Killer Shox / Front-end geometry
Cheater Tree
Change the geometry. Change the ride.
Quicker steering starts with the front end. Cheater Trees bring the front wheel closer, shift more load forward and revise the fork angle—designed for more responsive handling and suspension action.
Dyna / M8 Softail / 49mm forks. Confirm your exact bike before ordering.
Build the change. See the difference.
Start with the stock front end. Raise it, add Cheater Trees, then explore the adjustments. Every view uses American Suspension’s original drawings.
Dimensions belong to these illustrated examples. Your bike’s final geometry depends on its complete setup.
Start with the stock front end.
Original sheets shown separately. Each keeps its own scale and annotations.
The baseline
Look at the drawing
Find the green steering-axis line and the tire’s contact point. The gap along the ground is trail.
What it means on the bike
This is the starting relationship between steering, fork angle and wheel position. Use it as your baseline for the next two steps.
- Trail
- 6.1 in
- Wheel-position reference
- 16.7 in
From our original drawing
Height changes more than clearance.
Original sheets shown separately. Each keeps its own scale and annotations.
2 in higher / wheel farther forward
Look at the drawing
Compare the wheel position with stock. The height dimension grows from 37.2 to 39.2 inches, while the wheel moves forward.
What it means on the bike
Raising the front adds ground clearance, but also changes wheel position and trail. Our next step addresses that geometry.
- Trail
- 5.1 in
- Wheel-position reference
- 17.8 in
From our original drawing
Keep the height. Bring the wheel back.
Original sheets shown separately. Each keeps its own scale and annotations.
1.2 in closer than the raised example
Look at the drawing
Follow the new steering axis. The fork is more upright, and the wheel-position reference returns from 17.8 to 16.6 inches.
What it means on the bike
The design brings the front wheel closer and shifts load toward it. The intended result is more responsive steering with the raised stance retained.
- Trail
- 4.8 in
- Wheel-position reference
- 16.6 in
From our original drawing
Two settings. Different priorities.
Original sheets shown separately. Each keeps its own scale and annotations.
Choose your geometry priority
Look at the drawing
Switch between the two original eccentric drawings. Notice how wheel position and trail change together.
What it means on the bike
Eccentrics let the shop tune the geometry to the complete bike. Compare each option with the base Cheater Tree setting.
Bring the wheel closer.
The shorter-wheelbase example moves the wheel reference to 16.1 inches and shows 5.3 inches of trail. It prioritizes bringing the front wheel back.
- Trail
- 5.3 in
- Wheel-position reference
- 16.1 in
Choose less trail.
The alternate eccentric position shows 4.4 inches of trail and a 17.0-inch wheel reference. It prioritizes trail reduction instead of the shortest wheelbase.
- Trail
- 4.4 in
- Wheel-position reference
- 17.0 in
These are two different settings. The shortest wheelbase and the least trail do not happen together.
A more upright path through a bump.
Original sheets shown separately. Each keeps its own scale and annotations.
29° → 23° in the illustrated comparison
Look at the drawing
The original drawing puts the 29-degree stock fork beside the 23-degree Cheater Tree fork. Both examples move up one inch.
What it means on the bike
The more upright fork follows a different axle path as it compresses. That revised path is the basis of our improved fork-response explanation.
- Upward axle movement
- 1 in
- Stock: inward movement
- 0.55 in
- Cheater Tree: inward movement
- 0.42 in
For the 1-inch upward movement shown. This is a path comparison, not a measured traction or grip result.
The change starts inside the neck.
Original sheets shown separately. Each keeps its own scale and annotations.
See how the hardware creates the change
Look at the drawing
The shop photos show where the cups sit. Watch the film to see the stem and clamps assemble around that location.
What it means on the bike
The cup reference illustrates a 3-degree stem-angle change. Cups, trees and eccentrics work as a system; the installation and settings must match your kit.
From Killer Shox
See the parts come together.
Use the film chapters to follow the cups, stem and clamps, then watch the wheel-position comparison.
Select a chapter to cue the film. Use the player controls to watch or pause.
Watch alongside the drawings above. For the correct cup orientation, eccentric setting and installation procedure on your bike, ask the shop.
Open the video directly if it does not play in your browser.
Open video in a new tabA separate setup for the strip.
Original sheets shown separately. Each keeps its own scale and annotations.
3 in wheel-position change / lowered example
Look at the drawing
The final drawing compares two lowered front ends. The labeled wheel reference moves from 11.9 to 8.9 inches.
What it means on the bike
This is a distinct drag-race example, separate from the raised cornering setup. It is not a street-bike setup recommendation.
Real installation
On the bike
See the Cheater Tree in an actual workshop installation. This view shows its position around the fork tubes and steering stem. Use the product options to choose your setup.
Shop Cheater TreeRacing roots / American Suspension
Why “Cheater Tree”?
In the 1970s and early 1980s, some production-bike racers steepened lazy steering geometry by bending the frame’s steering neck back. According to the American Suspension team, riders sometimes passed the change off as crash damage. It was a shortcut to quicker steering—and the inspiration for the name.
Cheater Trees take that geometry idea into a purpose-built front end, without bending your frame. American Suspension has built parts in the USA since 1997, drawing on a team that has raced motorcycles since the 1970s.
From the billet to the bike.
Your bike comes first
Start with the right fit.
A bike family and fork diameter are the starting point. Your model, year, and current front-end setup need to match too.
Ask Killer Shox about your setupWhich bikes is this Cheater Tree listed for?
Dyna and M8 Softail with 49mm fork tubes. Use the fitment checker on the product page to enter your year, model, and fork setup. If your application needs confirmation, ask Killer Shox before ordering.
Do I need longer fork tubes?
The Cheater Tree is designed to add ground clearance using stock fork tubes. Confirm your exact front end with Killer Shox, especially if the bike already has suspension or geometry changes.
What do the cups and eccentrics do?
The cups locate the steering stem in the neck; the supplied cup-placement reference illustrates a 3-degree change. The eccentrics provide a further geometry adjustment. The drawings show separate settings for a shorter wheelbase and reduced trail—choose the setting with the shop for your complete bike.
Building a performance bagger?
Choose your Touring model year and actual fork diameter on the Cheater Tree product page. CT-14 covers 2014 and later Touring with 49 mm forks; CT-13 is for earlier Touring converted to 49 mm forks. The original key lock will not work, and a nacelle is not a direct fit.
Where do I get installation instructions?
Contact sales@killershox.com for the installation procedure and setup guidance for your exact bike. Include its year, model, fork diameter and front-end changes. The animation and drawings explain the design; the correct cup orientation and eccentric setting must match your installation.
No imports. No compromise.