Front end chop

[knockdolian]

Hi all, hope everybody had fun in Dayton. I'm still considering front end options. After the Kewl cock up I'm staying this side of the pond. Anyway to the point, has anyone on the forum had a headstock chop and rake rather than a kit ?

[CanuckHoss]

That was definitely done before the Kewl Kit was available and maybe even after as a cheaper alternative....not a fan of messing with frames...

[knockdolian]

That was definitely done before the Kewl Kit was available and maybe even after as a cheaper alternative....not a fan of messing with frames...

Thanks Barry, I hear what your saying and respect your opinion. You know a lot more about these things than me. However as you say, it's been done so that's why I'm asking about results. Having spent my life savings on this I want to be happy with it. A kit isn't available and reading about frames braking beefing up the front seems a no brainier so why not take it at the same time. The photos of the NEW trike looked like it had a raked head ? I don't plan to take a saw to it myself !!! I'm just working out my potions at this time.

[CanuckHoss]

I think some necks on 2000 model 502's maybe broke?? I don't think any SBs had issues as they are about 200 lbs lighter up front..not sure...the 2001 and up stronger neck is a good piece of work. it is still a lot of work to replace the neck and then put more rake into it as you are looking to do.

Hopefully someone chimes in that has done this but I am guessing it has only been done by dealers and not individuals. I could be wrong as there are some very talented people here.

[knockdolian]

Again, thanks for taking the time to reply. It will be done professionally if it is done. Did you see the new trike I'm sure it has a raked neck from the photos ?

[CanuckHoss]

Again, thanks for taking the time to reply. It will be done professionally if it is done. Did you see the new trike I'm sure it has a raked neck from the photos ?

The "new" trike???

[knockdolian]

Again, thanks for taking the time to reply. It will be done professionally if it is done. Did you see the new trike I'm sure it has a raked neck from the photos ?

The "new" trike???

The factory one just unvaled at Daytona

[CanuckHoss]

This is the "new" trike...525HP same as bike...had Kewl Metal front end...rake without that front end no different from 2007 and up I believe...

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipP ... 94YjVNcFJn

[knockdolian]

That's the one. Maybe it's the angle of the photo. I can see they are Kewl trees but it doesn't Look like the kit. It looks like the headstock is the same angle as the forks. What I want is BH rear and v8 chopper front like Iron maidens

[2crzy]

Just a word of Caution!! As soon as you cut and modify any neck on a motorcycle you run into liability issues. If you get in an accident with it and someone gets hurt or killed, the lawyers and insurance companies will have a hay day. The necks are all engineered for the bike. As soon as you modify it you change the load and stress factors in the whole bike. You would need someone to sign off and guarantee the work before they even cut it.
The neck is 7040 casted steel to match the Chrome Moly frame tubes. The best way this could be done is to have a casted raked neck and a factory option when you order the bike. I'm, a welder myself and thought of doing it but I would build a whole new frame before cutting into the existing one. Kewl metal is probably a better choice for you. I hope they have theirs engineered. Just Saying !!

[CanuckHoss]

That's the one. Maybe it's the angle of the photo. I can see they are Kewl trees but it doesn't Look like the kit. It looks like the headstock is the same angle as the forks. What I want is BH rear and v8 chopper front like Iron maidens

It is the angle...I never heard anyone mention at all that the trike frame was raked differently...I never honestly looked that close...but those are Kewl Metal's trees...

Not sure what a springer front end like Susan's would look like on a Boss Hoss...I am assuming very fugly!! and it would not be cheap... Susan has one of the best looking and unique V8 Chopper trikes...I think anyways!!

[knockdolian]

2CRZY, I get everything you say. My trike is an early one 96 so wasn't a trike when it left the factory in the first place. It has the welded neck and not the cast one. Also has 2" forks not the upside down 63mm ones. I tried Kewl and bought the pre 99 kit. Unfortunately I failed to read the very small print that said "I need to buy 63mm forks as well" had a lot of fun getting my money back with that one. There are specialist trike building companies in UK Who have built some fantastic trikes. As the frame comes in three bits maybe BH could supply a front section complete with the required rake. I intend to get a company to do the work but asked the question to see if anyone had any issues with it good or bad.
Thanks

[2crzy]

Oh if it has a welded neck then take the front part of the frame out and get a whole new front section made.
That is a simple fix. The factory would not build you one that old with a different rake.

[CanuckHoss]

I believe with the newer style neck...2001 and up... it accepts only the inverted style trees...so more money needs to be spent on trees and inverted forks...I think

[knockdolian]

I believe with the newer style neck...2001 and up... it accepts only the inverted style trees...so more money needs to be spent on trees and inverted forks...I think

That's what I didn't want to hear !! Being poor white trash buying my trike wiped me out which is why I couldn't find a bit more to buy yours Barry. There must be people that have done this. I like the idea of getting a complete front frame made. What ever happens I'll let you know

[CanuckHoss]

I believe with the newer style neck...2001 and up... it accepts only the inverted style trees...so more money needs to be spent on trees and inverted forks...I think

That's what I didn't want to hear !! Being poor white trash buying my trike wiped me out which is why I couldn't find a bit more to buy yours Barry. There must be people that have done this. I like the idea of getting a complete front frame made. What ever happens I'll let you know

Look forward to your experiment...my famous last words again are "There is a lot to be said for STOCK" LOL good luck

[hogv8]

I think a raked front end looks cool but to me there are too many diadvantages . Turning radius is the biggest disadvantage and parking just to name a couple . No matter where you go you can't park your bike where the rest of the bikes are parked because it's just too long . You would have to park it in a car parking lot or find a parallel praking spot . .
I ride my bike everywhere and anywhere and at least size wise it fits right in with the rest of the bikes and for me a long bike just wouldn't fit in to my style of riding .

[Imzz4]

I think 2CRZY is right, don't cut it ,have a new front section made. It's .095 wall tubing. I used .125 and also went with Bill Alexanders recommendation of putting 1 1/4" tubing inside the front downtubes , since it was a trike with more load than a two wheeler sees when turning . It is a big job, but I was semi forced into it since under some bad paint patches, someone had ground very deeply into the frame with a 4 1/2" grinder .Who knows why. With that found in a few places , I had to do it. I also made the new front frame 2" longer to move the fan. I tried to stay conservative at 39 degrees and 6" trail. I would say keep doing your homework and look for the right place before you pull your wallet out.. Its empty , like mine!

[Iron Maiden]

I believe mountain Boss Hoss changes the rake of their front ends by changing the neck, instead of using the Kewl Metal to extend out the front end. If this is what you are looking to do then I would contact mountain Boss Hoss for more details. I hope this helps.

[CanuckHoss]

I believe mountain Boss Hoss changes the rake of their front ends by changing the neck, instead of using the Kewl Metal to extend out the front end. If this is what you are looking to do then I would contact mountain Boss Hoss for more details. I hope this helps.

Just sell him your trike Susan...all his problems would be solved!!

[Iron Maiden]

- all Kidding aside his trike was converted from a bike so if Paul uses mountains neck that is an 8 degree rake then that is his solution -right?

[CanuckHoss]

- all Kidding aside his trike was converted from a bike so if Paul uses mountains neck that is an 8 degree rake then that is his solution -right?

I am not 100% sure how Mountain does it...they keep the same strong neck but change the frame so the rake is in the frame?? Not sure...

[knockdolian]

Seems everybody is happy with 45 degree rake but nobody with the old forks have a raked front. I'll look for a company who would make me a front end complete then get a set of trees made with the correct take and off set to give me about 1.5" trail. I was hoping for numbers from people who have done this. won't be till winter as I plan to enjoy it this summer

[CanuckHoss]

Seems everybody is happy with 45 degree rake but nobody with the old forks have a raked front. I'll look for a company who would make me a front end complete then get a set of trees made with the correct take and off set to give me about 1.5" trail. I was hoping for numbers from people who have done this. won't be till winter as I plan to enjoy it this summer

That sounds damn expensive for someone who spent their last dollars on a trike...lol

[Carl La Fong]

New front frame section, new triple clamps, don't forget, you'll need longer fork tubes as well. Doesn't sound like a low budget deal to me. Also, I don't know how the UK feels about removing the VIN tag from the original front frame and switching it to another. The rivets are a specific style and are not readily available