Printable View
I have a 2011 fxdf with 29 degree steering head. 34 degrees on the tubes with a 19 " front tire on a champion kit.
I also have a 6 degree trip tree that I can install if needed.
What is the best rake and trail to shoot for? The bike is great on the road but a pain in the twisties.
Do I need longer tubes or more rake? Any ideas would be helpful. thanks dago713
Hi Ray, Welcome to Trike Talk
There is no real magic number for every one
Have a look here for a calculator [url]http://www.whosyadaddy.com/rake_trail_calculator.htm[/url]
Hey Ray.. Welcome to TrikeTalk from the Texas Hill Country! Always happy to have another Texan on the forum. When you get it figured out the 3 Sisters will be waiting!
put the raked trees on and the extensions u will be happy i am sure
welcome ray
:welcome:Nice to have another Texan aboard.:wave:
Thanks for the replies.
Jack- Thanks for the info.
Paws, I have done all 3 sisters many times, I have had to fight the turns too much to call it fun, that is the reason I am trying to get the rake and trail right,
stacebg- no extensions in this kit,that is the reason I am asking about longer tubes.
I am going to do the math off of what jack posted and see what I come up with.
thanks Dago
Jack , I did the math the bike has 5 degree trees and 2.03 trail. If i add 2" to the tubes {34"} I would have 2.37 trail.
Do you think this would lighten up the front and make it better?
Anybody have any thoughts on this?
[QUOTE=dago713;766563]Jack , I did the math the bike has 5 degree trees and 2.03 trail. If i add 2" to the tubes {34"} I would have 2.37 trail.
Do you think this would lighten up the front and make it better?
Anybody have any thoughts on this?[/QUOTE]
i think u will be happy and surprised how that will handle
either one
[QUOTE=dago713;766563]Jack , I did the math the bike has 5 degree trees and 2.03 trail. If i add 2" to the tubes {34"} I would have 2.37 trail.
Do you think this would lighten up the front and make it better?
Anybody have any thoughts on this?[/QUOTE]
That should work pretty good
After talking with zook and hhi, I am going to install the new 6 degree trees next week with the stock length tubes.
will let you know how it turns out. Thanks for the input.
. Dago
cool take your time its not that hard. steering head nut torque very important.
After talking with Zook and HHI I will install next week just the 6 degree trees and see if it improves the turning.
I will let you know how it goes.
[QUOTE=dago713;766885]After talking with Zook and HHI I will install next week just the 6 degree trees and see if it improves the turning.
I will let you know how it goes.[/QUOTE]
this like "if you ride a bike, not a matter of IF you get rained on but a matter of WHEN"
For the new trees it not a matter of IF it will help but a matter of HOW MUCH it will help
you WILL be surprised i am sure
I had the new 6* trees installed to replace the 5* trees. The old trees had one fork tube crushed into a deep divit. The spring was a bitch to remove. It seems the spring would not fully expand after a bump and always had a load on it.
The trike now has good rebound and dampening. The change in handling has improved .
I now know the way a trike should feel when set up properly.
The bad thing is that the original owner spent good money to install the 5* trees only to have the the guy over tighten the the lower tree bolt causing the rough ride.
I am happy the way it turned out.
Thanks for all the helpful ideas from everyone. Dago