Rake, rake, rake

[Ol' Man Jeb]

I have a '96 GL1500A w/Motor Trike conversion. How do I tell if it is raked? From reading prior posts, and from the way it steers, my best guess is that it is not. Either that or my age and infirmities have caught up with me.

[mhgoldwing]

Try to find a stock 1500 bike and measure distance between lower back of fender to front of motorcycle. (or call a friend who has one and have them measure it) Then measure trike the same way. IF distance is same then no rake. Anything greater = rake.

[Trail Blazer]

if it is hard to turn the front wheel most likely you don't have but go ahead and check a bike that don't have a rake and measure like other have said. if it is not and you put one on it is like power steering. I have a 2000 gl1500 se with a 6 deg. rake and love it

[CrystalPistol]

I have a '96 GL1500A w/Motor Trike conversion. How do I tell if it is raked? ...

Clues above, looking at distance for example between rear of front fender and lower cowl, look at the scoops on side of rotor cover (stock they are near level, raked tilts them up in front)

Look at triple tree as well. Honda OEM is black while Champion EZSteer is billet aluminum. Mine has Champion EZsteer 6 degree kit I installed 2004.

[Papa Zook]

I have a '96 GL1500A w/Motor Trike conversion. How do I tell if it is raked?...

You can look up above the front wheel, under the fairing at the lower triple tree from under the front of the trike and if it is black cast metal like this, it is the stock trees and not raked. If it is unpainted machined aluminum, it is aftermarket and raked.

[Ol' Man Jeb]

Cheese 'n' rice, after perusing the cost of a rake kit, then additional cost of installation, I may have to start a "GoFundMe"

[GoldWingrGreg]

Cheese 'n' rice, after perusing the cost of a rake kit, then additional cost of installation, I may have to start a "GoFundMe"

Good news ... if I could afford too, I'd get you one and install it for you all for no charge

[Crossroads Trikes]

Because the Motor Trike conversion to a trike has a shorter wheelbase than many if the other conversions, they don't really push the rake kit. I suggest you call Motor Trike and ask them how much rake they recommend. If you get too much rake it will feel a little squirrely. We usually put a 6 degree rake on the bigger trikes, but I'm guessing they will recommend something smaller.

[Ozarkryder]

Because the Motor Trike conversion to a trike has a shorter wheelbase than many if the other conversions, they don't really push the rake kit. I suggest you call Motor Trike and ask them how much rake they recommend. If you get too much rake it will feel a little squirrely. We usually put a 6 degree rake on the bigger trikes, but I'm guessing they will recommend something smaller.

Our 1st Goldwing trike, a 1994 GL1500 Motor Trike classic, came to us without a rake kit. It lived it's early life on straight roads of the prairies in Minnesota, so no rake was deemed needed by the previous owner. We brought it down to the Ozarks and the need became immediately apparent. I tested 1500's with 6° and 4.5° rakes. Riding the 6° rake all my attention was needed unless actively cornering. To me it was very twitchy, any lapse of awareness and I was wandering all over the road. For me the 4.5° rake was just right.

As usual, YMMV

[Ol' Man Jeb]

Good news ... if I could afford too, I'd get you one and install it for you all for no charge

Fantastic news... best news I've had all day. If I could afford it, I would allow that to happen. Thank you for the thought.