Topic: Steering dampner - Anyone installed one

[Chris Liston]

Just got my dampner today from Pingle for $58 bucks.  I've been having no luck finding the clamps that you guys are using.  Both HD and Lowe's in my area don't seem to stock them or maybe I'm just not finding them.  Anyway, would this frame bracket from Dennis Kirk work as a mount?  This is the same thing on the diy rear sets that Ohiocaferacer has on his bike.  I don't see why it wouldn't work.

[AR-Guy]

Just got my dampner today from Pingle for $58 bucks. 

Do you have a part number on that dampner? 

Thanks,
Buck
 

[Chris Liston]

Item Number                     Quantity          Unit Price         Extension
ODM500                                 1               59.95             59.95
      Steering Stabilizer Steel Blk.


http://66.187.39.104/steering_stabilizers.htm

order link is at the bottom of the page

[AR-Guy]

Thanks Chris.... Part ordered!

Buck

[seaweb11]

Question above. "Just got my dampner today from Pingle for $58 bucks.  I've been having no luck finding the clamps that you guys are using.  Both HD and Lowe's in my area don't seem to stock them or maybe I'm just not finding them."

It's just a small muffler type clamp. Got mine at Canadian Tire. Had to modify it with a flat piece of chrome steel I had lying around the shop to give the threads enough space to crank a nut on....look at photo below. Kind of a rounded washer effect around the frame.

Question above. "Do you have a part number on that dampner? "
https://www.partsnmore.com/cat_index.php?model=h2&category=chassis
This is what I bought and installed based on the second page of this post Love it and only $48.00

Hope this assists anyone looking to get the most out of their bikes handling potential.

[Chris Liston]

Out of stock at partsnmore thats why I ordered from Pingle. 

I'll try my auto parts stores tomorrow. 

 What side bolt is needed for the lower tripple tree threaded hole.  8mmx1.25?  Thanks

[Superbiker_uk]

In case anyone is interested I have now found the original fitting instructions issued with the Paul Dunstall manufactured Honda type steering dampers. Although the instructions are VERY basic it's a nice period piece of info.

[ProTeal55]

Good stuff...

[AR-Guy]

Well that answers my question if the dampener should be mounted cross the bike (R to L) or on the same side.  Nice doc also.

Buck

[ProTeal55]

Well that answers my question if the dampener should be mounted cross the bike (R to L) or on the same side.

You can mount it either way , as it will do the same thing.
I just feel that the "across" way looks cleaner on the scoot.

[anubiscycle]

I got mine from e-bay off of a GSXR for $9.99.

I bought mine the same way, just curious how you got it all mounted and to what. More pics please...

[AR-Guy]

You can mount it either way , as it will do the same thing.
I just feel that the "across" way looks cleaner on the scoot.

Good to know and I agree that across looks much cleaner.

And Chris did anyone answer your question about the "bracket from Dennis Kirk working as a mount" 

Buck

[Chris Liston]

You can mount it either way , as it will do the same thing.
I just feel that the "across" way looks cleaner on the scoot.

Good to know and I agree that across looks much cleaner.

And Chris did anyone answer your question about the "bracket from Dennis Kirk working as a mount" 

Buck

No, not yet.  I'm not sure how much stress that dampner puts on a bracket.  Probably some but not much.  I have to wait until the weekend to install.  How much would the Dennis Kirk bracket move if any do you guys think?  Its a nice super clean looking bracket that would almost look stock if painted black.

[ProTeal55]

When i mounted mine, with the Home Depot clamp, it did move.
Thats why I had to first mount the clamp to the bike, then build another "tab" so to speak to mount the dampner too..

The issue was the dampner was basically sliding the u-bolt back and forth on the frame, but not anymore...

[AR-Guy]

Thanks ProTeal and Chris. I get mine later this week and I'll put it on over the weekend (if I get to have one). Can not wait to see/feel the difference.

Buck

[tmht]

So has anyone done something similar on a 400? Not all of us own 750's you know.

Terry in NOLA

[Chris Liston]

I own a 550 so its alittle closer to the 400 than the 750.  I'll be installing this weekend.  pics will be posted.

[tmht]

I own a 550 so its alittle closer to the 400 than the 750.  I'll be installing this weekend.  pics will be posted.

I believe teh 550 still has 35mm fork tubes. The 350 and 400 have 33mm. So I am really curious to see how people have mounted that side of the damper

[Kevin400F]

I used a non-adjustable damper from a Ducati 916 on my 350F/400F hybrid track bike.  That particular damper doesn't have very much travel, so the factory "damper mounting boss" on the lower triple clamp worked just fine. 

[tsflstb]

So Kevin where did you mount the other end of the damper???  Or was it a top mount type?

I thought on the 400 with the single downtube, you needed some kind of a brace to stick out to one side.  I saw a mount come up on ebay a couple of times, it clamps to the downtube of the frame and sticks out to the side with a mount for the damper.  The other end of your damper would mount to the lower triple clamp.  It was about $60 -- to rich for me.

I have a junked connecting rod sitting on my workbench that looks a lot like the mount sold on ebay.  Take the big end and bolt it to the frame downtube and use the wrist pin end to fabricate a mount your damper.  I think it would work pretty well.

EDIT--Sorry I didn't see your picture when I first posted.  Still can't tell what the other end is mounted to though???

[Kevin400F]

The fixed end of the damper mounts to a simple bracket fabricated from flat stock and clamped to the single downtube with a standard automotive muffler clamp.  If memory serves, there was a particular size clamp "saddle" that matched the diameter of the front downtube, and very little detail fitting was needed.  I elected to not tack-weld the bracket to the downtube, figuring if it takes a hit substantial enough to move the clamp, that scenario would be better than something else bending or breaking.  Pics below....

Regards,

Kevin

[tsflstb]

Nice job.  That's about as clean and simple as it could be done.

[seaweb11]

  small muffler clamp from Canadian Tire c/w home made rounded thing-a-ma-jigy

[AR-Guy]

No, not yet.  I'm not sure how much stress that dampner puts on a bracket.  Probably some but not much.  I have to wait until the weekend to install.  How much would the Dennis Kirk bracket move if any do you guys think?  Its a nice super clean looking bracket that would almost look stock if painted black.

Chris did ya get to put on the dampener? Since I have one like yours to install and no time this week I am just living vicariously thru your install....

Buck

[Chris Liston]

Going to install this week(end).  I finally found on ebay of all place a 1 1/4" small muffler clamp like the one in seawebs install.  That with another piece of metal like seaweb again hopefully I'll get it all installed.  Not sure whether I'm going to go across or keep it on the right side yet.  With my clip-ons and the way I have my cables routed everything swings underneath the lower tripple and its alittle cramped down there now.  Along the right may be the best way for me.  I loose fit and have plenty of dampner clearence movement wise either way.