Rubbermount_EFI school me on fork length, style, and rake

[FiftySixer]

My last bike with 10.5" rear shocks and a -2" Springer.

With 10.5" rear shocks and the -2" springer in front it leaves the bike almost perfectly level with a 21" front wheel. The front wheel was a 3.5" wide BT wheel with a fatty Metzger front and rear.

I'm thinking of doing the entire set up again on my new to me 2001 XL 883C, but this time with a +2 or +4" and 21" front wheel. I am looking for that "chopper-esq" up lift in the front but not radical.

A lift that looks just perfect for the bike without being too much. I see so many that just look too long and over done for the bike. Very Few that I've seen are done with taste and actually look good, right and almost natural on the bike. Having an artistic eye helps. The difficult part is without display cards showing the same bike with the different lengths its a difficult process.

I'm thinking of going with the +4' and if its too high just installing a 2" lowering kit on the rockers at the bottom wheel axel if I have to.

[Gold Member]

Personally I wouldn't increase rake. It made the steering slower and forced me to have to plan ahead when cornering. One time on a backroads corner I had to countersteer so far into the oncoming traffic it scared the crap outta me. Fortunately the car saw I was having trouble and got out of the way. Less rake is much more intuitive for cornering imo.

[Iron Mike]

How do you countersteer into oncoming traffic?

[Gold Member]

I was coming up a slight hill that went left at the crest. Traffic is coming at you in the left lane. You are both too close to the middle of the road. In order to swerve right to get out of his way, you have to swerve left first. The longer your fork, the more into the left side of the road you have to go.

[FiftySixer]

Ok Suicide mission ON!

Just purchased a sweet TC Brothers +4" Wide Springer and a 21"X3.25" 60 spoke chrome wheel.

So it will be a repeat of my last bike pictured below in my previous post but now kicked up in the front like I wanted.

I now need to figure out the right disk break assembly, the fattest from tire I can put on that front rim and the fattest tire that will fit on a spoked factory 2001 Sportster rear wheel.

Then 10" steel chromed risers, braided cables, etc, etc, etc, hopefully I can reuse my stock controls.

Also going to hunt down knurled grips, pegs and a bad ass 2 into 1 pipe!

[Joe_jeep]

Originally Posted by FiftySixer

Ok Suicide mission ON!

Just purchased a sweet TC Brothers +4" Wide Springer and a 21"X3.25" 60 spoke chrome wheel.

So it will be a repeat of my last bike pictured below in my previous post but now kicked up in the front like I wanted.

I now need to figure out the right disk break assembly, the fattest from tire I can put on that front rim and the fattest tire that will fit on a spoked factory 2001 Sportster rear wheel.

Then 10" steel chromed risers, braided cables, etc, etc, etc, hopefully I can reuse my stock controls.

Also going to hunt down knurled grips, pegs and a bad ass 2 into 1 pipe!

we need pics when u start the build!
thx

[XL-Novice]

Raked trees (yokes in England) are only for raked bikes were you need to adjust trail. Don't use then for the chopper look as they can be dangerous by reducing trail too much. Basically you could have the steering of a shopping trolley.
I would always double check with the springer maker on size, its easy to get it wrong and the results are usually forks that are shorter than needed.