CB350 steering damper

Wally Anderson · Dec 15, 2006

It's time to start finishing up the CB350 race bike. I'm asking for your help once more, it's now about a steering damper. I'm not sure what length to buy, I'll probably buy a Proflo
http://pro-flo.com/proflo_steering_damper.htm
and mount it sililar to the photo below.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c359/wally1909/STEERINGDAMPER.jpg
Just wondering if anyone can help me out so I order the correct damper?
Thanks,
Wally

ttilghman · Dec 16, 2006

yeah, i see pro-flo is now selling the shindy/daytona dampers and thats what i've used on my 350. figure out the length and stroke needed. then all the old hondas have a threaded hole on the lower triple tree that you can mount damper to...same size. then, i just ordered one of the fork clamps and mounted it to the frame downtube instead(can't remember the size?). probably better to weld on a mount, but i don't have a welder.

best. tt

imslow · Dec 16, 2006

yup, what tt said (jesus, did I just agree with TT?)

ROSKO · Dec 16, 2006

same sht:

take a look on EGAY too, sometimes there is a deal to be had...

BORN TO LURK, FORCED TO WORK.
www.NYCvinMoto.com
www.VinMoto.org

ttilghman · Dec 16, 2006

quote:
yup, what tt said (jesus, did I just agree with TT?)

evil-

feels kinda good, don't it. once ya start it's hard to stop.

pusherman-
tt

Ease · Dec 16, 2006

Any of you guys use steering dampers on your street bikes?

No tracks anywhere remotely close to where I live, but lots of backroads... with potholes and uneven pavement no less.

Would it be worth it to add a damper to my seca?

Hey By'

Wally Anderson · Dec 16, 2006

I have a steering damper on my 916 Ducati, 500R Ninja and 72 CB350. I've never encountered a tank slapper on any of the above and attribute it to the addition of steering dampers. I had a tank slapper on a KZ650 years ago and it was pretty scary.
Wally

kenessex · Dec 17, 2006

I have a stock damper from a GSXR 750 on my 350 racebike. I got it for $5 + shipping off of E-gay. They are all over the place on there. I don't think a 350 needs much damping if it is set up properly.

Ken

AHRMA 412
Vintage racing - old guys on old bikes

ttilghman · Dec 17, 2006

kensx-

yeah, that's what i thought too. but the stock cb350 forks are tiny at best. the first time i was on a track at speed i ran into my biggest slapper yet. damper fixed that. it's the easiest hundred bucks to throw at your bike. at least you know if wobbles are from tires, suspension, steering head, swingarm bushings, etc....worth it. scott, you agree?

best-
tt

Pete Casper · Dec 17, 2006

This will be the first steering damper I have put on a bike.... TT, can you better explain how to figure out "the length and stroke needed". I know, I know, this question is going to likely result in a lot of comic relief (bring it on folks)...but believe it or not, I am serious this time....

Yeller'
---
Ask not what the wanker can do for you, but what you can do for your wanker!

alskee750 · Dec 17, 2006

Pete,

Your asking TT about "length and stroke needed", SHE has no clue.

Wankerontheattacker!

Sotomoto

"Dude just connect the dots on the track and you'll be ok"

JackC · Dec 17, 2006

Pete,

I am glad you asked that question first........

Jack

imslow · Dec 17, 2006

you should have one. as far as length and stroke, nah. just ask one of the wankers here which one to buy.

JackC · Dec 17, 2006

Yeah Scott, that does make the most sense doesn't it...

OK, Honda 350 guys, EXACTLY what steering damper should I buy? My ride is 72 CL350.

Boy, I sure could use a mentor for this bike prep stuff- my mechanical knowledge is about zip. Luckily my bike was raced a couple times before by the Previous owner so it is legal, etc. and he did a very clean job.

Pete Casper · Dec 17, 2006

Al....still looking for an answer. I suppose I could research it on the web and come up with an answer..but I figured asking that question on this forum would be more fun.

You want to go to Middletown indoor in January?

Yeller'
---
Ask not what the wanker can do for you, but what you can do for your wanker!

monkey · Dec 17, 2006

i had one. it worked great, until it fell apart before a race. so i did the obvious thing anf chucked it into the garbage can. i kinda like tank slapping anyways. really the only time i had a real deal tank slapper was on my father inlaws race bike on the street in maine and it had a steering dampner.

whatever

kenessex · Dec 17, 2006

tt,
I dont think the 350 forks are that small, 33mm. I raced my 400f for years with 33mm tubes. My current 350 has 35mm forks off an XL350, but I doubt that fork flex caused a slapper. I stand by my statement that a properly set up 350 doesn't need much if any damper. I mostly have one on mine to make it WERA legal. IF you have a bad tank slapper putting a damper on it may just be masking a real problem. That being said, A damper doesn't really hurt anything and is good insurance for those situations where a problem is from something other than set-up such as getting run into by somebody or hitting a loose chunk of asphalt(Nelson Ledges), hitting a turtle(Nelson Ledges), or having your dual headlights break a mount at 2:00am and try and jerk the bars out of your hands(Nelson Ledges). I hate the Ledges!!
So, since I have successfully argued both sides of the discussion, I would get as much steering damper as you can afford that makes you comfortable on your bike. On my 350 I am as happy as I can be with the GSXR damper, but I spent big money on shocks and frame work in addition to steering head bearings, wheel bearings, and big stainless spokes.

Ken

AHRMA 412
Vintage racing - old guys on old bikes

texmawby · Dec 18, 2006

a helpful hint from tex:

if you race nelson ledges you might
consider installing two steering dampers.

-tex

lost cause · Dec 18, 2006

Pete...

I don't have a after market damper on my bike, but I was thinking about you and Wally's question whilst working on mine over the weekend.

What I'd do, is get out a tape measure and locate where the mounting brackets are going to sit. Mark them off with tape so you have a constant point of reference. Turn your bars to full lock and measure the distance between the tape marks. Turn your bars full lock the opposite direction and measure again. This will give you minimum and maximum travel. That should allow you to pick out the correct damper length on the Pro-Flo page.

ttilghman · Dec 18, 2006

yeah-

what lostcause said. you want a damper slightly shorter when compressed than the short measurement (turned full right if using the hole already on the honda tripleclamp) and a throw that with the damper body is slightly longer than the long measurement (turned full left). i'll try to measure/look mine up to save you the hassle.

sx,
yeah a damper is a bandaid that fixes a symptom and not a problem, but even if i were perfectly set up, including my bigger forks, i still want the damper. tire wear, chatter, rough surface, something coming loose, over cooking a corner, bad body position, bad throttle contol, missed braking, etc.

-tt

CB350 steering damper

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