CB 350 Steering Damper

[phaetn]

There's a stronger clamp that I'm going to try from Speedmoto Co.:
http://www.speedmotoco.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=TR+FBS
They indicate it could be used for attaching a damper. [shrug] I can definitely see that it would be a weak point and that with any real force it could either sheer or just twist on the tube, effectively rendering the point to a damper moot. I'll just have to try it and see.

I agree that welding is the best: Right now I'm attached to the frame via a preexisting welded tab. The problem is that it is positioned so far forward that travel of the damper is limited, meaning there's very reduced movement of the bars to the right (nowhere close to lock). It doesn't pose a problem when riding -- with any kind of speed at all you can get enough lean angle to make any turn -- but it's more when manoeuvring with feet down that it's a pain. I can also see it being a problem for an emergency manoeuvre in near stopped traffic:

cgguy09, I know this is the same position as you use (with the same damper, too) but that you used a long bolt and a coupler to go all the way through the hole and out the other side. I ended up angle grinding/dremelling the little tube that was between the two tabs so I could use only on the original eye bolt. It took some work because of the limited and awkward space, but I eventually got it.

As for the leaking damper, the supplier is sending another and I wont squeeze it quite so hard and so far forward with the clamp this time.

Cheers,
phaetn

 

[Bert Jan]

I also notice the dual disc brake calibers.......(Jealous)

its a 550 with 750 lowers. First i wanted to cafe it, then it was an endurance racer, then a bobber and now its a tracker. frame is at the coater as we speak. dual disks are gone btw, i run a single 320mm with 4 piston caliper on it.

 

[cgguy09]

There's a stronger clamp that I'm going to try from Speedmoto Co.:
http://www.speedmotoco.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=TR+FBS
They indicate it could be used for attaching a damper. [shrug] I can definitely see that it would be a weak point and that with any real force it could either sheer or just twist on the tube, effectively rendering the point to a damper moot. I'll just have to try it and see.

I agree that welding is the best: Right now I'm attached to the frame via a preexisting welded tab. The problem is that it is positioned so far forward that travel of the damper is limited, meaning there's very reduced movement of the bars to the right (nowhere close to lock). It doesn't pose a problem when riding -- with any kind of speed at all you can get enough lean angle to make any turn -- but it's more when manoeuvring with feet down that it's a pain. I can also see it being a problem for an emergency manoeuvre in near stopped traffic:

cgguy09, I know this is the same position as you use (with the same damper, too) but that you used a long bolt and a coupler to go all the way through the hole and out the other side. I ended up angle grinding/dremelling the little tube that was between the two tabs so I could use only on the original eye bolt. It took some work because of the limited and awkward space, but I eventually got it.

As for the leaking damper, the supplier is sending another and I wont squeeze it quite so hard and so far forward with the clamp this time.

Cheers,
phaetn

Hey friend,
It looks like we've got the same setup. I still have full motion in my handle bars. I was able to slide the clamp on the damper to the top (which it appears you too have done) maybe my coupling nut kicks out the damper enough to give it room.... I still owe a pick.

The pre welded tube on the frame looks pretty Mickey Mouse, but I think it's as solid as anything else on the bike....lets be honest, these bikes are held together more by our hopes and dreams, than by 1970s Japanese welding.

 

[phaetn]

Ha!

Actually I'm sure yours is stronger than mine: you have the benefit of the two tabs since you're using a long bolt that goes through both of them. I think you're right, with the coupler you probably gain a bit of an angle and therefore travel on the damper.

I'm okay with it -- it's mainly just an issue in parking lots.

 

[phaetn]

Well, it took me ages to get an M8 coupler with a 1.25 pitch thread, but I finally got my hands on one. (Only one place in town has them -- well, actually two, but the latter only sells them in a bag of 100!).

I tried it and it makes the whole damper stick out way too far for my liking. All the dangly bits are hanging out and, what's worse, flop around when moving the bars. With no fairings my bike is naked, but I don't want it THAT naked. My damper tucks in very nicely under the tank...

I ended up using a rotary tool to make things really flush on the inside of the closest tab so I can get as much extension on the original eyebolt as possible. So far so good. I'm still waiting on a replacement because this one leaked out oil, but it should be on its way on a slow boat from China Thailand.

Cheers,
phaetn

 

[cgguy09]

Well, it took me ages to get an M8 coupler with a 1.25 pitch thread, but I finally got my hands on one. (Only one place in town has them -- well, actually two, but the latter only sells them in a bag of 100!).

I tried it and it makes the whole damper stick out way too far for my liking. All the dangly bits are hanging out and, what's worse, flop around when moving the bars. With no fairings my bike is naked, but I don't want it THAT naked. My damper tucks in very nicely under the tank...

I ended up using a rotary tool to make things really flush on the inside of the closest tab so I can get as much extension on the original eyebolt as possible. So far so good. I'm still waiting on a replacement because this one leaked out oil, but it should be on its way on a slow boat from China Thailand.

Cheers,
phaetn

Yea. It took me a long time to find that M8 coupler...I think it would have been easier to get meth. You tucked your damper under the tank? Nice! That's nice to have it out of the way. Mine sticks out, but I guess I'm too worried about rebuilding my engine to care at this point. lol.

Good luck with the China Maiden. I'm sure she'll pull into port soon.