Ironhead Boardtracker Project

[Steve9]

That's just a fine project!

I love looking at her

[paulc]

Liking the look with the changes you made to the springers. Impressive work as always.
Paul

[JonesL]

Thanks paulc,
You have to look to see an additional 2" in fork leg length but the change in appearance is undeniable.

[JonesL]

Took the board tracker out for an extended ride today. Taller and with just a little longer wheelbase, it's like riding a different bike. Handling and steering are better.
Never would have thought that raising the center of gravity would make for an improvement but it did.
And it just looks better all 'round now that it's sitting level.

[ryder rick]

Increasing the rake and trail probably had more effect than raising the center of gravity.

as you lengthen the fork the frame comes up in front increasing rake.

You may have gained an inch of trail when that happens.

The small rake change is not much but an inch of trail is easily felt.

A high center of gravity is what you get when you put Fat Bobs on an XL.........
unless you are giving fat girls rides?

[commando57]

Every time you take it out post a pic, please.

[JonesL]

ryder rick, Once more, pure dumb luck pays off. That and listening more to other guys who build. I started out just wanting the bike to sit level, purely for looks.
A guy I know who builds choppers took one look at the bike and said 'You need another two inches in the fork legs'.
I of course went home, got out my tape measure, protractor, chalk, torpedo level, plumb bob and drew everything out on the driveway. Added in a dash of geometry, no small amount of time on my pocket calculator, and lots of standing back and looking at my backyard drafting.
After all that I came to the conclusion that I needed another two inches in the fork legs... And my chopper builder buddy spotted it just walking by.

commando57, I'm not big on long road trips but I can sure figure out some scenic places to stop here locally.

[sml1226]

Gotta be careful listening to chopper guys about your forks. Before long they’ve grown by feet rather than inches.

[JonesL]

Good point sml1226. However, I've got my limits. I know that with extending the front forks comes an increase in height... that pesky hypotenuse thing in action.
When the bike's too tall for me to be sitting flat-footed at a stop, I've gone too far. I gave up being on tippy-toes when I sold my ballet slippers.