frame chopping
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 11,068
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From: Texas! Ya mean there's someplace else?
RE: frame chopping
Thud, ya gotta be really careful putting on a set of raked trees on a stock frame. Very easy to end up with too little trail, or even in a negative trail situation. I always run the numbers to make sure the trail stays in the 4 - 6 inch range. Seldom recommend a set of raked trees, except to correct for too much trail after raking a frame.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Escondido, Ca.
RE: frame chopping
Thanks pococj. Honestly I have never used raked triple trees but know those who have and like them. What you say makes sense for sure, for non-springers especially. Is there a link for info on the calculations you use? I have seen them somewhere but can't remember where.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 11,068
Likes: 1,471
From: Texas! Ya mean there's someplace else?
RE: frame chopping
Here's several for you.
http://www.kennedyschopper.com/
http://www.rbracing-rsr.com/rakeandtrail.html
http://www.wisil.recumbents.com/wisi...te2=yes#Actual Trail Calculator
http://www.kennedyschopper.com/
http://www.rbracing-rsr.com/rakeandtrail.html
http://www.wisil.recumbents.com/wisi...te2=yes#Actual Trail Calculator
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,810
Likes: 1
From: Escondido, Ca.
RE: frame chopping
Thanks for the links. My custom numbers are as follows:
Front Tire Dia - 27.6 in
Steering Neck Rake - 38 deg
Triple Clamp Offset - 1 in
Fork Length - 37 in
Triple Tree Rake - 0 deg
So according to the calculator on http://www.rbracing-rsr.com/rakeandtrail.html
my Trail is 9.51 inches. Is this too much? What would be the symtoms?
If I add 3 deg or Triple Tree Rake, my trail drops to 7.06
The bottom of my frame is not level, the front of the bottom tubes are about 2 inches higher
than the back. Adding the tripple tree rake would help flatten that out too eh?
Front Tire Dia - 27.6 in
Steering Neck Rake - 38 deg
Triple Clamp Offset - 1 in
Fork Length - 37 in
Triple Tree Rake - 0 deg
So according to the calculator on http://www.rbracing-rsr.com/rakeandtrail.html
my Trail is 9.51 inches. Is this too much? What would be the symtoms?
If I add 3 deg or Triple Tree Rake, my trail drops to 7.06
The bottom of my frame is not level, the front of the bottom tubes are about 2 inches higher
than the back. Adding the tripple tree rake would help flatten that out too eh?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 12,946
Likes: 32
From: Colorado Springs, CO
RE: frame chopping
My old Kawasaki chop had 34 degrees in the frame, and i put 7 degree trees on it. Can't remember what the trail was, but it rode GREAT!!! Looked good with 41 degrees total! Not much for turning radius though.....[
]
joe
]joe
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
From: Amelia, Ohio
RE: frame chopping
I think the 80 FLT had a 5 speed.
The FLH was made until 84 (4 speeds).
3 degree trees (from a FX) and 4" tubes would work just fine, this look good with a 16" wheel as well as a 21" (the 21 will rase the front a little), this will give you a tril of 4" to 5", just right.
There is still a lot of stuff that you can get for the old 4 speed bikes. Just be awhare of quality, some supplers sell "cheep junk" (not the price, the quality).
Best of luck
8-UP
The FLH was made until 84 (4 speeds).
3 degree trees (from a FX) and 4" tubes would work just fine, this look good with a 16" wheel as well as a 21" (the 21 will rase the front a little), this will give you a tril of 4" to 5", just right.
There is still a lot of stuff that you can get for the old 4 speed bikes. Just be awhare of quality, some supplers sell "cheep junk" (not the price, the quality).
Best of luck
8-UP
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 11,068
Likes: 1,471
From: Texas! Ya mean there's someplace else?
RE: frame chopping
ORIGINAL: ThudMeister
Thanks for the links. My custom numbers are as follows:
Front Tire Dia - 27.6 in
Steering Neck Rake - 38 deg
Triple Clamp Offset - 1 in
Fork Length - 37 in
Triple Tree Rake - 0 deg
So according to the calculator on http://www.rbracing-rsr.com/rakeandtrail.html
my Trail is 9.51 inches. Is this too much? What would be the symtoms?
If I add 3 deg or Triple Tree Rake, my trail drops to 7.06
The bottom of my frame is not level, the front of the bottom tubes are about 2 inches higher
than the back. Adding the tripple tree rake would help flatten that out too eh?
Thanks for the links. My custom numbers are as follows:
Front Tire Dia - 27.6 in
Steering Neck Rake - 38 deg
Triple Clamp Offset - 1 in
Fork Length - 37 in
Triple Tree Rake - 0 deg
So according to the calculator on http://www.rbracing-rsr.com/rakeandtrail.html
my Trail is 9.51 inches. Is this too much? What would be the symtoms?
If I add 3 deg or Triple Tree Rake, my trail drops to 7.06
The bottom of my frame is not level, the front of the bottom tubes are about 2 inches higher
than the back. Adding the tripple tree rake would help flatten that out too eh?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,810
Likes: 1
From: Escondido, Ca.
RE: frame chopping
ORIGINAL: pococj
9 inches is past what is considered optimum for low speed handling, but it'll track like a locomotive on straight rails! Adding some rake in the trees would bring you closer to level and reduce the trail some, as you pointed out. 7 inches is still past optimum, but not too bad.
9 inches is past what is considered optimum for low speed handling, but it'll track like a locomotive on straight rails! Adding some rake in the trees would bring you closer to level and reduce the trail some, as you pointed out. 7 inches is still past optimum, but not too bad.
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