I just Triked my ’07 Honda VTX 1300R, and drove it for about 50-75 miles when I notice that hard steering of the trike. I have found, that a rake would correct this problem. The question is I have seen 3 different rake degrees that are available to my VTX. The 4.5*, the 6* and the 8*. A Honda dealer stated forget the 8*, as to much rake, another Honda dealer suggested the 4.5*. The big question is, what’s the right degree for the rake? Do I get more power steering as the rake increases? The price of the 6* and the 8* is not an issue the cost the same, $692. Any safety issue that I should be aware? Advance thanks for you responses
All of the increases in rake that you mention are done with after market trees that change the rake.. so you are definitely limited -- those products are made for the bolt-on crowd and thus have a very limited selection.
Do it the right way and cut the neck on the frame.. get whatever rake you want -- Do your research.. handling, etc. -- Many of the problems that various rake angles cause on a "bike" will be somewhat different in some aspects for a trike...
It will also depend on how much you are going to extend the "legs" after you change the rake angle...
I doubt that there are a lot of guys on this board that have built a trike -- the "rake" angles are pretty much going to be coming from bike guys and like I said, some things will be the same and some things won't -- for example.. the weight taken off the front wheel with rake changes and leg extensions will be similar... the turning radius will be "similar" BUT of course YOU don't have the exaggerated lean angle on the trike when turning inside a residential street with let's say 21" extended legs that a guy on a bike would have...
On and on it goes -- but cut the neck, don't go with the cracker jacks box tree mod.. that would be my suggestion -- "just do it right".. especially if you are going to put it "way out there".
I have built a trike and found that more rake is better then less rake. I can't tell you the exact rake but there is a company that makes trike kits for Goldwings (I assume you bought a kit) so you might check with them and see if they change the rake at all. As for handling, I found that trikes like to be braked into a corner and under accelleration thru the corner where a bike doesnt like any brake into a corner. Even just letting the trike roll through the corner works well. I built the trike back in the 70s for a customer and only got to ride it for testing but it had to be driven twisties in a different manner then a motorcycle. Before you start cutting or buying trees I would spend some time learning what your trikes likes on corners. More rake wil slow down the turning reaction and do away with twitchieness. How about some information and pics of your conversion?
Good looking trike -- Maybe you should try some 4" leg extensions.. they cost about $90 and fit under the covers so you won't even see that they are not solid legs... the rake would be stock.. but the increased leg length would change the trail and lighten the steering.. personally I think slightly extended legs on a trike look good... 4" is not really radical, but may be enough to give you the "feel" that you are looking for. :cheers: