How does rake and trail affect motorcycle handling?
The bottom line here is that the more rake and trail we have, the more stable the bike will become, although both steering and maneuverability may suffer for it. Conversely, when rake and trail are reduced, the bike will steer quicker and become more maneuverable, though it’s usually at the expense of stability.
How does rake affect bike handling?
Fork rake or fork offset is a key factor in the handling of a bike. The amount that the fork is offset from this imaginary line is known as fork rake in road bikes, or fork offset in mountain bikes. Increasing the offset will make steering faster, conversely decreasing it will slow it down.
How does rake effect handling?
The smaller the rake angle, the less effort is required to turn the steering. Though, the motorcycle will be less stable in a straight line. Conversely, a larger rake angle requires more effort to turn but tends to make the motorcycle more stable at high speeds and helps maintain a straight course.
What is negative rake angle?
Rake angle is a parameter used in various cutting and machining processes, describing the angle of the cutting face relative to the work. Negative rake: A tool has a negative rake angle when the face of the cutting tool slopes away from the cutting edge at outer side.
What does a steeper head angle do?
The steeper the head tube angle, the better handling you’ll achieve, but with less stability at speed. Most trail bikes have settled on a minute range of somewhere between 65 and 67 degrees. Downhill bikes will have angles anywhere from 62 to 64.
Does frame geometry matter?
Yes, geometry matters. If you’re happy with your bike, then you don’t need to worry about it. There are a lot of different cycling disciplines and sub-disciplines: for example, within mountain biking, there’s cross-country and downhill and others.
How can I make my bike more stable?
Generally though, if you move the front wheel forward by decreasing the HTA, the bike becomes more stable. Conversely, if you move the wheel forward by increasing the fork’s offset you make the bike less stable.
What is the difference between rake and trail?
Rake (also called caster) is the angle of a motorcycle’s steering head of the frame (A). Trail (B) is measured in distance (inches or millimeters) between the point of the front wheel’s contact with the ground and a line drawn through the axis of the steering head.
How does rake / caster angle define a motorcycle?
As the fork tubes move forward in relation to the steering stem, the angle between the front wheel axis and the point where Rake and the pavement intersect narrows, so Trail decreases. As we would expect decreasing the offset, which moves the wheel closer to the steering stem increases Trail.
Which is more stable rake angle or caster angle?
Generally speaking (means there are exceptions), the greater the rake angle, the more stable the motorcycle is at higher speeds. It is normally accepted that the responsiveness of a motorcycle’s handling is inversely corresponding to the rake angle values.
How does caster trail affect straight line stability?
The caster angle affects the straight-line stability and the caster trail affects the wheel recovery after cornering. If the wheels are given excessive positive caster, the straight-line stability is improved, but cornering becomes difficult.
Why does a motorcycle have a steeper rake?
Adding a bit of complication to this is the fact rake angles are not static; when a fork is compressed under braking, this is effectively changing the rake angle of the front end, making it steeper. Conversely, as the motorcycle is accelerating the fork is extending, increasing the rake angle slightly.
Generally speaking (means there are exceptions), the greater the rake angle, the more stable the motorcycle is at higher speeds. It is normally accepted that the responsiveness of a motorcycle’s handling is inversely corresponding to the rake angle values.
As the fork tubes move forward in relation to the steering stem, the angle between the front wheel axis and the point where Rake and the pavement intersect narrows, so Trail decreases. As we would expect decreasing the offset, which moves the wheel closer to the steering stem increases Trail.
Adding a bit of complication to this is the fact rake angles are not static; when a fork is compressed under braking, this is effectively changing the rake angle of the front end, making it steeper. Conversely, as the motorcycle is accelerating the fork is extending, increasing the rake angle slightly.
What’s the difference between rake and fork angle?
However, to understand trail, first you need know about rake. Rake is often called fork angle, but that is a misnomer. Rake is the angle, in degrees, that the steering head of the frame—not the forks—is tilted back from the vertical.