Originally Posted by
Ronno6
Thanks, ClemY, Your numbers are not too different from mine. Per the published specs, the original wheelbase is 42.7" Wheel and tire size assumptions are correct.
The original fork actually had a rake of 2.13", or 54mm. Trail was 2.15", or 54.6mm.
Thanks,too, unterhausen. If the canti and rack bosses complicate reshaping the forks, I'm just as well off to go with the hi-ten fork that only lacks 5mm of trail from being a virtual match for the original, but lacks mid-blade mounts and has only 1 set of dropout fender bosses (same as forks 1 and 2.) I could make that one work.
If I find I like the 25" frame better than the 27" 'Dale I've been riding, I could eventually spring for a custom-built fork-unless I find an original 25" or 27" frame fork without a frame!
Do you have the original fork? If you do, and it is in good shape, it can be bent, if you desire, even though it has brake pegs. The forks I had bent all have brake pegs. If you have a "new" fork, for me, dropout bosses are more important than mid-blade mounts. I find I prefer a full front rack because I put a nice bag on it. And with the reduction in trail, having high mounted panniers works just fine. The low trail bikes handle much better than the old high trail setup.