steering dampener

'73 Z1 triple clamp is designed with a hole to fit one end of the steering damper.

I've had no issue with having the other end of the steering damper attached to the stock reflector mount (no added bracing).








The 1976 KZ900 does not have the factory supplied hole.
The forward end of the steering damper attaches to a clamp that fits around the fork tube.

There's some good info about this at Redline:
click > www.redlinecycle.com/Steering%20Damper.html













Per Redline:
Rear of damper mounts to the right frame reflector tab on the frame
On some early Z-1 models, there is a hole in the lower triple clamp to which the front of the damper can be mounted, eliminating the need for the front mount bracket...that clamps to the right fork tube of any 1973 to 1980 Kaw 900 or 1000. It will allow adjustable mounting of the front of the damper to any old Kaw...bracket contours the
bends in the lower triple clamp, and mimics the position of the hole in the lower clamp found on the early Z-1's...Rear of the damper mounts to the right reflector tab, which is drilled to 5/16" to accept the damper stud.


Good Fortune!

Im glad Patton has shown a lack of failure with a non reinforced reflector tab, But I sleep well knowing mine are rock solid. It was a small detail to add while my frame was stripped down and being braced. My brackets shown in my previous post were purchased from Sandy Kosman.
I now run a set of PDM (Les Holt ) custom triple trees with the Kosman flanges below them.

To help reinforce the reflector tab area, I ran a piece of threaded rod to the other side's reflector tab, and connected it with a rod coupler onto the dampener. That way both reflector tabs are connected by the rod and gives more rigidity. You can get metric all-thread and rod couplers online nowadays..

Unfortunately, my frame has already just been powder coated so welding just aint going to happen Ive put a 1075 by Jim at Redline in it completely have new everything rubber and serviceable parts through out race tech springa and emulators with Forking by Frank tubes Lester mags Kerkers and looking for small stuff as an after thought ThankYou fellas for your input! going for rs 34 mikunis next

still no one has commented, as why put it on the right side of the bike instead of left so it can be adjusted without taking your hand off the throttle.

9er rider wrote: still no one has commented, as why put it on the right side of the bike instead of left so it can be adjusted without taking your hand off the throttle.

I'd like to know why have to have one on at all anyhow...?? It's obviously not a road racer.... just sayin'.... (unless you just dig the way it looks)... I think if everything is working mostly right, this is an unneeded add on.

I've got a cruise control, so my right hand can be free in a moment if needed.
Lots of open country road here.
I've usually got it turned all the way up before I ride off, stiffest setting on the dampener, and it stays there, unless I'm making a 3+ point turn.
You can still easily steer her on stiffest setting while at a walking pace.

I'd like to know why have to have one on at all anyhow...?? It's obviously not a road racer....

As I said above, my bike rides straight with no issues, but adding the dampener does make her more stable over imperfections in the road.

As does the stock braced swingarm. She feels so much more solid over bumps at highway speeds.

As far as being a road racer, no.
I do like to think I ride much more sensibly these days, but when I tuck down and let the tach climb, I do feel a little bit like a road racer. :laugh:

Thats a nice bike man! Ive renamed mine "mail order bride" If I dont care for the damper Ill just put it on my parts bike and just keep it.

I like the teeth on tat 650. Looks like its ready to scoop up the road kill left behind. :evil:
Steve

I read all the post, very interesting indeed. I experienced wobbles on the motorway at high speed when cruising because of the state of the pavement. Roads here in Argentina are a disaster, not to mention that 95% of the motorway are one lane opposite to the other. So, In a few days I'll receive an NHK ODM 500 steering damper and my question is... Is there any issue on drilling the lower triple tree as the Z1 instead of using a fork tube clamp?