Ezi Steer rake and trail

[Terry T]

Can any one tell me what the trail is on a gl1500 trike with a Ezi steer 4 degree rake kit

And is the 4 degrees taken from

the original top yoke to calculate the trail or the lower one​

The standard setup for a bike is 30 degree rake with a 111mm trail

 

[nucseal]

Not sure if this helps!

http://chopperhandbook.com/rake.htm

Nuc

 

[Terry T]

Not sure if this helps!

http://chopperhandbook.com/rake.htm

Nuc

Hi Thanks. I have already got this saved.

 

[Sidecarbill]

I'm not sure I understand your question but, I would say the bottom tree. If you start moving the top tree much you'll usually start having clearance problems. Some bikes experience clearance issues anyway.

 

[CrystalPistol]

Hope it helps. You could ... fairly easily I think ... pull some lines and measure trail on a level floor. Pull a string along steering stem axis to floor on level surface, then drop or hang plumb bob against axle, measure on floor the difference.

The standard setup for a bike is 30 degree rake with a 111mm trail

Not sure that's exact on a stock GL1500, maybe … but I would say close anyway. The standard set up for a BIKE is not necessarily great for a TRIKE that does not steer by leaning a tire over.

On a trike, some trail is good for straight line tracking stability, but excess trail will increase steering effort fast. You will not feel that increase with a bike so much, as they steer by leaning. The front is more like a caster wheel of a shopping cart with handle bars, and to steer, one leans the bike over by kicking the tire out at bottom with the first counter steer move …. on a trike you steer in the direction of turn and momentum (inertia) fights you, which is why reducing trail reduces effort.

Below are some pics of a stock (Black) OEM GL1500 tree set and Champion 6 degree EZSteer (Aluminum color), you can see difference is in lower tree. Pics from Sep 2004.

 

[Terry T]

Hope it helps. You could ... fairly easily I think ... pull some lines and measure trail on a level floor. Pull a string along steering stem axis to floor on level surface, then drop or hang plumb bob against axle, measure on floor the difference.

Not sure that's exact on a stock GL1500, maybe … but I would say close anyway. The standard set up for a BIKE is not necessarily great for a TRIKE that does not steer by leaning a tire over.

On a trike, some trail is good for straight line tracking stability, but excess trail will increase steering effort fast. You will not feel that increase with a bike so much, as they steer by leaning. The front is more like a caster wheel of a shopping cart with handle bars, and to steer, one leans the bike over by kicking the tire out at bottom with the first counter steer move …. on a trike you steer in the direction of turn and momentum (inertia) fights you, which is why reducing trail reduces effort.

Below are some pics of a stock (Black) OEM GL1500 tree set and Champion 6 degree EZSteer (Aluminum color), you can see difference is in lower tree. Pics from Sep 2004.

Hi Thanks for your time in posting this information. I know all about rake and trail setup. but the photo are spot on they show me the difference in the trees. so I can work from that. thanks again

 

[CrystalPistol]

Hi Thanks for your time in posting this information. I know all about rake and trail setup. but the photo are spot on they show me the difference in the trees. so I can work from that. thanks again

Did not know what you knew …. glad it helps though.