Hi, I'm a very new triker.

[Lil Red Hen]

I have breifly ridden a 2 wheeler for a little over a year and had 2 mishaps and decided to go to a trike. I recently purchased a 1999 Harley Ultra Classic with a DFT trike kit. I am very pleased with it and feel very comfortable on it. It's nice to have a place to go to converse with others with the same interest. Looking forward to being an active memeber of the forum. Any advice is welcome.<br />
I do have a question to post. Whether to rake or not to rake the front end. I need some advice from both sides of the question. Mainly the pros and cons. I appreciate your responses.

 

[Patches]

Welcome!! You will enjoy this forum. Everyone is very helpful. Ride Safe!

 

[Yellow Trike]

I got to see a DFT conversion yesterday for the first time....nice looking and I am envious of the size of the trunk!

Congratulations!

 

[Trikerjim]

Hi LRH and welcome aboard! Congratulations on becoming a tricycler... As far as putting a rake on your DFT, we've discussed it several times here. It's entirely up to you. The best advice I can give is try to test drive a couple of trikes that have one and see the difference. I don't have one on my Motor/Trike, but thats my preference. Be sure and ride yours long enough to know how it handles without one. Sorry but we can't make up your mind on this one...

 

[The Wolf]

To rake or not to rake that is the question??

Hello Lil red hen,<img src="images/smilies/cool.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Cool" class="inlineimg" /><br />
I used to ride a Goldwing 1500 with aLehman conversion with no rake. It was murder going around the many many roundabouts in Scotland. When I was in Switzerland going up the mountains and coming back down my shoulders turned into Big Arnies.<br />
I now have a raked 1800 motortrike and going around the roundabouts is so easy and makes my job that little easier. I had taken it around the Norwegian mountain passes and it handled it very easy as long as you did not look down........<br />
Anyway, I would go for the rake. Good Luck and safe riding<img src="images/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Smile" class="inlineimg" />

 

[John Luciano]

Took me about 500 miles to get over the stiff steering . I am still on the fence about a rake. I have a Goldwing DFT. I found that the push pull on the bars and the powering thru the corners is getting easier. I have nothing against thoes that rake and love it.

 

[vance]

Comfortable

when You Said You Felt Very Comfortabe..thats The Key Word..i've Had Bikes That I Did Not Feel Comfortable On And The Best Thing To Do Is Get Rid Of It..and Find That Magic Word (comfortable) One.. Which Puts You In The Mind Set Of I Can Handle This One Safely...as Far As Rake Or Not Rake If It's Hard For You To Steer In Curves After You've Had A Little More Time To Get Use To It..then Rake It..

Vance In Ga.

 

[Buzzard]

Good Morning Lil Red Hen and all. Welcome.<br />
<br />
As a daily viewer of this site and rare poster, I feel somewhat hesitant to give advice on an aspect of riding that is a personal preference. I will say that my wife and I ride trikes and we both prefer raked steering.<br />
<br />
Below is a URL for a technical report on just what Rake is and how it changes the amount of effort required to steer your trike through a turn:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://64.172.168.34/neatstuff/rakeandtrail.htm" target="_blank">http://64.172.168.34/neatstuff/rakeandtrail.htm</a><br />
<br />
I hope it helps you and others on the site.<br />
<br />
As for positives and negatives, there are numerous variables to consider. The primary aspects are how and where you ride, your upper arm/shoulder strength and if you are comfortable. If you ride long straight roads, a steering kit is of little use. If, like us, you ride in country that is one curve after another, that is another issue all together.<br />
<br />
Ultimately, the decision is yours. I do suggest you get a real Professional to do the work if you decide to add a Rake/Steering kit. It is very important that the installer understand what he is doing. A pro will know that the torque on the steering stem nut or bolt is vital and if done incorrectly, can create a dangerous condition that could result in wobble.<br />
<br />
I hope this has helped. If you or anyone has any other questions, please email me and I will get back to you as soon as I can.<br />
<br />
<br />
Buzzard <br />
870-257-3556<br />
870-847-1900<br />
<a href="mailto:bwhittle@centurytel.net">bwhittle@centurytel.net</a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Of every one-hundred men, ten shouldn't even be there, eighty are nothing but targets, nine are real fighters...We are lucky to have them, they make the battle...Ah, but ONE, one of them is a Warrior...he will bring the others back!<br />
<br />
Heraclitus c.

500 B.C.</div>