Rake question...

Hi guys, I am new to this whole rake thing...

What is the stock rake of my bike? (550 Maxim)

What would I need to get a good looking rake - not some insane one, but one that would look nice...

And how would I do it? Would I have to modify my triple tree? Or buy a new one?

I just got my bike together, so I won't be doing this for a while, but I want to in the near future so it would be nice to know how.

Thx, Anthony.

 

Rake is the angle of the fork tubes measured from a 0 deg. vertical line. The 550 is 28 deg. To modify the steering neck on the frame would have to be modified by cutting it from the frame and rewelding at a higher angle. This would also change the trail which would lead to different handling characteristics.

 

Yes, I have read all about that, and theres no way I am cutting off the neck AGAIN! lol Been there done that, pain in the ass when you don't have your own welder.

 

New question: What rake degree would I need for it to be noticeable, safe, and not too extreme? I was thinking either 5 or 7...

 

to mantain your trail when altering rake you must lengthen
your fork tubes.on my 550 chop the neck was altered to
36 degrees with 4 inch over fork tubes.
the trail was 4.2 inches.a near perfect ride

 

If you extended the forks, would that not make them stick out further, and create a even larger trail?

I don't want to rake the neck, just get a raked triple tree and I don't know if 5 or 7 degree rake would be better.

 

WHEN CUTTING YOUR NECK YOU WILL NEED TO LENGTHEN DOWNTUBES ALSO.SORRY FOR NOT POSTING THAT.
TAKE A LOOK AT MY SHOPS 550 CHOP.
3 INCHES WERE ADDED TO THE DOWN TUBES.
SORRY FOR THE LACK OF THAT VERY IMPORTNT ISSUE :wink:

 

Adding that much Rake to a 550?

What are you going to do when ...

That moment arrives when you have to take evasive action and try to lean the bike hard-over to avoid a little kid running out into the street?

Or, something falls off some Knuckleheads RV and is tumbling in the road ... right straight in front of you?

Your options to avoid a disaster are going to be severely limited if you can't make the bike turn fast enough to avoid hitting something!

If you don't know what extending the Rake does to handling ... my best words of advice on putting that much Rake on a 550 would be:

Don't do it!

 

Thank Rick, I have read up on it and know the effects it has on steering, but that's why I wanted to know what degree of rake would not effect it too much, but still get that chopper look.

Would a 3 degree rake be better?

If the rake will not be noticeable unless big, but that = danger, then I wont bother.

 

Could you rake the front end and use the stock forks if you lower the rear end?

 

good question canivito, i was planning on doing that this winter but i was wondering if anyone had reasons not to.

i know it will lower the bike, but i wanted to do that anyway so i figured i was killing 2 birds with one stone.

 

I have raked my maxim-x by 9 degrees and after riding it this summer, have to say that the handling is slightly different but once you're used to it, it doesn't make much of a difference any more. The rake looks great and gets lots of positive comments. I have pictures of my ride in my online album and there is also another thread on raking a bike and what to look at as far as safety. Might b an idea to read it as well.

 

I wanted my bike to have a better ride and a longer look.I went the cut neck and reweld route. It does handle a little different but, after a couple miles the first road test i dont even notice the difference.

 

johno8- did you keep the stock length forks? bike looks perfect!

 

Zookie:

The AME kit I installed comes with a 9 deg rake plus 4" longer downtubes. You reuse your lowers but I chromed them for a finished look.

 

rdbhere2, Anyway you could show me a diagram of where and how you cut the neck? I saw on American Chopper where they raked a neck by cutting a section from the spine of the frame and then cut a slit part way through the down tube to allow for the neck to pivot. They then used a slug to reconnect the spine and rewelded the down tube. Is that how you did it?

 

My friends son in law bought raked triple trees for his Honda. I lowered the rear of my 550 and I like the factory rake.