Hi
Anyone ever had too little trail set up on their forks. What chateristics did you experiance. I've genuine earls forks with 15" car wheels with the swing arm on the s/c point and so little trail I'm having fun trying to measure it. What did your outfit do?
Best Cheers
George
With too little trail one loses the caster effect that makes the bike steering self centering. While it will go where pointed, the steering can be so fast as to be almost uncontrollable. Constant adjustments may be needed to travel in a straight line. Tank slapping wheel wobble may also occur in hands off conditions.
I can compare it somewhat with a MG TC or MG TD sportscar. Both needed constant attention at the wheel to maintain their lane on the roadway. Hands on driving was always necessary.
Lonnie
I run .250" trail with no steering damper and it is very stable.I can take my hands off the bars at any speed without wobbles.The higher the speed the more stable it gets. On a previus outfit I adjusted the trail to zero and it wandered with every little irregularity in the road and you had to really be paying attention. --robtg
Yup thats what I thought I've got to have a real careful measure of my set up or I've got to give it more time on the road to allow me to relax more. It does fly about a bit but I'm sure I can get to the bottom of it's little ways over some time.
George
Here is a calculator for steering geometry. http://www.tonyfoale.com/
Go to the free software page and download. After very carefully setting up a
leading link fork, i checked it with this calculator and confirmed my settings. --robtg
Some feel more comfortable with more trail than others ...it isn't as much the numbers as it is the feel of things. There should be time given to getting used to reduced trail prior to making a judgement on what is correct for you. There are limits of course.
Personally I like to 'feel' the steering. Rigs with real small trail figures reduce this feel.
If any one wants to experience what negative trail feels like try steering your rig backwards down a hill 🙂
George
I too have 15" wheel's and Earle's fork's (BMW). If like me you have the same set-up that are grafted onto a /7 serie's frame then the steering will seem a bit quick! I fitted a steering damper to slow it down a tad (after riding without one for 14yrs). After getting used to the damper, it feel's alot more stable in corner's. Prior to fitting the damper I did not suffer from slow speed woble's, but it would steer very quick (I only had to think right or left and away the outfit went). The steering damper doe's help. It's a V.W.Beetle steering damper.
Safe riding Karl
Thanks Robtg for the link for the calculator I'll use it rather tan bits of wood and string. Claude thans for the wisdom of feel and getting used to it - must say I'm with you I would normally like a little bit of feel if you know what I mean! My outfit is not quite think left or right and it goes but I'm finging it er interesting as it's been solo forks for me this far - I'm back after a 20 year break so there is lots to relearn. Yes outfit I've earles grafted to a /7 with 15" wheels with mini cooper calipers and cast disks. Your location is interesting we may be dropping in to do the Kirkwall / Stromness / Holm regatta this year with our Snipe (US designed dinghy).
George
George
Let us know if you're coming by this way. We know the reggata's. The Holm (pronounced Ham) reggata was visited by a pod of dolphin's last year.
Safe riding Karl
George,
You may want to check your steering head bearings too. Tighter than normal is not a bad thing with a hack...earles or not.
Yup Knew It was called "Ham" as I've been and raced there a couple of times. Orkney is a place you have to go back to and we are due to see all our sailing pals up there sooner rather than later.
Just cleaned and regreased my taper roller bearings but will checkthem for correct tightness in a couple of weeks and adjust them if necessary.
many thanks for all of your input
George
