Does Rake Make That Much Difference?

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Oct 25, 2012 | 05:59 PM

MikeK02048

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Cruiser

Joined: Oct 2006

Posts: 242

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From: Boston, MA

Does Rake Make That Much Difference?

I just sold my Ultra Classic Electra Glide and am going to buy a Fatboy Lo (please - this thread is not about the better bike or the wisdom of "trading-down"). I test drove the Fatboy Lo recently and noticed that at lower speeds, it was a little harder to get the bike to lean into a turn than it was with the Ultra. With the Ultra, is seems all you have to do is countersteer a little bit and the bike leans right over. Is this due to the difference in rake? The rake for the Fatboy Lo is 31.6 degrees and for the Ultra it is 26 degrees. If you think it is the rake, what is the physics that makes it harder to get the bike to lean. If not, what is it?

Oct 25, 2012 | 06:10 PM

fat_tony

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Joined: Dec 2009

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From: Potsdam, NY

A bike with less rake will steer much faster and require less turn on the bars and have lighter steering. Trail also comes into play. Another factor is tire width. A bike with fat tires will be more difficult to steer and require more effort.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle...cycle_geometry

Oct 25, 2012 | 06:12 PM

MNPGRider

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Joined: Jul 2007

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From: SW Minnesota

Mike, the Harley tour bikes have a unique geometry, with "reverse triple trees." Look under the fairing on a tour bike, and you will see the triple trees behind the fork. Most bikes have them in front. That is the main difference. Once mastered, the Harley tour bikes rock in slow speed manuevers.

Oct 25, 2012 | 07:21 PM

Sauceman

Road Master

Joined: May 2012

Posts: 1,081

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From: Canada

Quote:

Originally Posted by MNPGRider

+1!!

Drove my friends Road Star and man what a difference in turn-in effort, my EGC just goes where I want it to, the Yamaha liked to put up an arguement.

cheers

Oct 25, 2012 | 08:27 PM

pococj

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From: Texas! Ya mean there's someplace else?

Quote:

Originally Posted by MNPGRider

Mike, the Harley tour bikes have a unique geometry, with "reverse triple trees." Look under the fairing on a tour bike, and you will see the triple trees behind the fork. Most bikes have them in front. That is the main difference. Once mastered, the Harley tour bikes rock in slow speed manuevers.

Actually, it is the exact opposite. Touring bikes have the fork tubes behind the neck post of the trees, while the "normal" is to have the fork tubes in front of the neck post.