What is Triple clamp offset?

[MikeT]

Some basic bike geometry questions.

1) Where is triple clamp offset measured from and to? How does more or less effect the bike?

2) What is rake? Is this the degree angle measured from vertical that the forks are swept out at??

3) What is trail? where is this measured from and to? How does this effect the bike???

Thank you for all your answers. :thumb:

 

[biglou]

Did some searching, here's what I came up with.  Note: The picture was stolen from BRP's site. 

Triple clamp offset is how far forward a line between the two fork tube centers is from the center of the steering head, as viewed from the top.  See the pic for offset.

Rake is the angle between the headset tube and a vertical line. Increasing the rake will move the front tire farther from the bike. Rake is measured in degrees, and is a frame specification. To visualize trail, draw an imaginary line along the path of the headset tube to the ground. Measure from this point to the center of the tire patch. This is trail, and is measured in inches.

Here's a good link for rake and trail: http://www.tonyfoale.com/Articles/RakeEx/RakeEx.htm

Here's a pic of offset:

 

[MikeT]

Lou, That is a fantastic article!! Thanks.

 

[MikeT]

So with a given axle offset to fork tube, when you change the rake angle, the trail will also change..... Pretty interesting tests they did.