[amos]

Why don't motorcycles have straight steering stems?

 

[Harryc]

Don't understand your question as the stems are always straight. Do you mean why don't motorcycles have a 0* rake angle? Some basic motorcycle design geometry terms are explained at this link.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_and_motorcycle_geometry

 

[John Hopkins]

I'm not sure I could ride a bike without a rake angle.

John.

 

[80130]

If you're referring to the fact that the 'steering stem' is not 'even' with the forks, I believe that's so the bike can have a tighter turn radius.

 

[7xclm]

Riding a bike with no rake. Not me.

 

[smilie]

I heard they started putting a rake on a bike just after they determined the wheel should be round. Along about the same time they decided brakes were better than just crashing when you wanted to stop.

 

[swifty2014]

Good thing all the steering geometry was figured out by smart engineers or at 80+ MPH you would be wishing you were driving your car instead of two wheels balancing your body.
Remember the older shopping carts in the super market that would wobble like crazy as you push it through the store, and at NO miles per hour ???

 

["Captain D"]

Spring IS COMING!!!

I have a date too!

March 20, 2015 is officially equinox of the planets alignment...


We NEED To RIDE!!!

 

[jwinker]

Spring IS COMING!!!

I have a date too!

March 20, 2015 is officially equinox of the planets alignment...


We NEED To RIDE!!!

My birthday is March 19th. I can promise you, March 20th is an arbitrary date that is only mathematically closer to the start of the season, not the actual start of the season, despite what the alignment of the planets has to say about it.

For over 30 years of memories, I cannot remember a single birthday party that wasn't threatened by snow, ice, cold, and gloom. Even the year I was born, my oldest brother had to drive my mother to the hospital in a blizzard. Dad was repairing downed power lines.

Sure would be nice to live not-here........

 

[Furball Zen]

I heard they started putting a rake on a bike just after they determined the wheel should be round. Along about the same time they decided brakes were better than just crashing when you wanted to stop.

Was this before or after they also decided the cart should be in front of the horse to shield the horse?

 

[amos]

No I understand rake, trail, etc. Why isn't the steering stem a straight round rod? You could then use the same bearings top and bottom, no machining "steps" into it, or slopes. Looks like it would be cheaper and faster to produce. Just wondering

 

[swifty2014]

Not sure why the engineers decided that configuration but I think about the older cars with rear wheel drive and the front wheel bearings always had a larger inner bearing and smaller outer bearing. Most likely the larger one would carry the load better in the position it was , especially under twisting and turning. Also the suspension had a caster camber, inclination angle to it. A lot the same with the motorcycle rake and other steering load angles.

 

["Captain D"]

Enginers ALWAYS improve things... NOT!

No I understand rake, trail, etc. Why isn't the steering stem a straight round rod? You could then use the same bearings top and bottom, no machining "steps" into it, or slopes. Looks like it would be cheaper and faster to produce. Just wondering

My 65 & 66 Ironhead sportsters use the same bearings top, bottom and both frames...
Modern engineers don`t impress me much with some of these changes they make to "Fix things"><"that weren`t broke"

welcome