Topic: Head Gasket Material...?

[sbeckman7]

I was shopping for a new CB350F head gasket and saw a variety on eBay.  Some claimed to be NOS and were of the darker "composite" material, some claimed to be NOS and were metal.  I have also seen aftermarket gaskets in aluminum and copper.  What would be the best?  Any advantage or disadvantage of the metal ones?

[HondaMan]

I was shopping for a new CB350F head gasket and saw a variety on eBay.  Some claimed to be NOS and were of the darker "composite" material, some claimed to be NOS and were metal.  I have also seen aftermarket gaskets in aluminum and copper.  What would be the best?  Any advantage or disadvantage of the metal ones?

Metal ones seal poorly at OEM stud torque levels, so they need extra sealant around places like the oil passages to keep the engine dry. Composite ones are more normal, but watch the thickness: lately we are seeing some extra-thick gaskets (especially in the 750 and 500/550 kits) that can lower compression a bit. Many of those also need help to seal well.