Rake that is. I was reading a thread comparing the Heritage Softail Classic to the Deluxe and someone said that the rake on the deluxe was different than the heritage. Looked up the specs and sure enough the heritage has a 31" rake, deluxe is 32.1. Just for ***** the fatboy's is 31 like the heritage and the fatboy lo is 31.6.
If I understand correctly, the rake is the angle of the front forks no? All of these bikes have a 64.5" wheelbase and share the same frame. The heights are different. Does this compensate for the rake difference. I'm totally confused. How can this be? Thanks - Steve

 

Frame neck rake, triple tree rake and length of front tubes and or length of springer's is what makes the wheel base length or combination of each of those part compared to the other parts.

So by using different components from each one used separately in other bikes will and can change the wheelbase, so using different parts from other bikes they're from will help HD get the correct wheelbase they want.

Thats why they have the same WB.. Got it now?

 

So technically, that's what gives the Deluxe that certain laid back je ne sais quoi. No? LoL

 

I used to be blonde, but now, just gray....I asked this very question to the dealer today when he came over to look at my old bike. He said "the rake is different due to the rear is lower on the Deluxe". Is he right?

Karen

 

Kind of right.. but compared to what?

The actual frame neck rake of a bike will be the same no matter how much U change the height of the rear. The frame rake angle can only be changed by actually changing something in the frame or TT.

Changing the rear height can and will change the (fork angle/fork rake), a very tiny little bit but not the frame rake.

heres a couple links U can read to learn a lot more than I've written.
http://www.sportrider.com/tech/146_0310_art/index.html

this one show how with the right combo U can stick it out there and still be correct.
http://www.sportrider.com/tech/146_0310_art/index.html

 

Thanks for the info.!