Harley Davidson Forums

Softail Models Standard, Custom, Night Train, Deuce, Springer, Heritage, Fatboy, Deluxe, Rocker and Cross Bones.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Raking a Fatboy

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 20, 2009 | 06:57 PM
Share
  #1  
mbx08's Avatar
mbx08
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Australia
Default Raking a Fatboy
Hi, Can anyone please let me know, what is involved in raking a bike.

specifically, I want to put a 4- 6 degree rake on my 09 fatboy?

Any opinions are welcome!!

Thanks
 
Reply
0
Old Oct 20, 2009 | 06:59 PM
Share
  #2  
Maimas's Avatar
Maimas
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,661
Likes: 0
From: East Northport, NY
Default
Why? Ummm.... Why? Did I ask, Why?
 
Reply
0
Old Oct 20, 2009 | 07:02 PM
Share
  #3  
mbx08's Avatar
mbx08
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Australia
Default
Dont know if the image worked, But I prefer this type of look
 
Attached Thumbnails Raking a Fatboy-image.jpg  
Reply
0
Old Oct 20, 2009 | 07:37 PM
Share
  #4  
Wallaby's Avatar
Wallaby
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 10,959
Likes: 2
From: Back in Oz M8
Default
Raking....here we go.....lot's of theory's.....From what I have researched (a lot) if you put "raked" trees on a stock frame you will reduce your trail too much and cause handling problems at speed. The best way to achieve the look you posted is to rake the steering head of the frame, ie. cutting your frame, a big job. If you rake it enough, you will then have too much trail, so will need the "raked" trees to bring the trail back to an acceptable dimension (4"-6").

A lot of people will say they have raked trees on stock frames with no handling issues. I am not arguing whether raked trees alone produce ill-handling effects, as I have never done it. Every bike is different, and individuals mods are unique, so each application is different. The choice is yours.
 
Reply
0
Old Oct 20, 2009 | 07:46 PM
Share
  #5  
mbx08's Avatar
mbx08
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Australia
Default
Great....Thanks so much for that info!!
 
Reply
0
Old Oct 20, 2009 | 07:53 PM
Share
  #6  
Wallaby's Avatar
Wallaby
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 10,959
Likes: 2
From: Back in Oz M8
Default
Originally Posted by mbx08
Great....Thanks so much for that info!!
No worries mate!
 
Reply
0
Old Oct 20, 2009 | 08:01 PM
Share
  #7  
TIPN8R's Avatar
TIPN8R
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,481
Likes: 11
From: NJ
Default
Mine is cut and raked 3 degrees. Was done before I bought it by a local builder. Was cut and welded professionally and looks totally stock.

I bought 3 degree raked bearing cups for the neck but have yet to install them.

I just want a bit more raked and figured out a total of 6 degrees will let me keep the stock legs on it w/o having to invest in new ones.
 
Reply
0

Trending Topics

Old Oct 20, 2009 | 08:23 PM
Share
  #8  
Wallaby's Avatar
Wallaby
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 10,959
Likes: 2
From: Back in Oz M8
Default
Originally Posted by TIPN8R
I bought 3 degree raked bearing cups for the neck but have yet to install them.
I was looking into them for my NT, but I couldn't figure out how to install them so the front end stayed perfectly straight (not skewed to the left or right) apart from just measuring the centerline of the neck and installing?
 
Reply
0
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Oct 20, 2009 | 08:29 PM
Share
  #9  
mbx08's Avatar
mbx08
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Australia
Default
TIPN8R - that is one of the Hottest looking bikes ive seen...Awesome..

So currently your bike is sitting with only 3degree rake?
 
Reply
0
Old Oct 20, 2009 | 08:58 PM
Share
  #10  
CycleDrider's Avatar
CycleDrider
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 818
Likes: 0
From: Jersey Shore
Default
I have HHI ( Hawg Halters) 4 degree raked trees and no issues. Quality product and no issues at highway speeds.
 
Reply
0



Advanced Search
Reply Closed Thread Share
Forum Jump

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:16 AM.

story-0
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-1
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-2
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-3
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-4
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-5
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
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE