Steering damper install.

I have a steering damper and brackets for my XJ750R, but have never put them on. Now that I am adding a fairing and saddlebags, I would like to install it to help soften any sudden turns.

I was wondering if anyone has any pictures or can explain how everything gets mounted.

Any help would be greatly apreciated.

Peter

 

I want one! Be sure to post pics and data for the parts when you finish the install Pete!

 

It depends on the dampner. What brand/model is it ?

 

From what I can tell, it is a stock steering damper that was used on bikes with fairings and saddle bags.
I will post a picture to see if you can recocnize it.

Peter.

 

As I remember from my Yamaha Technician days, it mounted fairly vertical, to where you wouldn't think it would work. Sorry no more help, anybody else? :?:

 

Still trying to figure out how this thing mounts on to the bike. I just cant figure it out????

Anyone that can help, it would be greatly apreciated.

Peter

 

Dont know if this will help but here is what I found.

 

There is a section on the XJCD on installing the steering damper.

 

Oooooo...OOooo Where do I get one to fit my BIKE! 8O

 

Just found the following pic... it's actually a trike based on a xj750 that's just come up on ebay in the UK... don't know if it will help!
Sam

 

I recognise that trike. It's mine!!!!!! If is of any help, please PM me your e-mail address and I will e-mail you close up pictures of the damper and mounts. Thanks, Richard

 

Im going to try to add a R1 steering damper to my bike so if you could post some close ups that would be great!

 

Does anybody else have a high speed occilation that starts at about 70 MPH and gets worse if you lean forward? It's about a 2 inch wiggle about 2 cycles per second. Is it related to the fork mount fairing? I'm adding the frame mount fairing and bags soon.

 

Probably shouldn't listen to me seeing as how I'm a relatively new member, but if I recall correctly, that wobble is due to the wheels being out of alignment (front to back not in the same line) or not being fully true.

Or, do you have bar end weights? Apparently those help to reduce any oscillations received at the bars during higher speeds.

 

NO. I'd worry a lot about that. I'd go over the whole front end - tires, wheels, wheel bearings, forks and steering head bearings.

Someone posted a video of this last year. It can become so extreme you lose control.

EDIT: Found it. Speed Wobble

VIDEO

 

Sportrider Here is a Hands on install that i found for you. I hope this helps.

 

The "wobble" doesn't go away with a speed increase. I did about 100. The front wheel bearings felt OK and I don't feel any fork slack. The wobble does go away if I sit further back. New Avon tires at the rated pressure. I'd hate to go into full-on headshake ! I'm going to get someone lighter to ride it and see what happens.

 

Front one isn't installed backward is it?

 

Worn rear shocks can cause that wobble you describe.
Might be a place to start.
I remember talk about a weave caused by the fork or handlebar mounted fairing when they were first released but not a wobble.

 

if one of your hips is quite a bit larger than the other due to multiple breaks i suppose that could cause a wobble... hahaha just kidding but seriously one of my hips is bigger than the other and it makes it hard to find pants that fit right... dammed unicycle..... :evil:

 

The front Avon tire can be mounted either way, depending if it's on the front or back, but the tread looks backwards, as compared to the matching rear. I'd like to flip it around for looks, but I know the bias would be backwards for braking.

Rear shocks seem OK. I'll check swingarm and rear bearings next.
At lower speeds it tracks straight "hands off" so I believe the frame is straight. I would actually buy a different front tire, if I knew that would fix it.

 

After reading this post I figured I'd add my 2 cents just incase. I had the wobble at around 35 MPH when I was coming to a stop. I just had to re-balance the front tire (which helped, but did not fix the problem) So I decided to tighten the steering head bearings and that seemed to elliminate the problem for good.
Now that I have lowered the rear suspension by shortening the shocks 1" and replacing the stock Seca wheel with one from a 650 Maxim (18" down to 16") I don't have any problems at all with the front end shaking at any speed. The change in the steering geometry feels very stable now. It is hard to believe just by lowering the rear. it would make so much difference, but it did.
Now that I noticed someone mentioning that sitting further back on the seat would help with the front end wobble? This would put more weight on the rear suspension, thus lowering it in the rear. Maybe just setting the shocks to the lowest setting in the rear would help? Just a thought. >PD<

 

Thanks for the idea Painter. I had the deceleration wobble on 2 other bikes at 35 to 45 MPH. This feels a little different as it happens at twice that speed. It'll be easy to try the shocks and tire pressure. I also can mount the Maxim's front tire to test, but the brakes are a different size.

 

I mounted a steering damper on my XJ700 based trike, and, since I couldn't get hold of the correct brackets, I used car exhaust U clamps.. I drilled through the centre of the flat section, and ground down the edges of a nut to fit in the back (making it almost a captive nut) so that I could fit the swivels from the damper. I've since fitted rose joints in place of the alloy swivels on the damper.
The clamps are functional rather than aesthetic, but they don't rust and are easy to adjust... one is on the rihght hand fork, just below the lower triple tree, and the other is on the left hand frame tube. I'll send pics to anyone that wants them!