can anyone help me out here? I bought 3 degree cups for my 2003 wideglide and lowered the rear an inch. Stock rake on my bike is 32 and none of it is in the trees like the 06 models. So this will technically put me at 35 and According to the calculators this will put me at a little over 6 inches of trail. If I get 3 degree trees this should put me at 38 rake and back to 4.6 trail which is exactly what I'm looking for and if I get the stop right I shouldnt have problems with tank/speedo clearance with 6 inch straight risers and drag bar. So question is, what trees? Unless I'm missing something, putting an inch between raked trees with fork cups will prevent the fork holes from lining up correctly won't it? Any suggestions besides having trees custom made? I have read some of the post on here and figured you are the guys to talk to but I havent seen this done yet on stock 03 and earlier wide glide.

Any pics would be cool if there are any out there!

Thanks folks, I'm new to this forum but i've liked what i've read so far.

 

I did a quick check and your calcs on trail seem about right. If i understand your question (and not sure i do), i don't think you'd have a problem with fork holes lining up. The cups add more rake but the "trees don't know the cups are there" - if that makes sense. However, you would need a longer fork stem to accomodate the extra distance added by the cups. i bought raked cups (from vulcan works) for my '08 fxd and installed and then removed because i didn't like the extra distance between the top and bottom tree. looked outta place with the short stock forks. You may need longer forks if you add a total of 6 degrees of rake.

 

Thanks for the reply bro. I have the longer stem but I am still perplexed about the trees. This may sound crazy but i can see the trees not knowing the distance between them IF they have no rake.. but if they are raked trees it seems that an inch difference between them would throw the alignment of the holes for the tubes off. Does that seem right?

T

 

Now i see your point and i think you're right. Since a line drawn thru the fork stem and a line drawn thru the fork tubes are not parallel in a raked tree, increasing the distance between the top and bottom tree would mean the forks wouldn't line up in the holes.

 

Sad but true... I called Joe at vulcan today and he confirmed it. It won't work. I think it would have been a killer set up with 38 degrees 4.6 of trail and a level bike sitting an inch or so lower than stock but it looks like I can't get it there unless I cut the frame. If mine wasnt the anniversary edition I would think about it but I like the idea of always going back to stock if I wanted.

On a different note, I did find out something kinda cool.. My cousin is an engineer and he worked a formula that showed exactly how much longer forks would have to be for each degree of rake increase to keep the bike level. It was pretty interesting to look at it that way. If you come across anyone needing the numbers let me know.

T

 

Post up the numbers and have it stickied!

 

doesnt traveler ( i think that is his name) have raked cups and trees on his bike

 

Yup, 3* cups and 3* trees with a 21" wheel, it looks awesome too!