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Offset Steering Head
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Stage II
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2
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Offset Steering Head
Harley Touringbikesmaintain an offset steering head. Is it true this design makes the touring bikes much easier to handle at slower speeds? For example, would aStreet Glide be easier to manuever ina parking lotcompared to a Heritage Softail? Thanks.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,336
Likes: 67
From: SW Minnesota
RE: Offset Steering Head
That's one of the mysteries of the Harley tour bikes. The front rake is 26 degrees, which helps account for their plush ride. With a standard triple tree, however, with the fork tubes in front of the neck, there would be very little trail. By putting the fork tubes behind the neck with reversed triple trees, it increases the trail for stability going down the road.
Having never had one before, I had a heck of a time for the first 5,000 miles trying to turn at slow speed and maintain control. It seems to act like a tricycleturning, needing to be kept more straight up and down until a higher speed, or the front end would come around on me, as compared to bikes with more degrees rake like I was used to. A friend of mine got a Road King at the same time I got our Ultra, and he tipped his over twice in the first week, trying to adapt from his previous Dyna.
Once learned, however, I do now believe it is very easy to handle at slow speeds. For me, it took watching the Ride Like a Pro video to understand how to crank it around at slow speeds.
Having never had one before, I had a heck of a time for the first 5,000 miles trying to turn at slow speed and maintain control. It seems to act like a tricycleturning, needing to be kept more straight up and down until a higher speed, or the front end would come around on me, as compared to bikes with more degrees rake like I was used to. A friend of mine got a Road King at the same time I got our Ultra, and he tipped his over twice in the first week, trying to adapt from his previous Dyna.
Once learned, however, I do now believe it is very easy to handle at slow speeds. For me, it took watching the Ride Like a Pro video to understand how to crank it around at slow speeds.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,051
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From: Between Chicago & Milwaukee
RE: Offset Steering Head
ORIGINAL: hackney
Harley Touringbikesmaintain an offset steering head. Is it true this design makes the touring bikes much easier to handle at slower speeds? For example, would aStreet Glide be easier to manuever ina parking lotcompared to a Heritage Softail? Thanks.
Harley Touringbikesmaintain an offset steering head. Is it true this design makes the touring bikes much easier to handle at slower speeds? For example, would aStreet Glide be easier to manuever ina parking lotcompared to a Heritage Softail? Thanks.
2.Yes
Rake Steering Head/Trail
STREET GLIDE =26.0° / 6.20 in.HERITAGE SOFTAIL = 32° / 5.80 in
RE: Offset Steering Head
I am came from my 05 Super Glide to a 07 Roadie about a month ago. The weight of the bike at stops has taken a bit of getting used to, but the nimbleness and ease of the slow speed stearing in the RGhas definately impressed me. I would have to say Yes, IMHO, to both of your questions.
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Road Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,019
Likes: 7
From: Chester County, PA
RE: Offset Steering Head
ORIGINAL: hackney
Harley Touring bikes maintain an offset steering head. Is it true this design makes the touring bikes much easier to handle at slower speeds? For example, would a Street Glide be easier to manuever in a parking lot compared to a Heritage Softail? Thanks.
Harley Touring bikes maintain an offset steering head. Is it true this design makes the touring bikes much easier to handle at slower speeds? For example, would a Street Glide be easier to manuever in a parking lot compared to a Heritage Softail? Thanks.
And yes, the whole touring frame line up are crazy easy to ride at low speed. Go try one. It's kind of funny to carve a ~15 foot circle in the parking lot with the floorboard while the salesman looks on that look of shock in his eyes. *grins*
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,360
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From: Davie, FL
RE: Offset Steering Head
Just a note to clear up things. The neck is (as stated) on a late model bike 26 degrees. The triple treed are raked 4 ½ degrees. The offset relative to the steering stem, length of fork tubes and diameter of the wheel all have vital roles to determine the handling characteristics.
By increasing or decreasing the offset (as well as he other measurements) the measurement will increase or decrease the trail. Offset is one of the most critical measurements in steering geometry. Setting the forks behind the steering stem with raked triple trees allows for a shorter wheelbase with this large trail. [ul][*]A large trail makes for poor low speed handling but excellent straight line riding on the highway.[*]Handling in the curves as well as parking lot speeds handling suffers but straight line stability is enhanced. This is why an late model FL, along with a heavy front wheel, you can take your hands off the handlebars and go to sleep (well almost).[*]For a easy visual explanation go (here) or you can design your geometry by downloading your own rake and trail calculator (here).[*]For tire sizes and weights go (here). If you change tire sizes you can see what effects you will have on your bike.[*]I like a trail of 4". This trail number is very near the same as the 2001 era Dyna T-Sport, one of the best bikes Harley ever made for overall handling in my oppinion.[/ul]I hope this helps.
[IMG]local://upfiles/29413/674C558837694DEC8505621A44F7CAB7.jpg[/IMG]
By increasing or decreasing the offset (as well as he other measurements) the measurement will increase or decrease the trail. Offset is one of the most critical measurements in steering geometry. Setting the forks behind the steering stem with raked triple trees allows for a shorter wheelbase with this large trail. [ul][*]A large trail makes for poor low speed handling but excellent straight line riding on the highway.[*]Handling in the curves as well as parking lot speeds handling suffers but straight line stability is enhanced. This is why an late model FL, along with a heavy front wheel, you can take your hands off the handlebars and go to sleep (well almost).[*]For a easy visual explanation go (here) or you can design your geometry by downloading your own rake and trail calculator (here).[*]For tire sizes and weights go (here). If you change tire sizes you can see what effects you will have on your bike.[*]I like a trail of 4". This trail number is very near the same as the 2001 era Dyna T-Sport, one of the best bikes Harley ever made for overall handling in my oppinion.[/ul]I hope this helps.
[IMG]local://upfiles/29413/674C558837694DEC8505621A44F7CAB7.jpg[/IMG]