Has any of you done this? I'm swapping out the stock triple tree on my DLS for the DB triple tree. I want the reduced rake.

 

i think they are wider too. No reason you cant do it, go for it

 

Is the fork length the same?

 

Your bike (FXDLS) has a Raked (steering head) (deg) 30.5. In order for HD to get your rake to a manageable Trail of 5.1 in they have to change the steering stem offset and rake the trees +1.5 degrees. Look at the pictures or use an angle finder found in Home Depot for around $7.00.

Putting on a straight through non raked set of trees of a FXSB that has a Rake (steering head) (deg) 29 onto your bike (FXDLS) that has a Raked (steering head) (deg) 30.5 and will increase your trail and make your cruiser handle worse in turning but better for less steering input while cruising than it does now. A simple trip to one of those on-line rake and trial calculators found on my site or many other web sites should have been your first stop to figure your rake and trail as well as seeing how this change will affect your handling. You will find the results will increase your trail. It is now up to you to figure out if you really wish to make this modification.

 

Put them on, take it for a ride, see if you like it.

 

FWIW...

The FXDLS and FXDB use the same frame (both 29°)and same fork tube length

Different Raked Trees though as you know...0° vs. 1.5° along with different steering stem offset (but same 8.5" Midglide width)


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Correct. From what I have gathered from Harley Davidson, this modification should not have have negative impact on handling.

 

I have used a few of those rake/trail web sites. I notice some take into consideration the offset from the center of the neck to the center of the legs (as in how much the legs are forward or aft of the neck) and it also plays a factor in what the trail becomes.

 

This is RB racing's rake and trail calculator, its the one I used when playing with my chassis.

https://www.rbracing-rsr.com/advchoppercalc.html

: Mike

 

After number crunching and double checking, I should lose about an inch of trail. The FXDLS has a rake of 30.5 and a trail of 5.1". I'll drop to 29 degrees in rake and trail right at 4". That's right about what I was looking for. Lose a small amount of stability for a small gain in handling. I ride twisties more than I do freeway and do so aggressively. I'll take it. Once I get the project done, I'll post up pictures and give my thoughts. There is quite a bit that I am doing with my bike to make it "mine", with changing geometry up front the most significant.