ChopperCharles
Active Member
Yes, shortening the front suspension will decrease the trail, but you've decreased the stem-to-fork offset quite a bit. The old forks had a big offset from the steering stem to the fork tubes. The new forks you have, they're almost in the same plane. That increases trail by a very large amount. Lowering the bike in the front will decrease trail by a smaller amount. You *may* be able to compensate for the offset by lowering the front of the bike, and you might even get close to stock trail numbers (for the original frame) that way. But it's highly unlikely you'll be able to get anywhere near a trail number low enough to require a steering damper. You'll have to take measurements and do the calculations, but in all likelihood, the steering damper will prove to be unnecessary, and you'll save some weight by leaving it off.
Charles.
Charles.