After reading several posts on the benefit of putting a 5 degreee rake on an HD / TLE outfit, my question is:
Does this "power steering" become a problem on RH corners?
As of now I have logged over 15,000 miles on this rig (I know - just a beginner!). It seems that on a tight right hander that as the rig gets tougher to steer I am getting input to back off. With the easier raked steering is this going to get me into trouble that I would normally back away from?
The easier steering is not a problem, it's a boon. It's like the difference driving a car with, or without power steering. You still have to steer the rig, it's just a lot easier to do so and you won't have to fight the extra resistance of a damper either, unless you prefer to keep it like some others do (for some strange unknown reason).
Lonnie
I just my rig running a couple of weeks ago. I bought it used with a 4.5 degree triple tree already installed. The first couple of short rides I took with it, I thought that it steered much to easy, and felt that it seemed to wander a lot. Last Saturday after only being able to take a couple of short rides, we left south Texas, and 1183 miles later we arrived in the Smokie Mountains of Tennesee. The trip and a week of riding in the Smokies has left me with sore tired shoulders, arms, and hands. I no longer think that easy steer, is too easy. Tonight we are in a motel in Ashville, NC, and tomorrow morning we start north on the Blueridge Parkway, then to Gettysburg, and on to Michigan, and then back to Texas, by the time we get back, I expect I will have very well developed shoulder, and arm muscles. Adding a racked triple tree will still leave you with lots of road feel, and will let you know that you need to slow down a little in right turns. Go for it, you won't regret it.
I am contemplating a 5 degree triple tree...
Questions:
Will it lower the front end?
Will it increase the overall length of the bike by moving the front wheel forward?
1- Without spacers it will drop your front end about 1".
2- Not much. How would moving the front wheel NOT increase the overall length of the bike?
Lonnie
"Will it increase the overall length of the bike by moving the front wheel forward?"
Hack'n - 7/11/2011 1:22 PM
2- Not much. How would moving the front wheel NOT increase the overall length of the bike?
Lonnie
Ooppps---am sorry for asking a dumb question 😮 🙁 🙂
I do not know if there is special 5 degree triple tree that is dedicated for sidecar rigs only.
If so, I then wondered if the original overall height and length would be affected.
My original question should have been more descriptive.
The 5 or 6 degree trees are to reduce trail on sidecars and trikes, vehicles that do not bank in the turns. This reduction of trail results in light steering. They are not needed and can be dangerous when used with single track bikes. The main purpose of trail reduction is to reduce positive caster induced by trail which makes a solo bike want to drive in a straight line and resist turning (and also return to straight ahead after a turn). The raked trees require a little more attention with the bars, similar to that when driving an older British sport car. If you are inattentive they will wander.
Lonnie
I always have at least one hand on the bars anyway but I wouldn't have my rig without the steering head being done . It was way too hard to do anything without serious physical effort before I had the triple trees done. With the loads I have placed on my rig it would have been very uncomfortable without them.
I searched the old posts but the one on installing the Liberty triple tree must be over a year old so....
How difficult is the installation on a Road King? From what I can determine it doesn't seem too bad.
The RK's are fairly straight forward. The full faired Road glides and Ultras aren't all that much fun.
L.
35 years ago I had a '67 HD with an older sidecar.
I had a set of adjustable or "trail" forks.
The bike was very unstable without the forks kicked out.
Old timers said they could flip easy. Felt like it could.
Also there was an adjustable steering damper which was necssary.
It holds the steering tight and steady and takes the work out.
Also eliminates head shake that comes with speed.
No idea how this applies to modern bikes-the damper would help with the "too easy" steering.
I am presently doing a crank out restoration on a '65 FLH with period rig.
