5 deg.Raked Tree

After reading what Brock had to say, I think I will not be extending the fork legs. The bike sites slightly lower in the front, but the rig steers very well the way it is setup now. About the only disadvantage I can think of is I cannot put the bike on the center stand unless I stop the front tire on a 1/2" thick piece of plywood. The only time that's needed is when doing rear wheel inspection. If out on a ride and it's necessary I just pull out the jack.
Thank you Brock for the information.

WinginCamera, If the wing trees allow the tubes to be moved up in thru the top adding the longer tubes would allow you to dial in an in between degree of reduction of trail.

I GL1500/Champion the Escort and the EZ-Steer, I think 6 degrees. I have the same control, like Mike. It is so quick to react, especially highway speeds or in windy conditions.

Maruti Swift

Sliding the tubes up through the trees works a bit but can cause pierced radiators on some bikes and locked steering on others when the steering bottoms out. Be careful if using this method to slightly reduce trail.

L.

Accutronix Elite Smooth “Nights Series” 49mm Triple Trees are what I used on my Dyna. 5 degree rake. The rig handles great, solo riding is twitchy at 70+mph. On the highway I can one hand it and change lanes very smoothly and naturally. At lower speeds I had some front end shake so I attached a steering damper.
Here you can see where I mounted it.

HI Mike!Intersting you rcomments on the wing!Just returned from riding our 1500 out to Sturgis.This was our first long ride on it usually just local etc and always in past trailered it out there.SHe agrees with you about the twitchyness[sp]Everytime I got distracted it jumped some direction!Not sure anymore what head I have on it Rice Lake Honda installed it and is the one where they replace the entire head as I have the old one yet!Now when headed home after about 1500 miles didn't seem to notice it at all.Guess I had become used to the handling or at least paid more attention to my driving!!Boy it sure ate up the Metzler tire had on the back thought I just put it on and was bald when I started for home had to run quick to Honda in Rapid City for new tire at last minute.This time put on a Dunlap E3 they said was harder compound than the Metzler!

So has anyone used 3 degree triple trees?
I have been muscleing 03 Fatboy w/ Spyder sidcar around for 2 years now. It handles fine on the highway but mountain driving in the twistys is a real workout.

a fat boy will take stock harley adjustable trees

you can find them old and used on ebay or get repops

to

Perhaps most folks should start talking about Trail and Trail Reduction on a specific bike combo rather than Deg Rake.

If you start out with 6" of trail then add an advertised 4 Deg kit what will your actual Modified Trail be compared to another companies 5 Deg Kit?
Perhaps they may end up close to the same or perhaps much different. Do get some Actual Facts from the supplier as it relates to your bike before jumping into the mega-$$$ pond!

In reguards to the GL1800 Wings they start with aprox 4 Deg out of the box and for most don't need much Trail Reduction to get down to say 2.5 or 3" of actual Trail.
On my GL1800 with Escort I haven't used the 3 Deg Kit I have because I simply don't need it. On the other hand my earlier Wings that all had 6+" of Trail needed significant Trail Reduction to be liveable. At some point I may install the 3 Deg Kit on my 1800 when age saps too much of my own Power Steering but until then I'm happy.

Many 1800 Wing riders tend to start talking Rake Angle Kits with the HD riders around here and they tend to get way off track talking Deg and not actual Modified Trail on the specific bike. Get off the Deg kick and concentrate on Trail vs Trail Reduction with the resulting Modified Trail.

Also consider the Sidecar and it's Mass as well as Track Width.
A smaller Mass mounted closer to the Tug needs less steering effort. Remember to keep enough Mass far enough Outboard to keep the rig under control on those Right Handers though 😉

Note that even a small Hack, read small Mass, mounted way out in Right Field can require a massive Trail Reduction to keep things under control then you end up with the worst options and a very odd steering rig.

Many of the HD's have similar Trail Reduction needs that the pre 1800 Wings do awa the various brands of Cruisers that seem to be well over 6" going on 7" to start with.
Again get some actual FACTS from the suppliers before putting up the $$$. Better yet make every effort to Test Ride an identical Rig with the Rake Kit your considering if at all possable to get a Real World Feel.

Perhaps Claude or Jay can provide some actual Facts on the resulting Modified Trail from the choices you are considering.

Well I just had my bubble busted. I been reading abought the HD trike trees and thought it was going to be a option. Just found out the trike trees don't fit a fatboy. That would have been a $500.00 saving over Ez-steer.

You might want to try these folks for your Fatboy.

http://www.sidecars.ca/

well after a long day of research measuring and math I figured out what I wanted and what I wanted to spend. 4 Degree trees on my Fatboy will give me 3.5 inches of trail. The stock Harley Trike has 3.5 inches of trail.
Just to share information or an 03 Fatboy
4 degree triple trees = 3.5 inches trail
5 degrees = 2.9
6 degrees = 2.3
Newer Fatboy's have .5 less angle in the fork. so the math is a bit different.
Hawg Halters, hawghalters.com had 4 degree trees for $657.00

Considering that the Harley trikes trail numbers are a compromise choice (like with most of their products) one may find they like a bit more or less trail than The Motor Company's pick. Just like the optimum Harley rider weight of 180# is a compromise figure selected by market research. It would be ideal if one could try all different available choices, then pick the one that suits your capabilities and riding style.
The seat of your jeans is the best judge of what works best for you, regardless of the numbers.

Lonnie

Hey Bikermike: For what it's worth, I'm pleased with the 5* trees on the '02 Sportster. The 5* was the recommendation of Hawghalters and Frankenstein Trikes.