Adjustable trail fork

[Blacklabbikes]

Having a think about MTB geometry and the push for slack head angles and stable handling has led me down a trail (excuse the pun) of thought.

I was thinking about building an experimental rig to play with the extremes of steep head angle with lots of rake or vise-versa etc - someone must have been there already?


P.S. Hi all - I'm finally returning to building after a 10 year gap!

[Blacklabbikes]

Apologies for the bad form.

Joe Rowing.

[e-RICHIE]

Welcome back Joe. Hopefully one of the off-road folks can add a reply.

[Blacklabbikes]

Thanks Richie

It has been a while but hopefully all will fall back into place swiftly enough!

Joe Rowing

[steve garro]

Thanks Richie

It has been a while but hopefully all will fall back into place swiftly enough!

Joe Rowing

I have experience with two forms of this - the old Moots fork, which had three dropout slots on the front for three settings, and the Bontrager "Dinosaur Head" ones that had a horizontal slot for adjustment.


I messed with trail / rake a ton.


I also experimented with "how short of chain stays ride well"


- Garro.

[Blacklabbikes]

that's interesting Garro - any conclusions?
Joe Rowing

[steve garro]

that's interesting Garro - any conclusions?
Joe Rowing

Interestingly enough, with a 71* HT* I always deferred to the setting with the most rake - less would tuck under & dive - but, the setting that was farthest out was likely 1.75" of rake, which is right where many modern forks are - 44-45mm = What's interesting is that many modern MTB's have returned to what the original Klunkers were - 67-69* HT* with 2" of rake.....51mm.....


- Garro.

[Blacklabbikes]

Thanks - That echos my thoughts exactly. I think the steeper angles were driven by the push to lightweight, performance XC machines and we're heading back to fun,do it all machines.

Joe Rowing