Please help - Can someone explain rake vs. trail

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Jul 25, 2010 | 11:19 PM

WRONGWAY-XBONES

Thread Starter

Stage II

Joined: Jul 2010

Posts: 2

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From: Billings, MT

Please help - Can someone explain rake vs. trail

i mean, i know (technically, rake is the angle, and the trail is the distance of the handlebars between the pivot point, but i am having a hard time understanding how some models like a dyna wide glide, has a 34 degree rake, and a rocker has a 36 degree rake, when it seems like it would be a much steeper angle of the forks. a springer model has a 32.5 degree rake, but the angle seems much less the some of the other models listed as having a 29 degree rake. I assume i am confused about the relationship between the rake and the trail, but i tried googling it, and every page i can find seems to be offline, or gone.
ANY help would be greatly appreciated.

Jul 25, 2010 | 11:41 PM

XARAN

Stellar HDF Member

Joined: Nov 2004

Posts: 3,156

Likes: 41

From: So Cal

Try this link

http://www.performanceoiltechnology...._and_trail.htm

Jul 26, 2010 | 08:03 AM

cwsharp

Stellar HDF Member

Joined: Mar 2006

Posts: 2,395

Likes: 153

From: Utah

The angle of the forks is not necessarily the angle of the neck in the frame. I am not sure which one HD reports on their bikes. If you lengthen the front fork tubes then you need to add rake to the triple tree to have the bike handle better. If you don't have the proper difference between the neck and the forks, then the point where your front tire hits the ground won't be in the 'sweet spot' and turning the bike will cause the frame to rise or fall due to the position of the handlebars vs. the centerline of the frame, resulting in some instability or sluggishness in handling at different speeds.

A lot of do it yourself 'chopper' builders don't realize this when they are extending their front ends, changing the type of suspension, or lowering the bike.

C#