense.
One without a rake tree can really wear you out on a long curvy road.

[sparkman]

A 6 degree rake will make the steering like power steering thus making it more enjoyable riding. Not much effort needed. You make the bike/trike do the work. kinda like using counter steering. It makes the bike/trike do the work which will cut down on the effort.
Hope this makes sense.
One without a rake tree can really wear you out on a long curvy road.

That is the absolute truth, after one ride with my no rake trike my hands and arms were sore for a week

[dogman513]

Rake Kit...Would you rather drive a Mack Truck, w/out power steering or with power steering? A plus when riding the twisties!

[sparkman]

Rake Kit...Would you rather drive a Mack Truck, w/out power steering or with power steering? A plus when riding the twisties!

You got that right ..... LOLOLOL With the rake kit

[6X3]

A rake kit greatly improves handling. .....but trikes will always require more effort to steer than on a 2 wheeler. It's just a fact that you live with. Push/pull vs nudge counter steer.

[goldwingpopo]

I have a 2013 Goldwing changed over with a Champion Kit. Not sure if I have a 4 or 6 degree rake but: And my question here is: It pulls to the right REAL bad. Took it back and they re-built it. 2 weeks later pulling to the right. Rebuilt a second time. Less than a month later pulling to the right again. This time I was in Fla. for 6 months, then winter came on. So couldn't take it back. Warmer weather coming soon I hope. What can I do to correct this matter? Also rear shocks feel like they are Non- existent. I have about 15,000 miles since I changed to the Champion kit. Could it be possible I need rear shocks already. I have tried the air suspension system from 0 all the way to max. Seems to make no difference but Air is working. About 1/2 inch up/down is all. Answers please. Gotta take off again. But it is killing me fighting the pull to the right.

[sparkman]

I have a 2013 Goldwing changed over with a Champion Kit. Not sure if I have a 4 or 6 degree rake but: And my question here is: It pulls to the right REAL bad. Took it back and they re-built it. 2 weeks later pulling to the right. Rebuilt a second time. Less than a month later pulling to the right again. This time I was in Fla. for 6 months, then winter came on. So couldn't take it back. Warmer weather coming soon I hope. What can I do to correct this matter? Also rear shocks feel like they are Non- existent. I have about 15,000 miles since I changed to the Champion kit. Could it be possible I need rear shocks already. I have tried the air suspension system from 0 all the way to max. Seems to make no difference but Air is working. About 1/2 inch up/down is all. Answers please. Gotta take off again. But it is killing me fighting the pull to the right.

Sounds like the shock on at least one side is gone. I don't have air but that should raise and lower the back end. Maybe one is blown out? I am not an expert, I would call Champion and talk with them, they are very nice folks. Last trike I had problems similar to that was low tire pressure on a back tire. Then it had a broken bolt on one side, it was killing me too, almost impossible to steer.

[cjmitch]

Got a 2005 /motortrike and it hasn't had a rake EVER.
With all do respect, it after riding the twisties your arms are tired, then you are not piloting your bike correctly.
Use more of your body to steer.
IE if you want to turn right then LOCK your left arm, and lean forward using your body to push the handlebars.
Do the opposite for turning left, but because you are also holding the throttle use some of your left arm to pull while you are leaning to your right.

Did the Wva T-pike, the Pa T-pike, and The dragon, and arms felt good as new after all was said and done.

[Papa Zook]

Got a 2005 /motortrike and it hasn't had a rake EVER.
With all do respect, it after riding the twisties your arms are tired, then you are not piloting your bike correctly.
Use more of your body to steer.
IE if you want to turn right then LOCK your left arm, and lean forward using your body to push the handlebars.
Do the opposite for turning left, but because you are also holding the throttle use some of your left arm to pull while you are leaning to your right.

Did the Wva T-pike, the Pa T-pike, and The dragon, and arms felt good as new after all was said and done.

You're not normal....LOL!

[SMSgt]

So what has your rake kit done to increase the enjoyment of your trike? Anything besides making the steering easier?

Making the steering easier?? Isn't that enough?

[sparkman]

Got a 2005 /motortrike and it hasn't had a rake EVER.
With all do respect, it after riding the twisties your arms are tired, then you are not piloting your bike correctly.
Use more of your body to steer.
IE if you want to turn right then LOCK your left arm, and lean forward using your body to push the handlebars.
Do the opposite for turning left, but because you are also holding the throttle use some of your left arm to pull while you are leaning to your right.

Did the Wva T-pike, the Pa T-pike, and The dragon, and arms felt good as new after all was said and done.

Got to agree with you ... you have to lean even with three wheels .... not as bad with a rake on it though, I've tried both worlds .....

[mtn rider]

i love the way my 6 degree rake handles. You can ride all day with out any hand or neck pain.

[cavie]

Got a 2005 /motortrike and it hasn't had a rake EVER.
With all do respect, it after riding the twisties your arms are tired, then you are not piloting your bike correctly.
Use more of your body to steer.
IE if you want to turn right then LOCK your left arm, and lean forward using your body to push the handlebars.
Do the opposite for turning left, but because you are also holding the throttle use some of your left arm to pull while you are leaning to your right.

Did the Wva T-pike, the Pa T-pike, and The dragon, and arms felt good as new after all was said and done.

With rake kit no locking of arms required. No body weight of leaning required. Just plain fun riding.

[sparkman]

i love the way my 6 degree rake handles. You can ride all day with out any hand or neck pain.

Nice bike mines a Harley too, and with my Champion conversion, 6 degree rake and independent suspension I can keep up with my 2 wheel buddies, going to the Dragon this spring.

[cjmitch]

You're not normal....LOL!

NOPE!!!

[pcombe]

I have a 2013 Goldwing changed over with a Champion Kit. Not sure if I have a 4 or 6 degree rake but: And my question here is: It pulls to the right REAL bad. Took it back and they re-built it. 2 weeks later pulling to the right. Rebuilt a second time. Less than a month later pulling to the right again. This time I was in Fla. for 6 months, then winter came on. So couldn't take it back. Warmer weather coming soon I hope. What can I do to correct this matter? Also rear shocks feel like they are Non- existent. I have about 15,000 miles since I changed to the Champion kit. Could it be possible I need rear shocks already. I have tried the air suspension system from 0 all the way to max. Seems to make no difference but Air is working. About 1/2 inch up/down is all. Answers please. Gotta take off again. But it is killing me fighting the pull to the right.

No one mentioned the rake kit will cut way down on headshake?

Tire pressures, tire pressures, tire pressures. -front inflated to the max, rear inflated to what pleases you, right around 26 lbs? rear tires are part of your easy ride if they are to full it rides rough.

Find a smooth level parking lot and see if still pulls to the right? if not it may be the crown in the road.
If it does check fork alignment. make sure they are set equally into the top triple tree?

6 degree Hog halter rake kit obtained through Zook.



How long has it been since you drained and refilled your fork oil? Has there been a leak in one fork seal?
My old Harley holds around 7 ounces in each fork.

Worn fork springs?
check torque on rear wheels? (100 lbs)

I have broken the bottom shock welds on one of my air shocks before on my champion and leaked some of the oil out, the give away was the wet spot on the axle, when I yanked on it. It showed the crack in the weld in the bottom shock and all the rest of the oil came rushing out.
If your suspension was put together right you should be able to change the shock without removing the body but even at that its six bolts and a few unplugged wires to remove it, no biggie and makes the job easier.
While your at it check the belt tension and rear alignment if so equipped.
rear trike assembly. take wheels off! support on frame with jack stands, not the axle.


These are your alignment blocks, use a dial caliper to check each side of axle, I got mine within one thousands of an inch.

check your belt tension, ( with axle hanging down) you should have 3 inches play, with it on the ground with the wheels on it should be 1 1/2 inches play(at least that's what it is on my Harley. make sure you torque every bolt.
Instructions can be downloaded from Champion website.

test ride before installing body.

[Doc*]

goldwingpopo,

Did it pull to the right when the kit was first installed? When you first got it back each time was it pulling or did it start later? If it has always pulled to one side one thing that might make it pull is incorrect alignment (ie. rear wheels not running in same direction as the front). Also improper toe in can affect the steering. This is one of the very first things I always check on a new trike. Of course you need to have equal tire pressure in the rears and test ride on a level road. I can let go of the handlebars and go for a very long distance on good level road but I always re-do the alignment and toe-in myself as I am extremely meticulous (that's the tool and die-maker in me). Hope this helps. Ride Safe. Doc

P.S. My comments apply to independent suspension only and not to a solid axle rig as I have no experience with them.