Rake it! Rake it! Rake it!!!!!

[Okie]

Well, I got the 04 goldwing trike out of the shop today about noon.
It was about 40 degrees and pretty windy.
It took me about 1 1/2 blocks to get used to the steering and I'm so glad I did it. Even at a normal intersection it is so much easier to get around the corner and even at highway speeds it is so much easier to control.
I noticed when I rode the demo the other day it was kinda whippy but then I realized I was causing it. I quit fighting it and it rode like a dream.
I went with the 5.5 degree and i'm convinced I made the right choice. It even turns easier at parking lot speeds and will turn a lot sharper if you want or need it to.
The only problem I have now is tomorrow's high is supposed to be about 42 and Sunday isn't going to be much better so I guess it will have to sit and wait for better weather.
I sure appreciate all the info that I was able to gather from everone on the forum. It made it a lot easier to make the decision.
If anyone is considering a rake, I say go for it you will be glad you did.
Okie
Tulsa, Ok

 

[John Luciano]

Thanks. Rake is next on my list. Still afraid of more than 3 1/2 . My bike is so stable now . I can actually ride no hands for a sort while at any speed. I hear so many say their bikes wobble between 30 and 40. I don't want to loose tha firm ness.

 

[Okie]

John, see if you can find a dealer that has a longer degree that he will let you ride before you do it if you can.
I rode one with a 3.5 last saturday and it was OK, but I didn't own one then and had only ridden the one I bought about 2 miles but after putting a couple of hundred miles on it I knew I wanted the 5.5 degree. But as they say "to each his own" Which ever you elect to go with you will be amazed at the difference.
Okie
Tulsa, Ok

 

[Gorilla]

John you need to be asken the pro's, but I have 5.5 on my daughters 97 Goldwing and it steers like a dream and no wobble. My daughter is 507 and maybe 115 lbs dripping wet. She has absolutely no problems. If it was a HD then the less rake would be appropiate, but I read that the 5.5 is the recommended for the Goldwing's. Again contact Bazooka or another professional and ask them. Ted

 

[cjmitch]

Got a 05 1800, no rake...
Haven't looked back.
Np so far

 

[ben721364]

Thanks. Rake is next on my list. Still afraid of more than 3 1/2 . My bike is so stable now . I can actually ride no hands for a sort while at any speed. I hear so many say their bikes wobble between 30 and 40. I don't want to loose tha firm ness.

My first trike had a 3 1/2 degree rake and I was completely happy with it' shandling. My current trike has a 5 1/2 degree rake and I almost didn't buy it for fear that it would be too darty [good word?]. On the advice of the installer for whom I have great respect, I bought it and am both flabergasted and delighted. It is wonderful!

 

[BLACK DRAGON]

I put a Stee-rite kit in my Valkyrie in October last year. Best thing I ever did to it. Ride and handling are like night and day. Kit was a 6 degree by Steer-rite also known as Side Effects a company in Kamloops, BC, Canada.
Now it takes off smooth with no head shaking and ride around town with 1 hand.
Terry

 

[WildBillH]

What kind of rake do you call this?

 

[ThirdWheel]

I would call that the classic example of why you shouldn't do drugs and mess with power tools.

 

[John Luciano]

I like it other than parking and turning what's the problem

 

[cjmitch]

...and will turn a lot sharper if you want or need it to.

THAT is all in your head, increasing the rake WILL increase the turning radius.
that a matter of physics.
It turns at its SHAPEST with the factory rake, or LESS

 

[ben721364]

why stop at 5.5* the 6* rake is available now. If you take a look at rake and trail the 6* actally makes more sence. Puts your trail at about 2"

Some of you have expressed wobble problems, that is usualy caused (on a trike) by too much trail. The bike fights itself to stay on course. Most people want the option of running a car tire on the front, again less trail (more rake) will help fight the cupping and handlebar shake issues. And of course we have to mention the handeling, wow, talk about power stearing.

If I sound like an advertisement, maybe its because I produce the 6* rake kit for the GL 1800. I did it because customers were begging for it, even financed the prototyping of it. No one has said its too much rake.

Glenn

Glenn,
While I do know of some who would like to use lower cost, longer lasting automobile tires on the front of trikes, I haven't seen indications that most do. Do you also sell components to make it possible to mount a passenger car tire on the front of a GL1800 trike?

 

[Comanche]

Although this thread is as old as I am I still think its pertinent. About 6 weeks ago I got a 2006 GL 1800 with the Champion trike build. I have really rotten shoulders (left one still has a rotator cuff tear and the shoulder did not sit right after hitting a deer. Shoulders and neck are full of arthritis.

Bike was not raked when I got it and I did not like the steering or the ride one bit.

Got the 5.5 degree kit and had risers installed and you can't keep me off the thing. Thankfully, I live in a warm clime so I can ride year round.

BTW I am 71 years young.

 

[Gorilla]

Hang in there guy the fun has just started.

 

[stacebg]

Thanks. Rake is next on my list. Still afraid of more than 3 1/2 . My bike is so stable now . I can actually ride no hands for a sort while at any speed. I hear so many say their bikes wobble between 30 and 40. I don't want to loose tha firm ness.

john
usually the more trail the more wobble at 30 or so
the max is out to 6 or better degrees which bring the trail down to about 1.5 inches and i dont use a damper
if you want to take it for a spin you are welcome to try it

the effects of the degrees of rake depends a lot on what it was to start and what you end up with for trail
had side effect do a set of trees and asked how many degrees the would go ... they dont go by degrees the go by percentage of factory trail

stace

 

[John Luciano]

I just got the bike out today for the first ride, I was actually not far from you at 3:30 today. Wish I read this 1st. Rain for the next few days and then I work mid days for a week. I will get back to you about your offer.

 

[jim peacock]

I have a four and a half on our 96 1500 with a 06 lehman kit.
Idrove a couple with the six degree and I did not like them,way to touchy for me.I am well satisfied with the four and a half.
Jim

 

[Yogisan]

I just had a Steerite installed on my 07 Suzuki Lehman Jackal last December. It took a few miles to get used to it because the steering was so much lighter. The geometry change did soften the front suspension dynamics so I'm going to change to Progressive springs to compensate. I like my front suspension stiffer than it is now.

 

[littlerider]

John you need to be asken the pro's, but I have 5.5 on my daughters 97 Goldwing and it steers like a dream and no wobble. My daughter is 507 and maybe 115 lbs dripping wet. She has absolutely no problems. If it was a HD then the less rake would be appropiate, but I read that the 5.5 is the recommended for the Goldwing's. Again contact Bazooka or another professional and ask them. Ted

I'm so glad I found your response to a post about rake. I fit into the same category as your daughter. I'm curious. Was the wobble she experienced a huge wobble before you added the rake? I posted my problem as a thread, but I'm asking here because I'd like to know her experience. Two guys at the Honda shop rode my bike and told me they didn't have any problem, yet when I rode it after they made an adjustment on the trike kit, I still got the wobble. Someone at another forum mentioned it may have something to do with being such a lightweight rider. I know about how much it will cost to make the changes, but it will be worth it if it does fix the problem and I can get out there on the roads and not end up killing myself.

 

[Solidbob]

Your 86' 1200 is still a bike, not a trike. It is just living inside the Voyager Kit. Rake will not solve this problem, sorry.... bearings are a much cheaper fix...read your other Posting!!!