I own a 2019 Speed Triple RS. I love this motorcycle. It feels solid on the road, planted might be a good descriptive word... This with a 22.9 degree rake! (3.59 inch trail). Why is this "planted"? The definition of unstable is a steep rake, is it not? This isn't meant to open a conversatuon about dampers again, suffice it to say dampers are a benefit when needed, I'm just curious about why one of the steepest rakes in the industry is stable. Speed Triple 22.9 Ducati Monster 23.3 Aprillia Tuono 24.7 BMW S1000R 23.9 BMW S1000RR 23.1 (Ok so, apparently it IS the steepest rake I've found in my short list, and steeper than a superbike s1000rr) I love my Speed Triple, it rides great, but Explain "planted", "stable", please How is the geometry of this awsome motorcycle so behaved. Anyone have a different opinion?
It's not so much the rake, as where the geometry of the turning point and the contact patch of the front wheel lands. If these are in the wrong position to each other ( which can be caused by rake) then you have instability.
Rake degrees, trail inches: Speed Triple 22.9, 3.59 Ducati Monster 23.3, 3.4 Aprillia Tuono 24.7, 3.9 BMW S1000R 23.9, 3.8 BMW S1000RR 23.1, 3.7
I'm surprised nobody replied with... Steep rake is what you want on a hooligan bike, It makes it flickable! Also, Street Triple is only 24.8 / 4.11. Speed is the rakiest of them all!
Rake is only part of the story. Wheel size affects trail as does axle placement relative to the steering axis ......before you include fork length. Bedtime reading: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_and_motorcycle_geometry
Professor please connect the important dots, I am admittedly in too deep to grasp the subtleties... hence the post!
Also undermoose how about figures for front and rear weight loading? I think you are trying to (initially) isolate one aspect (rake) of motorcycle geometry when ultimately other factors and compromises have to be made. It's a bit like car steering, castor, KPI, camber, offsets, corner weights, engine position, front/rear/four wheel drive all have to be taken into account. Then of course you have tout and turns to consider!!!! I think you get the idea.
Caster is trail and just like a caster on a chair the faster you accelerate it the more it wobbles, the Speed twin handles so nicely because it's on the edge and does not have enough power to make it shake it will shake a little if you are small like me but it amounts to nothing where as my old 1000 K5 Gixxer will rip my arms off with its 187 BHP.
Do you think Triumph planned this all out or just winged it and said, "this should work! I'm am staring at the rake degrees lol, it's true!
It's about creating a balance and best compromise...... winging it would most unlikely give a good result.
I agree, my humor escapes even me at times, but that balance comment of yours.... Give me a steering damper!
Re-reading that i could have worded it better..... Winging it really wouldn't work when discussing geometry as what you gain in one area you lose elsewhere. Think about older bikes and there really were some monsters in terms of handling. Also the intended use is vast from track days to touring. I suppose it all comes down to sales quantities and so it has to suit the 95th percentile man etc.
