I never really "get" the fork rake thing, so here's but another question. If I have a 43 mm rake fork, and I replace it with a 50 mm, what happens? Does the bike get more stable and more compliant (all else equal)? Is there a negative? Thanks.
Thanks. This stuff is so counter-intuitive sometimes.Dave_Stohler said:If you put a 50mm rake fork on the bike, it'll get really squirrely at any speed over, oh, maybe 25mph. The negative is that you're gonna crash and bust your @$$.
BTW, 43mm to 50mm is a huge difference.
According to Excel, the Ouzo Pro comes in a 50. That's what got me thinking.Al1943 said:Doug, I've never heard of a 50mm rake, but I can tell you that increasing rake will decrease trail and let the bike turn quicker (at least at higher speeds) and may cause it to feel less stable, even though the wheelbase will be longer. Wheel base does not effect how the front of the bike turns. Going from 43 to 50 would be a very big change. I changed the fork on my primary bike from 43 to 40 (both Ouzo Pro) and I could definitely feel a difference, and in this case both forks have advantages. The 40 results in more trail and enhances the bikes ability to return to or maintain a straight path.
Edit: (I did not see Dave's post before writing mine)
~Al
There's always custom steel to get the rake and anything else you want. Depending on the frame, a steel fork would be quite a conversation starter. As for cutting the steerer tube....DougSloan said:Narrowing it down to a Ouzo Pro or Easton EC90; aren't that many left in 1 inch.
Trek makes the 520 with a fork offset of 52mm and the Hilo with an offst of 38.Al1943 said:Doug, I've never heard of a 50mm rake, but I can tell you that increasing rake will decrease trail and let the bike turn quicker (at least at higher speeds) and may cause it to feel less stable, even though the wheelbase will be longer. Wheel base does not effect how the front of the bike turns. Going from 43 to 50 would be a very big change. I changed the fork on my primary bike from 43 to 40 (both Ouzo Pro) and I could definitely feel a difference, and in this case both forks have advantages. The 40 results in more trail and enhances the bikes ability to return to or maintain a straight path.
Edit: (I did not see Dave's post before writing mine)
~Al
Doug, let me add a little something.DougSloan said:I never really "get" the fork rake thing, so here's but another question. If I have a 43 mm rake fork, and I replace it with a 50 mm, what happens? Does the bike get more stable and more compliant (all else equal)? Is there a negative? Thanks.
The wheel on a grocery cart turns around BECAUSE of the trail. Push or pull a cart and the Trail moves the wheel in the opposite direction of the movement of the cart - just like a bike when we push it forward. They both have the tire contact patch behind the steering axis.plus_vite said:Once trail vanishes altogether, the wheel will want to turn around like a caster on a grocery cart. Very unstable.
I am not sure we are disagreeing. My goal is to make the idea of rake/trail as understandable and as clear as possible.Mike T. said:The wheel on a grocery cart turns around BECAUSE of the trail. Push or pull a cart and the Trail moves the wheel in the opposite direction of the movement of the cart - just like a bike when we push it forward. They both have the tire contact patch behind the steering axis.