spokewrench
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
I'm critical of my Radrunner, but I remember something I loved about it. With 3.3" tires at the recommended 30 PSI, steering was neutral. That is, it felt the same whether the bike was going straight or turning. When you lean, the front contact patch moves to that side. The drag steers the wheel to that side, establishing a turn whose centrifugal force keeps the bike from falling to that side. Trail limits how far a lean will turn the wheel. It tends to keep the wheel aligned with the direction of travel, like the front wheels of a grocery cart. It seems the 80mm of trail on the Radrunner was just just right to balance the side pull when the bike was leaning. Maintaining a turn required no steering pressure on the bars.
However, at lower tire pressures, leaning would cause the contact patch to move farther to the side. It was too much for the trail. You had to fight the pull on the bars. My Radmission has significantly more trail (110mm) and narrower tires (2"), but it, too, handles nicely.
When the Abound came out, more than one reviewer said steering was wobbly at speed. That's what I dislike about the bike. If I take a hand of the bars for a moment at 15 or 20, perhaps to return a wave, and I hit bumps, steering will oscillate dangerously. It has only 65mm of trail. Maybe that's not enough for the 2.4" tires. I wish I could increase trail.
I loved the Earles forks on BMW motorcycles prior to 1969. Each swingarm had more than one axle hole, allowing the rider to change trail. Now I've found a photo of a bicycle with an Earles fork. Think I could put one on my
Abound?
However, at lower tire pressures, leaning would cause the contact patch to move farther to the side. It was too much for the trail. You had to fight the pull on the bars. My Radmission has significantly more trail (110mm) and narrower tires (2"), but it, too, handles nicely.
When the Abound came out, more than one reviewer said steering was wobbly at speed. That's what I dislike about the bike. If I take a hand of the bars for a moment at 15 or 20, perhaps to return a wave, and I hit bumps, steering will oscillate dangerously. It has only 65mm of trail. Maybe that's not enough for the 2.4" tires. I wish I could increase trail.
I loved the Earles forks on BMW motorcycles prior to 1969. Each swingarm had more than one axle hole, allowing the rider to change trail. Now I've found a photo of a bicycle with an Earles fork. Think I could put one on my
Abound?
