Question for Rocket III trike owners...

**Dezeez** · 08-24-2022, 04:45 PM

Just picked up my 2011 Rocket Roadster on which I had a Motor Trike kit installed by the local dealer. Not a good experience. I did not have the rake kit installed. Rode it today for the first time and found that you have to be Hercules to steer this thing. My question is does anyone else find the steering to be so difficult on hard turns? If you had the rake kit installed, did it make a big difference? Thanks for any insight.

**rhino 2** · 08-24-2022, 06:15 PM

Originally Posted by Dezeez

Just picked up my 2011 Rocket Roadster on which I had a Motor Trike kit installed by the local dealer. Not a good experience. I did not have the rake kit installed. Rode it today for the first time and found that you have to be Hercules to steer this thing. My question is does anyone else find the steering to be so difficult on hard turns? If you had the rake kit installed, did it make a big difference? Thanks for any insite.

Dennis.. Welcome to Trike Talk…👍👍..

**Marc H** · 08-24-2022, 08:56 PM

Trikes in general steer much easier with a rake.

**Dezeez** · 08-25-2022, 09:00 AM

How much of a difference does the rake kit make? I mean it would have to be a substantial difference for me to invest over $1000 USD in having one installed. Has anyone driven their trike and then had a rake kit installed afterwards and noticed how much of an improvement took place?

**Gorilla** · 08-25-2022, 02:32 PM

Originally Posted by Dezeez

How much of a difference does the rake kit make? I mean it would have to be a substantial difference for me to invest over $1000 USD in having one installed. Has anyone driven their trike and then had a rake kit installed afterwards and noticed how much of an improvement took place?

Dennis the amount of difference depends on the trike and the amount of rake. Tri Glides come with more rake than the normal HD touring 2-wheeler from the factory. But adding rake to a Tri-Glide another 6 % or so for a total of about 9 degrees is noticeable. Take a Street Glide or Road Glide etc. 2-wheeler put a trike conversion on it and the added rake kit makes a world of difference over the stock 2-wheeler rake. That holds true for Goldwing's also. Most conversion companies change the rake in their normal build. Others leave it up to the purchaser to have it put on at the build or add it later. The only company that I am aware of that doesn't say you should put it on is MOTOR TRIKE. But they do sell one if you want one put on.

Adding rake, dates way back to side car days. Most side car people added rake to eases the steering effort. See if you can find someone whose trike is not raked to let them give you a test ride in a parking lot. Then find someone with a similar trike with rake let you try it. 6 to 9 degrees makes a difference. Thousands of riders will tell you so. I've had 2 trikes A road King I build with a Champion conversion. Added 9 5 liberity sidecar rake to it. Made a great difference. I had a 2013 TriGlide I added Randy's rake kit (I believe it is also 9% or maybe 6) and it made a difference. Just my take on this subject and 20 years of riding a Harley and Goldwing trikes.

**stacebg** · 08-25-2022, 04:37 PM

Originally Posted by Dezeez

Just picked up my 2011 Rocket Roadster on which I had a Motor Trike kit installed by the local dealer. Not a good experience. I did not have the rake kit installed. Rode it today for the first time and found that you have to be Hercules to steer this thing. My question is does anyone else find the steering to be so difficult on hard turns? If you had the rake kit installed, did it make a big difference? Thanks for any insight.

it is the nature of the beast.. probably know... some dont.. the rake is in the tree not the frame..i built my 1st trike in '79 and countless trikes and sidecar rigs since... spend the money and you will never look back.. some swear by 4 and 5 degrees.. personally i find 6 better or what comes to be about 1.5 to 2.5 inches of trail,, some say its not enough.not lately but use to do12k a year as much as 1500..i dont like being beat up at the end of a 3 or 400 mile ride... my 3 cents

**Dezeez** · 08-26-2022, 04:52 PM

According to the Motor Trike website, the rake kit for the Rocket III is 8 degrees. That's the highest of all the models listed so I'm assuming the Rocket is the bike that needs it the most. Frankly, I'm not confident enough to add another $1400 to the build. I'm just going to put it up for sale.

**stacebg** · 08-31-2022, 11:48 AM

Originally Posted by Dezeez

According to the Motor Trike website, the rake kit for the Rocket III is 8 degrees. That's the highest of all the models listed so I'm assuming the Rocket is the bike that needs it the most. Frankly, I'm not confident enough to add another $1400 to the build. I'm just going to put it up for sale.

assuming the rest is done.. definitely spend the money it will be well spent. It will be like going from an old dump truck with no power steering to a vw with power steering..

check around 14 seems high check w pappa zook on this site he may have trees for the rocket

**Dezeez** · 02-05-2023, 12:29 PM

Originally Posted by stacebg

assuming the rest is done.. definitely spend the money it will be well spent. It will be like going from an old dump truck with no power steering to a vw with power steering..

check around 14 seems high check w pappa zook on this site he may have trees for the rocket

I bit the bullet and had the Motor Trike factory rake kit installed. It did make a considerable difference in the amount of effort to steer the trike. The Rocket Roadster as a trike is a beast to ride. Not sure an old man like me will be able to keep up with it.

Thanks to all that replied with advice.