In motorcycling, rake refers to the angle of the forks from a true vertical position. Rake is measured counterclockwise from true vertical when viewed from the right side. A 0° rake would be considered vertical. Choppers are often referred to as being “raked-out” because their forks are fixed at a more forward angle. Some states have requirements as to the minimum and maximum rake a motorcycle is permitted to have for safe operation. Rake effects both the stability of the vehicle and steering “quickness”.
The 1997 Kawasaki ZX-6R has a rake of 24° as an example.
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