What is the relationship between motorcycle rake and trail?

[timmarkling]

I'm trying to understand the physics behind the rake and trail of the steering geometry on a bike. I would greatly apreciate any leads as to which section of a first physics course I would find relavent material.

Thank you,
Tim

 

[Kurdt]

All you really need is some trigonometry and a nice diagram. There is some info on wiki that links to other sources. The following is quite a nice discussion.

http://www.tonyfoale.com/Articles/RakeEx/RakeEx.htm