You’ll see terms mentioned, marketed, and touted throughout the Trike world. Some are general concepts applicable to, but not exclusive to Trikes. Here are some of the more commonly used terms, concepts and consequences.
You’ll see terms mentioned, marketed, and touted throughout the Trike world. Some are general concepts applicable to, but not exclusive to Trikes. Here are some of the more commonly used terms, concepts and consequences.
Solid Axle Suspension: type of beam-axle suspension system utilizing a single shaft to connect both wheels. Some manufacturers offer this type exclusively.
Independent Suspension: broad term for a suspension system that allows each wheel on the same axle to move vertically (i.e. reacting to a bump in the road) independently of each other. Requiring more parts to manufacture, Independent setups are usually more expensive than a Solid Axle setup. Many companies offer both Independent and Solid. Some make claims which system is better and why.
Frame Rake: angle in degrees of the steering neck from the vertical cord.
Overall Rake: angle in degrees of the fork tube from vertical. Overall Rake equals Frame Rake if the triple trees have zero offset. Raked Triple Trees will change Overall Rake without changing the Frame Rake.
Trail: a mathematical relationship, measured in inches or centimeters, between the front tire’s contact patch on the ground and Frame Rake. Named as such because the tire’s contact patch trails (behind) the steering axis. For simplicity, trail (on a motorcycle, Trike or grocery shopping cart) equals the distance measured between a vertical line from the center of the front axle (this is the same as the tire contact patch) to the ground and the intersection of the centerline of the steering neck and ground. Trike Trail measurements generally fall between 3 and 6+ inches, even for two wheelers. Trail is also the leverage the tire has (and vice versa) on the steering.
Less Trail: more responsive handling, especially at slow speeds, but at higher speeds can develop a dangerous wobble; twitchy and responsive.
More Trail: steering will feel heavy at all speeds, but adds stability to the Trike; harder to turn requiring more muscle.
Triple Trees: the group of parts connecting the forks to the frame (neck; steering axis); holds each fork tube. Triple Trees can have angles more, less or equal to the steering neck.
Raked Triple Trees: triple trees that, in most cases of Trikes, increase the angle of the fork tubes and therefore Overall Rake. Raked Triple Trees are the easiest and safest way to change frontend geometry, reduce Trail and strike a balance between handling and steering effort. Usage depends on make, model, riding style, and overall setup of the Trike.
Pogo Effect: side-to-side motion and wobble inherent in a triangulated geometry. Affected by Rake and Trail, fork length, and suspension setup.
Head Shake: wiggling of the front wheels/handlebars at slow speeds caused in part by the stationary rear wheels and small frontend Trail; also referred to as the “Shopping Cart Effect.”
Steering Dampener/Stabilizer: a straight damper resembling a telescoping shock absorber, operating in a similar manner. One end of the damper mechanism mounts to the triple tree, the other to the frame thereby providing frontend stability.
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