Harley Rake Kits

[Papa Zook]

Heres a DEAL for TrikeTalk.com members: Rake kits for all FLH models (Ultra, Electra Glide, Road Glide, Road King) and all Soft Tail Heritage or Fat Boy Triple Trees regular price is $995 but we will discount to all TrikeTalk.com members to $796. These are 100% USA Made, machined billet aluminum 6061 alloy with new tapered bearings, races and free fork tube extensions and come with one year factory warranty. You may purchase via secure PayPal or Credit Card payment on the "Rakes By Zook" ad on the lower right hand side of this page.

 

[FLTR2008TRIKE]

Just wanted to post that I finally installed my rake kit this week I purchased from you. I took my time and had the front end re-assembled by the end of the day. Granted I didnt have to remove a whole fairing assembly but I did work from a wheel chair doing it

Thanks again Randy

 

[SEAlaskan]

Just a heads up to let everyone know I will be shooting video of the installation of every model rake we sell starting with the Honda GL1800 rake install and a Harley FLH install next week. (others to come) These will be a very detailed, step by step instructional video from start to finish covering every step of the process, from removing and reinstalling the tupperware (plastics) and every fastener, to applying correct torque values, setting fall away, installing fork extensions, changing your fork oil, etc. The video will be available with every rake kit sold for an additional $10.

Is it possible to just order the video?

Butch

 

[Spur]

I am debating a rake kit,for my 1995 FLH, progressive springs in front. Champion kit, handlebars higher and wider(not ape hangers). VPC. My problem is Rheum. Art. in my wrists and hands which makes the trike control painful at times. I am putting progressive 13.5 shocks in back. 55k on the bike. One owner and I will have it for life. I would like your opinion on the rake. 4 or 6 degrees?

 

[Gorilla]

I would suggest PM ing Bazooka and get a suggestion from the expert. I think 6

 

[stacebg]

imo if you are having issues with your wrists with no hesitation go 6 and dont let anyone talk you out of it....

have a bout 6 in my flh ... would like a bit more and on my v max which is a wideglide front end thats perfect

 

[Papa Zook]

Until fairly recently, I seldom recommended anything more than a 4 - 4.5 degree rake on any trike, I considered it overkill, but my opinion is slowly starting to change since Ive done many more 6 degree sales & installs this year than ever before, mainly due to the brand of trikes I'm selling now, along with the members here. I still cannot say a 6 degree rake is the best bet for every trike/rider but in some cases it could be an appropriate choice.

These would be:

1) A person with arthritis, or who is of small build or has limited upper body strength would benefit from the reduced steering input required of a 6 degree rake.

2) The longer/wider IRS trike conversions like the Hannigans, Roadsmiths & CSCs. Along with being longer and wider, the Hannigan and Roadsmith conversions are equipped with a trailing arm suspension design and tend to have a taller stance in the rear. The combination of increased length and width and increased height in the rear make a 6 degree rake (5 degree for Harleys) a good choice for these style of trikes.

3) A person who lives in hilly or mountainous areas where they ride the twisties on a regular basis. Regardless of their trike design/make/length/with or their upper body strength, a 6 degree could be beneficial for these owners.

4) Any and all Honda VTX-1300, VTX-1800 and Valkyries need a 6 degree rake. Some owners even choose to go with an 8 degree on these if they ride the twisties a lot. Remember, a 6 / 8 degree is to a VTX or Valkyrie as a 4 / 6 degree is to a GL-1800.

Those who live and ride primarily in a Texas or Kansas type environment where the riding is mostly long and straight and there are often windy conditions may want to stay with the 4.5 degree, but could certainly still benefit from a 6 degree.

The above circumstances should be considered, but your choice is still subject to your own personal preference. Some like more driver input, some like less. I still sell about two to one 4.5 degree rakes over the 6 degree, but the 6s are definitely increasing in large part due to the popularity of the newer wide IRS trikes. There is not a wrong choice, as a 4.5, 5, 5.5 or 6 degree rake will make a vast improvement over no rake at all. If you've heard stories of a 6 degree being squirrely and too sensitive, this can absolutely be avoided by the proper installation and setup of the rake kit itself along with running the right air pressure in your tires and making sure your trike kit is aligned properly during install.

Upon installation of the rake, the steering stem bearing's races must be seated properly in the frame and the steering stem nut torqued to the proper specs of 35-40 ft lbs, otherwise the front end can and will feel light/loose. Achieving this isn't rocket science and is very simple to achieve. I put my Honda replacement races in the freezer for a couple of hours and then use a tapered race driver to set (seat) them and then torque to 35-40 ft lbs. I recommend 20-25 lb air pressure in the rear tires and the max recommended pressure in the front tire, per the tire's stated specs, usually 38-41 lbs. Rear axle alignment can be easily checked by various methods depending on the maker of your conversion. PM me for instructions on this.

 

[Bill1BigDog]

I have a 2011 Harley Tri Glide, is there any advantage to changing it with a rake kit? Are the factory Harley rake angles different then the rake kits? Just wondering if there is a definite advantage over stock?

Thanks,

Bill

 

[Bill1BigDog]

OK! What is your very good deal offer, as me as your guinea pig for the Tri Glide users?

Thanks,

Bill

 

[Papa Zook]

OK! What is your very good deal offer, as me as your guinea pig for the Tri Glide users?

Thanks,

Bill

Call me and we'll work out something.

 

[harvey]

Listen to Bazooka, I agree with him except the part about Arizona. We have lots of twisties in northern Arizona. Come and see for yourself.

I have built many trikes all with a raked front end. I have experienced both raked and not on the same trike. Much easier to steer with a raked front end. That is how my wife got started with trikes. She took over the possession of my first trike after I put on the rake kit and I had to get another one so I could ride a trike.

I have never experienced any rake more than 6 deg. The longer and wider your trike the more rake you need. But don't get carried away listen to experienced riders. The shorter and narrow trikes need less rake otherwise your trike will be too easy to turn. I told my customers that it is like putting power steering on your grandfathers Studabaker pickup.

 

[Rog3419]

Bazooka did you get the Video made for installing rake kits yet,, 1800 Honda

 

[standingbear56]

Hi Bazooka - I have a 93 sporty with a Cass County trike kit installed. Right now I have a stock fork, so the steering is very hard to say the least. What would you recommend? I would like the steering to be as easy as possible, as I have a bad back and it affects my arm strength. I live in a very mountainous area with lots of hills, twisties and back roads, as well as highway riding. Also with the tree you recommend, would I need a fork extension, and if so, how long. Do you sell these also?

Thanks in advance,

Bear

 

[Papa Zook]

Booze did you get the Video made for installing rake kits yet,, 1800 Honda

I shot the video a while back and unfortunately my daughter saw my camcorder in the car and decided to shoot some video one day and recorded over part of it....so I will re-shoot it on the next rake install.

Hi Bazooka - I have a 93 sporty with a Cass County trike kit installed. Right now I have a stock fork, so the steering is very hard to say the least. What would you recommend? I would like the steering to be as easy as possible, as I have a bad back and it affects my arm strength. I live in a very mountainous area with lots of hills, twisties and back roads, as well as highway riding. Also with the tree you recommend, would I need a fork extension, and if so, how long. Do you sell these also?
Thanks in advance,
Bear

PM sent Bear.

 

[GARYD]

I have a question in reguards to Harleys Tri Glide. I read Bigdog's post and Bazookas post and I am wondering why the rake on the Tri Glide isn't the most ideal and could be made better. Does it compromise something else if you increase the rake?

Wouldn't it be in Harleys best interest to make it the best right from the start?
After all, they don't have an upgrade kit they could SELL like they do on all their other parts.
Just curious. I don't know anything about stearing geometry. It sounds like alchemy to me.

 

[Bill1BigDog]

GaryD and others with the TriGlides, I have made the purchase from Bazooka for a rake kit for my TriGlide and the kit looks great. I have been really busy here at work with all the flood events this year. I will be planning on doing the rake kit sometime hopefully in mid November. I'll try to take pictures along the way and report my findings both good and bad, if any. Things have been just too way to busy here, but it is planned soon!:Shrug:ThumbUp

 

[rainmaker]

I just installed trees I got from Bazooka, on a 1995 FLHTP with the anti dive set up. FYI, If you want to keep the anti dive set up, you have to make some pieces to make it work on the much older bikes.

I also had to modify the spacer on the top of the switch, and put a 1/16" shim under the switch as this is a 1995 mofel, diffefent than the newer models. I now LOVE my trike, it rides like it's on rails!

My buddy installed the same kit from Bazooka on his 2003 FLHTCU, and had no problems, bolted right on, and he says he doesn't need the stabilzer at all. I have photos if you need them. Rainmaker

 

[Bill1BigDog]

Sorry for the slow response to the rake install to my Tri Glide. The project has been further extended due to more floods here in northern Ohio. The Park has been quite busy and with the Holidays now upon us, my time in the shop has been really slim. I am not a commercial installer just a handy old hot rodder with a good mechanical aptitude to work on most anything.

So far, the removal of the Harley tree was quite a job due to the harnesses and all the brackets and fairing. Once the tree was out then working on installing the kit tree was trying. Probably the hardest part was installing the tube extensions. Removing the Harley tube plugs was pretty straight forward and easy, spring loaded, so be careful here. Next installing the tube extensions with spring tension was the hard part. I had to think about it and then made a tool similar to a valve spring tool used to work on engine heads.

This tool was used in conjugation to my bench vise.

The vise holds the leg tube, and the tool pushes down the tube extension while threading it into the tube down spring tension. A chore but I did it. Fork legs are installed now and will work on it as more time comes soon.

Later,
Bill

 

[DanDolfn]

I'm just starting my learning curve, too. Got a Hannigan kit installed on my 2011 Road King. I held off on the rake kit since it was extra $$ and despite the comments, I wasn't really sure I needed it.

On my first couple of rides, I felt like I was actually wrestling with the trike when I went into turns. The last couple of rides haven't felt as bad. I don't know if I'm just getting used to it.

Anyway, I've got to sell the take-offs before I spend any more money.

At worst, I should build up some good arms!

 

[Bill1BigDog]

Happy New Year to all of you fellow trikers.

Well, with the Holidays I have made some progress with the install of the rake kit from BAZOOKA. First of all I must say the kit was first class, instructions could use some finer details but it is helpful. All parts with the kit were all spot on and good quality.

Completed the install today and just took a very short ride on my street, being that the rain is lite and cold today. All seems fine but a road test on the on and off ramps will tell if there is a major difference. Just riding around the neighborhood was a good feeling and the rake kit did not have any ill effects, as of yet.

Tomorrow we start a winter change here in Cleveland, as we have not had any real snow to speak of yet. They are calling for some real cold temps, high winds, heavy snows and then blowing and drifting snow thru Tuesday. Snow accumulations are predicted to 12".

So there won't be any test rides the early part of the week for sure.

I would recommend anyone wanting a rake kit to have it professionally installed. With doing the install myself, it was a slow process with the problems I had with work, dealing with home and medical issues with myself and my mother, I could not devote all my time & attention as I should have. Plus I did run into some problems here and there with tearing down the Tri Glide's fairing, wiring harnesses and other items that I was doing at the same time during the project.

Like changing over my tires to wide white walls front and rear, changing out my wheels for chrome wheels, adding more bling, GPS install into fairing and wiring, and adding a GPS module to interface with the factory radio and few other detail touches as I went along on the project. I had to fabricate a tool to compress the fork legs springs while threading the tube plugs into the extensions. There were some put it together moments and take it apart again moments after finding out I had to re-route wiring, brake lines and clutch cable. It was just some trail and error issues. Had this project been done on a open fork bike vs a full touring Harley, it would have been a piece of cake.

Well, enough for now, I will update this again later, but my trike is back together again!:CoffeeThumbUp

 

[Bill1BigDog]

Well, today in Cleveland it was 53' and partly sunny with slight snow melted damp streets. After having lunch with a friend, I came home and washed my truck and then was tempted to take the trike out for a better test drive.

I rode the raked trike around the local streets with a few fast curves to test and weed out a few tweaks needed after the rake project, since the cold and snow recently. I need to adjust the handlebars forward a bit and rotate the clutch and brake controls slightly also.

My first findings about Zook's rake kit...awesome!!! No front end shakes, no hands not a problem, steered straight and turning was fine too. The next test was to see how it handled in the curves with a more aggressive steering pressure, then just riding the normal casual way around town.

My findings so far are well founded. I get the feeling that it does handle the faster curves much better with less effort than stock! I will verify this hopefully next week going to work perhaps Tuesday. Weather appears to be forecasted to be around 45 - 48' and sunny before cooler and more snow by the end of the week. I take the Ohio Turnpike to work and taking the on and off ramps will be my final test. I will also being traveling at speeds on the straight away, at up to 75 - 80 MPH. This is my normal travel speed on the turnpike and will be my gauge for all my type of riding.

My initial riding has me feeling like everything is a big success and I would recommend Zook's rake kit to other Tri-Gliders out there in the future.

Please let me check out my other findings here soon, hopefully next week if the weather holds out for my final testing.

Thank you,
Bill

 

[Papa Zook]

Good job Bill! Its got to steer much easier than stock...Keep us posted!

 

[Bill1BigDog]

Well, a update because it was sunny today and about 43'. So we took a ride to Medina, OH Century HD dealer. Had both my wife and I on the trike with no ill effects. The curves and on and off ramps were a peice of cake. I would honestly say, "I would recommend Zook's trike rake kit for the Tri Glides!". It does steer much easier than stock with no bad side effects whatsoever!

So, if there is anyone out there sitting on the fence about getting a rake kit from BAZOOKA, jump on it! It will make the trike steer easier in the curves, with less effort and less tiring on those trips.

Other then being a Harley Tri Glide guinea pig for the cause, I have no direct connection to BAZOOKA for his selling his rake kits, but he is offering a discount to the Trike Talk Forum members. I did purchase mine from him and I had no problems with the purchase and shipping was great too! He has plenty of trike experience and knows the rake types recommended. The product he carry's is top notch and high quality too!

My only recommendation for most of you out there, have a professional do the install. I did my own and had no real big problems that I could not solve but it is not a quickie job on the Tri glide.

Thanks,
Bill

 

[msocko3]

Well, a update because it was sunny today and about 43'. So we took a ride to Medina, OH Century HD dealer. Had both my wife and I on the trike with no ill effects.

If your local roads look like the rest of the roads the State of Ohio maintains, you may want to give your trike a good flooding wash top to bottom including the under side. In my neck of the woods there is literally tons of road salt and gallons of calcium chloride on the roads, will eat the daylights out of aluminum and get into places just waiting to rust steel. Know a guy who took a short trip and didn't wash his bike for a week, his reward was pitted aluminum and some surface rust in places.

For those who haven't seen what Ohio does to the roads here is a picture of RT20 taken today, you can see the salt and calcium chloride residue on the roads. This is mild compared to some of the other state maintained roads, while driving on it kicks up like dust on a dirt road.

 

[Bill1BigDog]

Yes, I have been an Ohio resident all my life and the trike is now cleaned from top to bottom. I cleaned up today due to the salt and working on it for about a month off and on. My new wide white walls are gleaming, the newly chromed wheels are all cleaned and waxed, all is dry and detailed.
Thanks for the advice but none of my toys stay dirty, as I am in a habit of over detailing my things due to my years of the show circuit with anything from boats, trucks, various types of cars and motorcycles alike.
Happy Winter time to all!

:Coffee: time NOW

 

[Winchester]

I seen a lot of posts concerning the rake kit making it steer easier. I have a '01 Ultra Classic with CSC kit and presently have no rake kit. My issue is low speed wobble. If I spend the money, I want what will take out the wobble and increase easy of steering. What deg rake do I want?

 

[Papa Zook]

What you need is a +5 degree rake kit for a total of 9 degrees. What CSC is calling an 11 degree is a raked tree that increases the stock rake plus their 5 degree rake which yields an 11 degree overall rake increase. Id be happy to send you one if you need a rake kit. Hundreds of satisfied customers will vouch for the quality and price.
(334)648-0157
Zook

 

[bikerart]

I always use 5 deg. on my builds. I am dealing with 45 - 50 deg. necks on the frames. Need that to keep the trail in around 6".

I don not believe you should just add a raked tree, only. I am of the opinion that you have to change the length of the tubes to deal with the proper trail for wobble and heavy steering.

 

[Papa Zook]

I always use 5 deg. on my builds. I am dealing with 45 - 50 deg. necks on the frames. Need that to keep the trail in around 6".

I don not believe you should just add a raked tree, only. I am of the opinion that you have to change the length of the tubes to deal with the proper trail for wobble and heavy steering.

On most trikes I would agree with the fork tube extensions, thats why all of mine come with fork tube extensions engineered for each particular application. I have seen a few cases in which a particular make and model kit dropped the rear height when installed and no extensions were needed.

 

[bikerart]

I have a set of HD 5 deg. raked trees with 0 offset I am thinking about putting on a guys tri glide, should handle a lot better than stock. will post results if we do it!