reduce trail to improve handling? Harley Shocks & Harley Chassis Issues Discuss reduce trail to improve handling? in the Harley Tech & Harley How-to forums; my APC Highroller custom has zero rake triple tree and 38 degree fork rake producing 7 inch trail. I understand the best bike handling comes with trail under 5 inches. ...

[blackjackfl]

my APC Highroller custom has zero rake triple tree and 38 degree fork rake producing 7 inch trail. I understand the best bike handling comes with trail under 5 inches. I can hit 4.5 inch trail with replacement 3 degree triple tree - question: is it worth it? have 240 x 18 rear tire and normal 21 on front. it does handle ok, but I'd like it a little less tender turning in city driving. thanks y'all

[frisco-rigid]

Questions--
Did you measure the trail yourself.?
Are you sure they're zero brackets.? When you look between the neck and the forks(between the top and bottom bracket) is the neck and forks EXACTLY parellel.?
I ask cuz with zero rake brackets I wouldn't think it is that much trail...
I've seen "zero" brackets that are slightly de-raked, and that most certainly increases trail...
Just throwing it out there cuz with a 240 and 38* you need all the handling you can get...
No offense intended here, is this your first "HD".?

I have personally used a fork brace for 6 yrs now the improvement in handeling especially high sp and twisties is phenonimal. Around here I'm beginning to see many customs Big Dog etc. with fork brace. By the way have 2000 FXDWG. I'm not an engr. but you can see a bowing at 60mph in most all wide narrow tire front end, it appears to go away with fork brace. It also look cool.