1) For zero lateral movement, it seems you would have to have zero rake.
2) Without rake, I think it would be difficult to ride a motorcycle at speed, as it is the lateral movement that sets the lean into a turn (i.e. counter steering). In fact, on a motorcycle streamliner, it would be extremely difficult to steer because the rider is strapped in tightly and cannot lean. The rake of the front wheel is what initiates the lean and hence the steering.
3) Now on a motorcycle sidecar streamliner, you might think that it will steer like a car, but without any rake (caster), it might be hard to keep it in a straight line.
Tom
Thanks Tom. Let me take these one at a time:
1) You are correct. I should have said that I need zero lateral movement
from the steering axis of inclination.
2) On a sidecar streamliner (SCS) lean is the very LAST thing I want! With rake (or caster) I'll get a change in camber, but anything else would present as bump steer. I believe that a three-wheeled motorcycle DOES steer more like a car than a bike. I don't know that from experience, but I suspect that riders of CanAms and other trikes figure it out very quickly.
3) No question. I WILL need what's called rake and trail on a motorcycle or caster on an automobile. Zero degrees rake and zero trail (or zero caster) would be a disaster. I'll probably have to find the sweet spot the old fashioned way: try, adjust, repeat over and over until I find what I want.
I DO appreciate your thoughtful comments. Thanks!
Dean
