Topic: My steering dampener saved my life tonight!

[SOHC Digger]

I rode my CB750F Chopper to work tonight. As I was heading south on I-55 and exiting onto I-355 south, I hit a massive pothole at about 70 mph. The front wheel came off the ground when it hit. While it was still in the air, the rear wheel hit and came even higher off the ground. I came off the seat and off the pegs. When the front wheel came back down, it started to go into a speed wobble. After about two or three oscillations, however, it straightened out and I was able to regain control. Other than some shaken nerves and a bruised ass, I came away unscathed.

I am certain that without the NHK steering dampener, the speed wobble would have gotten worse and I would have gone down hard. I cannot express enough how thankful I am that I installed that on my bike.

Unless you are doing a concourse restoration, I encourage everyone to install a steering dampener on your bike. They are not difficult to install and may save your life too one day!

[dave500]

good advice,if it wasn't a chopper hard tail it might've been even easier to control?dont flame me just saying!

[SOHC Digger]

Oh believe me, I know! And my ass probably would feel better too!

[Deltarider]

 

I encourage everyone to install a steering dampener on your bike.

Decades ago I asked my dealer for a steering damper. He could easily have sold me one but replied that I didn't need one. He rode exactly the same bike (CB500). In over 100.000 kms I have never experienced even the beginning of a speed wobble. Bike is almost standard with Koni rear shocks. Don't blame me for dampening your advise somewhat.

[seanbarney41]

I have had similar situations occur without a steering dampener and everything straightend out alright.  Cb750's are stable old bikes.  Nothing wrong with having a steering dampener though.

[dave500]

they are good,and if tweaked correctly will save a spill in the correct circumstance,mine had one but it made way for dual horns,ive never had a problem,ive often thought about one though if itll give me that extra edge chasing down unsuspecting Harleys through the twisties,ive a wobble or two but nothing that wasn't my fault over rough lumpy tarmac leaned over.

[Terry in Australia]

I like steering dampers because they look cool.............

[dave500]

I like dual snail horns on a bike because they sound #$%* hot!the unattentive need a wake up!

[Terry in Australia]

Yep I loved the Stebel horns I put on my GS1000 Dave, but they're shiit in a tankslapper!

[dave500]

tankslappers don't give me a horn!

[Terry in Australia]

I give up, I got nothing............

[kghost]

Hmmm.....I have never had that particular experience on a Honda 4.

Course I don't ride a chopper......Most of my bikes have had the steering heads and suspension gone through.

Had a fair bit of headshake and wobblies on other things.....I was pushing hard and leaned over as Dave mentioned.....

Honestly never felt like I needed a steering dampner on a 750....even one that will wheelie at 40mph.

[Deltarider]

Honestly never felt like I needed a steering dampner on a 750....

Ofcourse not. Honda would have fitted one. One would have expected compelling laws. Never heard of any so far.

[calj737]

Actually, save the money on the damper and move out of IL. The roads there are #$%*e! But I agree with Digger, a damper could save your life in that situation. Best to avoid those potholes...

[Bailgang]

An older brother of mine's H2 Kaw had one on it in fact I think it was a factory item but I guess that's why they called the H1 and H2's widow makers. In all the years he owned it (nephew has it now) he only had a tank slapper once and that was when he was messing around with my nephew who was riding a cbr600rr. Later on my nephew tore the H2 down to restore it and found a nasty crack in the frame near an engine mount.

[Whaleman]

I wish someone on this site would put together a simple bolt on kit to use with a stock CB750. Best dampener that screws right to the fork and a good machined frame brace. I would buy it. Dan

[754]

Whaleman, the tree is usually set up for it, bracket for frame for some not hard to make, or simply weld on a tab.
 My damper on cb 750 chopper,
 I loved that Kawi damper on there. If for only this reason,
I ran tapered stem bearings. Set up the way I liked,  in combination with the extra rake, it had a tendency. To flop when parking...ie flop to side sorta hard.
With the damper installed and set up,  I could simply let go of bars and step off the bike,  the first instant the sidestand touched the ground. The forks would then simply sssqqqwwwoooooooge...
 S l o w l y and gently against stop..very nice..

[Whaleman]

754, I agree. just don't have time to design and machine a good frame clamp and pick the best unit. I know about the threaded hole in the tree. Do you think a good engineered bolt on kit would sell? Dan

[Stev-o]

Glad your ok, Digger, 'cept for a bruised arse.  Need to order one for my Z1.   

[750K]

I wish someone on this site would put together a simple bolt on kit to use with a stock CB750. Best dampener that screws right to the fork and a good machined frame brace. I would buy it. Dan

Fast from the Past sells both, I have one on my 77. Took all of 10-15 minutes to instal, I love having one on an old bike. That coupled with a fork brace made such a huge differance in the feel and handling of my 750 and I already have rebuilt the front end, new tires, steering bearings etc etc. Was hugely noticeable, I'll always put them on any vintage Honda or Kawi I own from now on.

[SOHC Digger]

Actually, save the money on the damper and move out of IL. The roads there are #$%*e! But I agree with Digger, a damper could save your life in that situation. Best to avoid those potholes...

Yes, the roads here SUCK!!! I was cursing the state dept out the whole ride. I lived in Arizona for three years and the roads there are smooth as silk. Talk about good riding!!!

The steering dampener MIGHT NOT have been the reason the bike came out of the wobble, but it certainly didn't make matters worse. And like Terry said, they look cool

[BeSeeingYou]

I think it has a lot to do with the frame geometry.  A bike with a trail of less than 4 inches can benefit from a damper above that it is less critical.  All the bikes I have owned all have a trail in the 4.5 inch range and I haven't the slightest idea what a speed wobble is......in 35 years of riding I have never had one.   The K bike is 3.7 so to me it feels twitchy.  I am talking about stock frames here so with a chopper the geometry is altered and it may react differently.

We had a long and hard winter and it really tore up the roads.  I am in no hurry to get out there till some repairs get made.  I can't remember when it was this bad.

[Whaleman]

750K, Which dampener did you get? Did you use their clamp on the frame? Dan

[Head]

Digger the thought of that brought back memories and made me pucker a bit. I could hardly walk for a week from a bruised tail bone.

[Terry in Australia]

Honestly never felt like I needed a steering dampner on a 750....

Ofcourse not. Honda would have fitted one. One would have expected compelling laws. Never heard of any so far.

Actually, Honda offered one as an option mate, and even provided a threaded hole on the lower triple for the installation. They just cheaped out and didn't fit them as standard. Cheers, Terry.