Added Rake Kit

[Wingrider44]

I bit the bullet today and had a 5.5 degree Roadsmith Rake Kit installed. While we were at, I had progressive springs installed and Kury Handlebar Risers as well. It took all of about 10 seconds on the road for me to realize that I was going to like this. After riding 100 plus miles today, all I can say is WOW. Best darn accessory for your trike, bar none. I was told that it would make a huge difference in my enjoyment of riding the trike. But I had no idea as to the degree of effect on the trike that this kit has. It is literally like going from driving a vehicle that the power steering system failed on to driving a vehicle that has the power steering system operating flawlessly.

It is not a cheap accessory but trust me, it is worth every penny.........every single one.

 

[tfdeputydawg]

Rode one w/Progressives, stuck w/my OEM'sThumbUp
Rake kit was a must for meepper:

 

[Rick Kay]

Congratulations on your upgrade! I know I wouldn't be without a rake kit on my trike-worth every penny! ThumbUp

 

[Lucky]

I am sure you will like the rake kit. Makes all the difference. RIDE SAFE

 

[jayhawkokie]

When I ordered my trike kit the rake kit was one of the must haves.

 

[cjmitch]

While getting used to it, be careful, a rake WILL noticeably increase your turning radius.
You will have to move your handlebars further to accomplish the same turn diameter/rate.

 

[MS_Winger]

I never road the trike without a rake kit installed, but I would not want to have any more handling force than what I feel with it. You did the right thing, IMHO.

Mark in MS

 

[Papa Zook]

A quality rake kit is THE best money you will ever spend on your trike.

 

[tfdeputydawg]

Interesting that my turning radius was not significantly increased by my 4 1/2* rake! It was impacted by adding the extended wheel base conversion.
There are very few that are satisfied without a rake kit.
My $.02, Rode one without a rake kit. Taking an intersection type turn and normally accelerating through the turn, it felt like the bars were being "forced" out of my hands as the front tried to return to "straight"! Very hard to hold the turn. At higher speeds in curves this feeling was still there but, not as much. Still discerning to me.
Also, without a rake there was a low speed wobble up to about 40mph.
Money well spent and needed by the vast majority

 

[Wingrider44]

Just got back from a weekend ride in Northern Arkansas. We rode Push Mountain Road, Highway 7, parts of highways 62 and 14. We, that would be my son and I, stayed in Mountain Home but we did ride down to Russellville.

Going through the twisties was an absolute blast after getting used to flat cornering, which took me almost no time at all. I was never able to outrun, or keep up with, my son when I rode the GL1800 on two wheels. But now I'm able to crawl up his tailpipe, as they say.

All that said, I have to say that I think I would have been completely worn to a frazzle if I hadn't installed the rake kit. My arms would have felt like mush after riding over 400 miles of curvy roads in two days. As a matter of fact, I doubt that I'd been able to do it. The amount of force required to get the trike steered through a corner is directly related to the speed. I know there are those who say they ride without a rake kit and have no problems with that setup. I too rode for some time sans a rake kit. But I'm 70 years old and the last thing I want to do when I go riding in the twisties is to get a weightlifting work out for my arms. Without the rake kit, I doubt I would have enjoyed this trip a third of how much I did enjoy it.

I now have almost 4,000 miles on the trike since I got it a month ago. Less then half of that was put on with the rake kit. Was the rake kit worth it? ABSOLUTELY!!!! The trike handles great in the twisties and it handles great on the superslab as well.