Leading vs Trailing front axle

[RedRider_AK]

What are the differences between the two? Just wondering about the theory on this stuff.

[Kilborg]

With a trailing axle, you will have a bit more stability especially at higher speeds. You wont have to fight the bars as much to get out of single tracks and overall, its simply a better setup. Much easier to handle as far as a performance aspect.

However, a leading axle has its benefits as well..The bike will turn sharper for one thing, but lose stability at speed and your more prone to follow the ruts your in. It does give a touch more wheelbase and depending on what your doing that small increase can make a difference in certain hillclimbs.

All in all, the general concencus amongst most trikers is that the trailing front axle is far superior.

[RedRider_AK]

All right, thanks! I'm just wondering what setup to use in my ATC70 front suspension fork.

[Kilborg]

Its hard to explain, so its best left to rider experience. Motocross bikes all tend to have leading axles. Different animal, but just goes to show you, no one setup is the be all end all.

Try to get some seat time on similar machines with leading/trailing designs.

[blue27]

Heres is a pick of my ATC70 front suspension project, I went with leading for length and coolness factor. lol They are XR 80 forks, I am almost mone with this projecyt then I can tear it down for paint.

[BigGreenMachine]

Cool 70! Dig the shorty front fender.

What design, leading vs trailing is best for jumping?

[RedRider_AK]

Heres is a pick of my ATC70 front suspension project, I went with leading for length and coolness factor. lol They are XR 80 forks, I am almost mone with this projecyt then I can tear it down for paint.

Are XR and XL 80 forks the same? If so, we've got similar ideas! I have a set of XL80 forks to use on my Sus-70 project.

[blue27]

I am not sure, but originally the A+ frrames had XR75 forks and the axle mounted on the bottom. Here is a pic of my A+ when I got it and a pic off the one I had with just the A+ front forks. Both were XR 75, but I have switched to the XR 80 forks because of the leading axle look. On the one with the blue seat I installed a Lifan 110 Manual Clutch Electric start motor and rebuilt the forks with a 3/4 inch spacer on top of the spring and 20w oil for us "larger than intended riders" lol

[RedRider_AK]

rebuilt the forks with a 3/4 inch spacer on top of the spring and 20w oil for us "larger than intended riders" lol

Ahh, right on brother. Did you have to make custom triple clamps, or did the XR 80 forks fit into the XL75 clamps on the A+ rolling chassis?

[blue27]

The XR80 forks are the same size as the 75 forks so they fit right into the A+ triple clamps. The Triple clamps were made by A+ and came with the frame.

[RedRider_AK]

Ahh! I gotcha. I will probably have to make custom clamps for mine.

[blue27]

Yeah if dont have anything now. I have looked at a couple of different ideas from cutting a set of XR tripples and adding in a piece to make them wider to trying some off a 200x. Nothing is a bolt up. I might be welding in a head tube from a 200x frame on a stock 70 frame if the guy finds a set of forks to use (200x way to long and a 33mm the xr's are 27 mm). If you want I can send some pics and measurements to you of the A+ triples. The next time I take it off I will snap some pics.

[RedRider_AK]

Jeez, I've heard of people custom making 200X triples and forks fit on the ATC110 chassis, but even then they had to lower the forks about 2 inches to get the ride height dialed in. Actually, you should look to see if KTM 80SХ (might have been 85 or 70 or something like that) will fit in the 200X triples. I've heard that those forks are perfect for the "full-suspension" 70's.

[BigGreenMachine]

Any progress on your project Blue27?