Ping TOG & other experts - Scrambler steering

A while back, in "Re: Hard decision - choosing a bike"
you wrote some unflattering things about the Hinckley
Triumph Scrambler, including:

Meanwhile I'm planning to build a Bonneville around
an '07 Scrambler frame, and -- assuming no frame geometry
changes between '07 and '09 [?] -- I found the following
comparative specs [on www.totalmotorcycle.com]:

Rake [degrees] / Trail [mm] / Wheelbase [mm]

'09 Bonneville 27/106/1453
'09 Scrambler 27.8/105/1500

I'm no expert on the effects of steering geometry
on handling so I need to ask - how significant are
these differences? Will I always have "odd steering"?
IOW is this whole project doomed to disappointment.

Any help appreciated
TIA, SQ
'06 Zuk S40 / '85 Dnepr MT-11 / various salvage cases

 

<snip>

WTF is this, changing your name every other day?

 

Sean wanted to find out which reeky asshole would be the first to
complain.

You're IT!

 

Uh, oh I just read TOG's "classic status" formula,
and it looks like an '07 Triumph Bonneville wouldn't
meet the minimum 100 points to qualify for mention on
this forum -- I cross posted here because it has some
classic styling cues.

Anyway, I've also got a bike that stands a better
chance of qualifying, my Soviet-built Dnepr+sidecar.

Age = 25 years

How good was it when it was new = ?
(what does "good" mean? Quality control wasn't great,
it only does 50 mph max and it has lots of funky
qualities (maybe that's a good thing, however).
It's also got reverse gear and is easy to wrench on,
so can we say 2 for "goodness"?

Special interest multiplier = 2 because everyone who
sees it is interested. Especially people from Eastern Europe.

So 25 x 2 x 2 = 100, meaning that it barely meets TOG's
Classicness Threshold.

SQ
'06 Zuk S40 / '85 Dnepr MT-11 / various salvage cases

 

Not mine, actually. Though I think it's pretty good.

 

IMO the wheel/tyre/riding position choice plays a significant part in
the Scrambler's oddness.

 

More rake, fractionally less trail, but a whopping increase in
wheelbase.

Should make for something significantly less reluctant to turn. My guess
is they first experimented by bolting trail wheels and high wide bars
onto a standard Bonneville frame, wound up with something a bit twitchy
due to the altered weight distribution (to say nothing of the change in
wheels) and thought: "Hm, we need to calm this thing down a bit."

 

Champ's, IIRC.

 

<snip>

Just out of interest, how is this project coming along now?

 

It's only twelve days ago.
Just about long enough to decide on what spanners to use.
Time slows down on a rebuild /special.

 

Vigra merchants seem popular.

Oh, as you were - *SPANNERS*.