Anyone runnin steering dampers on their cafe?

[hedrives]

I plan to run my 82 cb750 at Bonneville in 2011. Steering dampers are required to run there even if you run 50mph (don't laugh, I saw a Wizzer run 35 last summer). Anyway, I need to source one for my build so this thread is timely.

Found these two styles of dampers are very good prices
http://www.fastfromthepast.com/servlet/the-Steering-Dampers/Categories

 

[hurley209]

i just checked them out they look pretty rad man, im gonna consider them. thank you

 

[mathizar]

I have one I found rummaging around in old parts my dad has, I'll probably use it. Even though the DT360 is small, I figure it can't hurt, and will look cool. Probably a good idea anyways, with how much I have changed the geometry. Rake is a few inches shorter now. Plus it's free. Heh.

Matt

 

[Rocan]

You reckon a venturi restricting oil flow in a tube will help if you can't? I seriously doubt it. I'd rather research what bracing the racers of the day added, and do that. Spindly swingarm mounting and headstocks, large, relatively flexible frames and often inadequate brakes. All on machines that can (in their larger, worse handling versions) do over 200km/h. We must be mad!

The problem with a lot of these larger, older bikes is flawed frame design when compared to modern machinery. They're not designed to the same standards and are a lot heavier (in general) to boot. You throw that combination together at speeds in excess of 100mph and its not surprising that you get bad tendancies coming through.

I'm not knocking dampers, but you've got to be kidding yourself if you reckon they'll sort shithouse frame design out for you.

Hope that didn't come out arrogant, cheers guys and keep it safe - boingk

the damper isnt there to stop it once its started- its there to stop it before it EVER starts

and the frame is only part of it. ever see the video of the guy getting flung from his bike at over 150mph? he was on a modern sportbike.

 

[saucer]

i recently bought this one couldn't pass it up , $17, shipping is high from thailand, some of the guys are trying to get it in bulk,
i would say good quality , it's going to work great for my cb450,



http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370172615039&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

 

[hedrives]

i recently bought this one couldn't pass it up , $17, shipping is high from thailand, some of the guys are trying to get it in bulk,
i would say good quality , it's going to work great for my cb450,



http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370172615039&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

$34.99 shipping?
Jeez, I refuse to do that on general principle.

OTOH, let us know how the quality is on the part.

 

[scm]

if so, what results would you say you have had with them?

Yep, on my XT.
It had a nasty tendency to wobble on straights which is cured with the damper.
Handling in slow corners feels a bit "heavy" if it's closed too much.

Concerning the looks I'd suggest leave it away, bike is cleaner without it of course.

Best regards
Sven

 

[forcefanajd]

i recently bought this one couldn't pass it up , $17, shipping is high from thailand, some of the guys are trying to get it in bulk,
i would say good quality , it's going to work great for my cb450,



http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370172615039&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

the shipping is not high from thailand, they do that because they dont have to pay ebay fees on shipping charges so they just put the price low and jack up the shipping.

 

[xulf13]

the shipping is not high from thailand, they do that because they dont have to pay ebay fees on shipping charges so they just put the price low and jack up the shipping.

Sorry dude, But I would stay away from Thailand, Taiwan, china, cheap made stuff. I can tell you from experience that the quality of that product will be far from what it is intended to do. I at one point purchased a master cylinder, just like the one that same seller is selling under his other items and it turned out to be garbage. I thought i was doing something wrong when trying to bleed the brakes, but it turned out it was simply GARBAGE. My MC was always spongy and i literally had to pump the lever to build pressure in order to stop. Long story short. That MC gave out on me, in less than 2 weeks.

I had to threaten to give the selelr bad feedback and so on before i recived my so called no refund money.

I would not cheap out on such and important part specially if your bike is prone to wobble. for twice the amount you spent on that you could have had the real deal for arounf $80 to $90.

Sorry if i peed in anyone's cherrios

 

[forcefanajd]

Sorry dude, But I would stay away from Thailand, Taiwan, china, cheap made stuff. I can tell you from experience that the quality of that product will be far from what it is intended to do. I at one point purchased a master cylinder, just like the one that same seller is selling under his other items and it turned out to be garbage. I thought i was doing something wrong when trying to bleed the brakes, but it turned out it was simply GARBAGE. My MC was always spongy and i literally had to pump the lever to build pressure in order to stop. Long story short. That MC gave out on me, in less than 2 weeks.

I had to threaten to give the selelr bad feedback and so on before i recived my so called no refund money.

I would not cheap out on such and important part specially if your bike is prone to wobble. for twice the amount you spent on that you could have had the real deal for arounf $80 to $90.

Sorry if i peed in anyone's cherrios

i was not saying that it was a quality piece i was simply explaining why the shipping is so high, you wouldnt catch me dead running something of such importance from taiwan, thailand, or china.

 

[hurley209]

What about adapting a modern sport bike damper like ducati, yamaha, etc, to a cafe, has anybody tried, theres a bunch of good deals on used ones.

 

[Rocan]

What about adapting a modern sport bike damper like ducati, yamaha, etc, to a cafe, has anybody tried, theres a bunch of good deals on used ones.

the ones that mount to the triples? i was thinking about doing that... id have to get one in my hands and see how it mounts though.

only worry would be if the stiffness is too high.

 

[xulf13]

i was not saying that it was a quality piece i was simply explaining why the shipping is so high, you wouldnt catch me dead running something of such importance from taiwan, thailand, or china.

Sorry, I meant my reply for Saucer, since he bought one for his CB450. I meant to quote his post.

 

[DrJ]

I have my doubts about that damper from Thailand. That's just way too cheap to be a quality piece. The steel body NHK is the cheapest adjustable Japanese made damper available and will do a good job. But the tube mount is permanent, it doesn't slide up and down which limits the mounting options.

This is the one I use on my 350. Japanese, aluminum body. I bought it for $100 at a swap meet. Great investment.

I've been considering getting a top mount and fabbing brackets for it. Biggest advantage to them is the easy reach.

Another note, if you use a damper, it's very important to keep your front tire properly inflated. A soft tire will enhance the effect of the damper and will turn your steering into mush.

 

[saucer]

Sorry, I meant my reply for Saucer, since he bought one for his CB450. I meant to quote his post.

well for half the price i thought it's worth a try, i have it now, it's smooth , 7 settings, i'll keep you all posted once i'm riding,paying double for anything might ensure quality, the proof however is in the pudding,
some of us can pay $300 for rearsets some of us like to make our own out of bicycle parts, the proof is in the pudding,

 

[xulf13]

well for half the price i thought it's worth a try, i have it now, it's smooth , 7 settings, i'll keep you all posted once i'm riding,paying double for anything might ensure quality, the proof however is in the pudding,
some of us can pay $300 for rearsets some of us like to make our own out of bicycle parts, the proof is in the pudding,

yeah well I sure hope your pudding isn't fat free, yuck.

in my case, it's as if I tried fat free, and stayed away from fat free stuff ever since. I hope your part lasts you and doesn't dissapoint you. But if it does, please do tell us and don't keep it to yourself. Heck I felt dumb when it happened to me but I rather let people know as a warning.