Dyna Glide Models Super Glide, Super Glide Sport, Super Glide Custom, Dyna Glide Convertible, Super Glide T-Sport, Dyna Glide Police, Dyna Switchback, Low Rider, Street Bob, Fat Bob and Wide Glide.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

De-raking using head cups

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 14, 2024 | 04:00 AM
  #1  
user 7209823083's Avatar
user 7209823083
Thread Starter
|
Banned
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 673
Likes: 411
Default De-raking using head cups

Hello all,
My 2002 FXD has 4" extended forks and 10.5" rear shocks, giving it a nice chopper like stance.

However this also changes the steering head rake from 28 to maybe 32 degrees. This makes the steering a bit slow, and on top of that I kind of prefer the look of a more steep fork angle.

So I had the idea of using the raked steering cups that are intended to increase rake by 3 degrees, but mounting them backwards to instead reduce rake. This would basically bring my fork back to the stock 28 degrees and the handling would be more Dyna-like again

Has anyone tried this, or is there something Im missing that makes this glorious plan doomed to failure?

Photo of what it looks like now:

 
Reply
Old Mar 14, 2024 | 04:16 AM
  #2  
user 7209823083's Avatar
user 7209823083
Thread Starter
|
Banned
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 673
Likes: 411
Default

What it would look like with 3 degree less rake, please disregard my sub par photoshop skills
 
Reply
Old Mar 14, 2024 | 07:38 AM
  #3  
Crazy's Avatar
Crazy
Grand HDF Member
15 Year Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,570
Likes: 1,861
From: Albuquerque, NM
Default

I don't have an answer for you about the head cups, sorry. Weren't you planning on chopping and extending your frame? You can build in any rake you like when you do that.

I've seen Reindeer's bike in person, and it came out really well, if you're looking for any encouragement on your chopper project.
 
Reply
Old Mar 14, 2024 | 09:02 AM
  #4  
user 7209823083's Avatar
user 7209823083
Thread Starter
|
Banned
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 673
Likes: 411
Default

Originally Posted by Crazy
I don't have an answer for you about the head cups, sorry. Weren't you planning on chopping and extending your frame? You can build in any rake you like when you do that.

I've seen Reindeer's bike in person, and it came out really well, if you're looking for any encouragement on your chopper project.
Yes, I'm planning to stretch the frame, but that will not be until next winter. The rake cups is just a temporary idea for this summer

The plan for the frame rebuild is 8" stretch, 28 degree rake.
 
Reply
Old Mar 14, 2024 | 09:48 AM
  #5  
multihdrdr's Avatar
multihdrdr
Club Member
10 Year Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 11,179
Likes: 2,490
From: Nor Cal
Default

I think recently I've seen a De-Rake kit (cups & stem) ... I'll try to remember
 
Reply
Old Mar 14, 2024 | 12:01 PM
  #6  
user 7209823083's Avatar
user 7209823083
Thread Starter
|
Banned
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 673
Likes: 411
Default

Originally Posted by multihdrdr
I think recently I've seen a De-Rake kit (cups & stem) ... I'll try to remember
Maybe this kit, from Vulcan Works?

It looks nice, but its a bit annoying that it is 90 usd more expensive than their normal rake kit, when the only difference is the position of the fork stop lug

https://secure.vulcanworks.net/store...lat-track.html
 
Reply
Old Mar 14, 2024 | 12:04 PM
  #7  
user 7209823083's Avatar
user 7209823083
Thread Starter
|
Banned
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 673
Likes: 411
Default

I'm basically talking to myself here, but I found some more info, the owner of a parts shop here in Sweden is using them to reduce rake on his dirt track Sportster, apparently it works great

 
Reply
Old Mar 14, 2024 | 12:25 PM
  #8  
Bayou FLHR-M8-128"'s Avatar
Bayou FLHR-M8-128"
Supporter
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 1,013
Likes: 599
From: Northeast Louisiana
Supporter
Default

Only issue I can think of, is that the design of the raked cups and the front end @ the same angle as the raked cups, the cups want to naturally stay where they are and are simply pined in place if my memory is correct.

When you reverse this and drive the stem in the other direction by reversing how the caps sit, you may consider something more than a pin as movement would be ugly.

Other words if cups were put in loose it would automatically go to more the more rake position.

Other way would be basically balanced backwards.

As well as the raked cups easily find their correct position. Opposite woild take some setting up.

Unless there are some that are engineered already to work negative.

and then just "maybe" I got this all wrong🤣
Just an old man's opinion.

And again LOVE THAT BIKE!
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

10 Most Awkward-Looking Motorcycles Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Jason Momoa Is Turning Classic Harleys Into PHEVs

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-8

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Mar 14, 2024 | 04:15 PM
  #9  
multihdrdr's Avatar
multihdrdr
Club Member
10 Year Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 11,179
Likes: 2,490
From: Nor Cal
Default

Originally Posted by SwedishMeatball
Maybe this kit, from Vulcan Works?

It looks nice, but its a bit annoying that it is 90 usd more expensive than their normal rake kit, when the only difference is the position of the fork stop lug
Yep that's the one ... you should ask them about the price difference. Although they sometimes are not real responsive.

So the reversed one above uses no Fork Stops?


EDIT: Interestingly, There are 3 part#s for the DE-RAKE kits and only 1 for the RAKE kit

.
 

Last edited by multihdrdr; Mar 14, 2024 at 05:02 PM.
Reply
Old Mar 15, 2024 | 08:28 AM
  #10  
user 7209823083's Avatar
user 7209823083
Thread Starter
|
Banned
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 673
Likes: 411
Default

Originally Posted by Bayou FLHR-M8-128"
Only issue I can think of, is that the design of the raked cups and the front end @ the same angle as the raked cups, the cups want to naturally stay where they are and are simply pined in place if my memory is correct.

When you reverse this and drive the stem in the other direction by reversing how the caps sit, you may consider something more than a pin as movement would be ugly.

Other words if cups were put in loose it would automatically go to more the more rake position.

Other way would be basically balanced backwards.

As well as the raked cups easily find their correct position. Opposite woild take some setting up.

Unless there are some that are engineered already to work negative.

and then just "maybe" I got this all wrong🤣
Just an old man's opinion.

And again LOVE THAT BIKE!
I agree, the weight of the bike would want to flip the rake cups around when used backwards. On the other hand during hard braking there would be forces trying to flip the cups when used in the "rake out" position, that would not appear in the de-rake position.

Either way, I think the press fir combined with an index pin in each cup is sufficient to keep them in position.

And thanks for liking my bike, its a bit the opposite of the popular club style Dynas here
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:40 PM.

story-0
10 Most Awkward-Looking Motorcycles Ever Built

Slideshow: Not every motorcycle can be a design icon, and these machines prove that bold styling doesn't always age gracefully.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-18 10:29:31


VIEW MORE
story-1
Jason Momoa Is Turning Classic Harleys Into PHEVs

Slideshow: Jason Momoa's latest restoration project blends 1920s Harley-Davidsons with modern electric technology, creating some of the most unusual hybrid motorcycles ever built.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-10 17:18:58


VIEW MORE
story-2
Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

Slideshow: Killer Custom's latest build relies on styling changes rather than performance upgrades, giving the cruiser an entirely different personality.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 18:28:05


VIEW MORE
story-3
6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

Slideshow: From military-inspired singles to scooters and three-wheel utility vehicles, these Harleys took the company far outside its comfort zone.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-02 18:34:10


VIEW MORE
story-4
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-5
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-6
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-8
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-9
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE