Hi Mark, what was the trail of the F models with the shorter 50mm offset on the clamps.? In your opinion, what is the ideal offset for one of these bikes ofr both, spirited riding and highway riding.? Trail number would probably do.... I used to ride hard with my wife on the back and she loved it, never used stock rear pegs on the Honda or the center stand, they scrape to easily....
Roger that center stand, mine was almost gone at one point!
The trail I like best is about 3.80"-3.90". I control mine via air forks and estimation of weight on the rear, adjusting the spring notches to set the ride height for what I am about to do. Above 4.00", the handling feels heavy in the twisties, below 3.50" it feels twitchy above 50 MPH. At present, my fork bushings are severely worn (0.011" clearance!), so I am in the process of designing new ones from bearing bronze (which will one day appear on my website, for the rich...).
The published trail on the "F" bikes varied, depending on who was publishing the info, but the neck rake is supposed to be the same. Best way to know is to measure it: with bot wheels on the ground, strap a yardstick to the fork lowers to reach the ground on the centerline of the axle, then drop a plumb line down from the axle to the ground. Measure the distance between those 2 spots for your number. It's easy to repeat, later.
On my K2 (with Vetter fairing attached), I know that 3 PSI in the forks with top (softest) rear spring notch yields 3.75"-3.85" trail, with these new Avon Roadriders (110-90 rear, 100-90 front). At 7 PSI in the forks, this becomes nearly 4.00". With 150 lbs in the seat (me, dressed to ride), this 4.00" becomes 3.80", still on softest rear spring notch. This is my solo ride setting, usually. When I ride 2-up, people only, I use 10 PSI up front and middle notch in back, which takes it to about 3.75". With touring loads, I would run 12 PSI up front with 4th (or 5) notch in back, netting about 3.9" when on the road.
I should mention that I use a 1" preload tube in each fork, and the rear springs are 110 lbs./inch rate.