Raked or not? And steering damper.

[Tomhusker]

2006 Yamaha xv1700 w/Champion SA conversion:
Just got this a few days ago, and I'm new to trikes. How do I know if it has already been raked? I am not familiar with the Yamaha Road Stars, and I can't really tell by looking. Maybe someone here can?

Also, I get a lot of wobble on bumps. Is there a dampener made for this make/model?

 

[cycle7447]

Nice looking trike. While I can't be sure, based on the distance from the front fender to the frame, it does look like it had been raked.

How difficult it is to steer?

 

[Tomhusker]

Nice looking trike. While I can't be sure, based on the distance from the front fender to the frame, it does look like it had been raked.

How difficult it is to steer?

Thanks.
It steers easily. The wobble when the road is rough is the only issue.

 

[HDUSA1]

I know it’s different bikes, but I noticed the “wobble” in mine right after I installed the RoadSmith and Rake kit on my Harley Ultra. I live down 5 miles of gravel road before I get to the highway and it was quite pronounced.

Like you, I had concerns with it and was extremely cautious the first few rides as I was fearful of it turning in to a Death Wobble. I even wore my leathers, gloves, full face helmet, etc as I worked up speed. After I hit 100mph on a test run with it smooth as glass, finally said all was good and ride normally now!

The factory Harley TriGlides all have a steering stabilizer and I was all set to put one on mine. After riding one with it and no rake kit, it was horrible and felt like it wouldn’t self correct steering to go straight like mine naturally does.

I’m used to the wobble on bumpy roads on mine now and if anything, give her more gas and it lessons it! Instead of a “Wobble”, I feel like it’s now more of a “Bobble”

Edit to add, wondering if the wobble is partly a side effect of having an independent rear suspension? I’m also running a narrower 130-70R18 front tire that may have something to do with it.

BTW, really love those Yamaha’s and you have a really nice looking bike!!!

 

[ItBeMe]

Just by looking at how far out the front wheel is I am guessing you’ve got it raked already.

 

[sprt220]

I have an 07 that's raked and yours looks like it is.

 

[Papa Zook]

If there is any wobble whatsoever in a trike conversion I build, it does not leave my shop and I have never once reinstalled a steering dampener on any conversion. If there is wobble, the first place to look is at the steering stem bearing torque preload. Loosen the lower fork tube pinch bolts, retorque the rake preload until you feel a noticeable resistance to turning the forks. By that I mean there is some resistance, not a lot, but it is there. I set it first by ft lbs of torque preload to 35 ft lbs, but sometimes I go up to 40 ft lbs. It is as much by feel ad a number on the torques wrench.

 

[Daffit01]

If there is any wobble whatsoever in a trike conversion I build, it does not leave my shop and I have never once reinstalled a steering dampener on any conversion. If there is wobble, the first place to look is at the steering stem bearing torque preload. Loosen the lower fork tube pinch bolts, retorque the rake preload until you feel a noticeable resistance to turning the forks. By that I mean there is some resistance, not a lot, but it is there. I set it first by ft lbs of torque preload to 35 ft lbs, but sometimes I go up to 40 ft lbs. It is as much by feel ad a number on the torques wrench.

Papa I just had your rake kit installed on my 2024 Tri Glide. They reinstalled the steering damper. Do I still need the steering damper, if not I would love to take it off and replace a plastic cover, they had to remove that protects lines in front. To make sure that the damper did not hit the line bracket that had to add a spacer and longer bolt.

 

[Papa Zook]

Papa I just had your rake kit installed on my 2024 Tri Glide. They reinstalled the steering damper. Do I still need the steering damper, if not I would love to take it off and replace a plastic cover, they had to remove that protects lines in front. To make sure that the damper did not hit the line bracket that had to add a spacer and longer bolt.

No you do not need it, leave it off.

 

[Daffit01]

No you do not need it, leave it off.

Thank you

 

[Papa Zook]

I want to add more pertinent information to this thread, specifically to address front end "wobble" and the factors that contribute to it. There are a number of contributing factors, the most common one being improper steering stem torque preload. To be clear this is the first thing to check, and adjust and is the most common cure, but it is not the only factor that can contribute to front end wobble, so in no particular order here are the other more common contributors:

1) Out of balance front and or rear wheels/tires.
2) Out of round front and or rear tires.
2) Over or under inflated front or rear tires. (I see this a LOT on trikes that come in to my shop for service.
3) Patches of terrible road surface conditions. (obviously)

The steering and suspension feedback dynamics of a vehicle riding on a 3 contact point configuration (trikes) VS a 2 contact point configuration (motorcycles) or a 4 contact point configuration (automobiles) is inherently different in how each reacts to poor road surfaces. By their design, trikes will naturally react more than motorcycles or autos and that feedback is instantly transferred to a trike's operator via the handlebars and can be very unnerving. That said, any or all of these can contribute to headshake or wobble, so all need to be addressed.