Reducing trail of front end

I am looking for some advice on how to reduce the trail of my front end on my 1981 KZ1000 CSR. I want to use the bike with a side car and reduced trail will make the steering easier.
I was wondering if I could do it by using different triple trees, different forks, lowering front forks, and etc. Can my current triple trees be rebored to change the angle?
Anyone with any insight or knowledge along these lines?
Any advice or comments will be appreciated.

Hi SD,

I don't really know which forks come stock on your bike.

However if the axle is mounted at the end of the fork slider, you could swap the forks for a set of forks that have the axle attached to the front of the fork slider. This will reduce the trail fairly easily.

My KZ1100 Spectre has such forks.

Bill

81 CSR (if stock) has 38mm forks mounted at the leading edge of the slider.bj

:laugh:

whoops.should have said axle is at leading edge.sorry.bj

hocbj23 wrote:

whoops.should have said axle is at leading edge.sorry.bj

If that's the case you can still reduce the trail by switching to a set of triple clamps that were designed for a bike with the axle mounted on the end of the fork sliders.

Any KZ900 will yield these triple clamps. You'll have to check the fork centers before you buy but I believe the tube diameters are right.

With a NOD to PLUMMEN:

"Do not try this at home"

"Never modify the frame of any machine that was designed by a professional with a huge insurance policy that backed him up."

"Never operate a modified motorcycle on a publick roadway."

"Always wash your hands after visiting the restroom."

Truly, SD asked how to reduce trail. These measures will certainly do that while keeping rake constant. Will the bike be ridable and stable, he'll have to decide for himself. Plainly stated: I answered the question he asked. SD will have to undertake this modification on his own. Neither I or KZR accepted any remuneration for this answer.

SD, be careful!

Good Luck

Bill

lowering the forks 1 inch will also steepin the whole shooting match...insert fork spring preload spacers and you may be even steven .....as far as sag and ground clearence under front end braking imo...

i would read some blogs on side car conversions...done right they are a whole new animal and the donor bike is changed greatly to meet in the middle so to speak....i bet bmw and triumph sites would have blogs and write ups on the builds...you might learn that one unseen detail that makes the project sweetness...good luck..pictures of course...

KZCSI wrote:

Hi SD,

I don't really know which forks come stock on your bike.

However if the axle is mounted at the end of the fork slider, you could swap the forks for a set of forks that have the axle attached to the front of the fork slider. This will reduce the trail fairly easily.

My KZ1100 Spectre has such forks.

Bill

My forks have the axle mounted in fron of the forks.

i showed my gal a side hack that was parked...and she said "no way"...

i guess the only thing worse than being on the back of my bike when i'm breaking laws....would be to be hung out there into no mans land with no control over it....at least now she has the nut punch emergency brakes at her bekon....

There's an easier way to reduce trail

---

40mph into a brick wall :blink: :blink: :blink: :blink: :blink:

I think a smaller front wheel might do it too. Reduce trail, that is.