Steering dampers

[Jeff T]

Considering a steering damper for my FLH / Motortrike conversion. Lots of choices out there. Harley uses Ohlin brand on their Tri Glides. I have priced them through the local Harley dealer and also on-line. Very expensive either way. $450 - $ 700.

Are they worth it? Is the Ohlin unit that much better than $150 - $200 ones i have seen on-line? Any thoughts?!

 

[rhino 2]

Jeff, Welcome to Trike Talk.........:wave4:

 

[1dn5up]

Ohlins or Drag seem to be the best , in my opinion. Good stuff ain’t cheep.

BTW :welcome:

 

[Bikerbozo]

Considering a steering damper for my FLH / Motortrike conversion. Lots of choices out there. Harley uses Ohlin brand on their Tri Glides. I have priced them through the local Harley dealer and also on-line. Very expensive either way. $450 - $ 700.

Are they worth it? Is the Ohlin unit that much better than $150 - $200 ones i have seen on-line? Any thoughts?!

Well, as I wrote elsewhere, the Ohlins damper went 134,000 miles before the female threaded rod/bearing broke on end of damper. Ordered direct from them for replacement parts for $46. Damper works like new again.

Oh, and welcome to TT with greetings from Long Island.

 

[Gorilla]

welcome aboard also consider made to fit.

 

[Jeff T]

Ohlins or Drag seem to be the best , in my opinion. Good stuff ain’t cheep.

BTW :welcome:

What is the "Drag" unit you're referring to?

 

[Jack Klarich]

What is the "Drag" unit you're referring to?

Drag Specialties

 

[Jack Klarich]

http://www.dragspecialties.com/products/?productId=247351

Look here

 

[Jeff T]

http://www.dragspecialties.com/products/?productId=247351

Look here

I will check it out. THX!

 

[Downtown Cowtown]

I bought a daytona brand offf e bay, total waste of $159

bought a $20 dollar deal at swap meet, mucho better

still thinkn on putting a vw stablizer off older car on, still have head shake at low speed.

$ 30 bucks up on ebay, vw for the money, outlaw i know runs them, likes them, i may also, someday.

 

[Downtown Cowtown]

I will check it out. THX!

That looks like the same crap i bought under another name.

save ur money hit a swapmeet. My opine only

or if so inclined do the vw thang and get back to us

 

[toutlnone1]

damper for 1992 ultra classic tour glide

Cant seem to find a damper to fit my bike and suggestions

 

[toutlnone1]

Jeff, Welcome to Trike Talk.........:wave4:

thanks

 

[toutlnone1]

thanks

any options or suggestions

 

[Lee H. Mann]

any options or suggestions

http://www.bkrider.com/bkrider/skusearch_v3.asp?scriteria=C01150167

 

[rhino 2]

http://www.bkrider.com/bkrider/skusearch_v3.asp?scriteria=C01150167

Great video........But i'm surprised there was no mention of lock-tite...:Shrug:

 

[MDO]

Considering a steering damper for my FLH / Motortrike conversion. Lots of choices out there. Harley uses Ohlin brand on their Tri Glides. I have priced them through the local Harley dealer and also on-line. Very expensive either way. $450 - $ 700.

Are they worth it? Is the Ohlin unit that much better than $150 - $200 ones i have seen on-line? Any thoughts?!

1 nice thing about the OEM Ohlin unit is that Ohlin will rebuild it. Try to find 1 off of E-bay, like from a wreck or salvage & have them rebuild it or do it yourself if your so inclined. It's just a cylinder.

 

[toutlnone1]

faring issue?

Thanks hope this works looks good quality. I have a tour glide with stationary faring hope the rod does not interfer

 

[toutlnone1]

Great video........But i'm surprised there was no mention of lock-tite...:Shrug:

Thanks hope it works with my stationary fairing and not sure i have two holes in back of triple tree?

 

[Lee H. Mann]

Thanks hope it works with my stationary fairing and not sure i have two holes in back of triple tree?

1987 and later do have the holes............... BTW, you need to run 20 psi in the rear tires.

 

[toutlnone1]

1987 and later do have the holes............... BTW, you need to run 20 psi in the rear tires.[/QUThanks l

OTE]



​

THANKS!!!! Lee I was running 18 in old tires the new tires which are BF Goodrich Radial TA sidewalls seemed softer

so I decided to 24 lbs. But you think 20 lbs would be better yet?

 

[toutlnone1]

http://www.bkrider.com/bkrider/skusearch_v3.asp?scriteria=C01150167

Thanks for your help Lee. So yes I do have the holes in the triple tree, but there is a metal shield bolted to the two outer holes. Will it be okay to remove? and what is this for rain ? wind? or both. Does not look like I can put it back on once the stabilizer is in place .Will this create me any issues?

 

[toutlnone1]

Not avialible

Damper from bk rider is not avialible and they dont know if they will get it back in stock. problem with supplier communication they said.

 

[Lee H. Mann]

There are two schools of thought for the relevance of the shield (deflector).

One is that it keeps the engine cooler ???

Two is that it re-directs turbulent air away from the rider ???:Shrug:

Many have been removed and never re-installed.:Shrug:

 

[toutlnone1]

Not avialible

There are two schools of thought for the relevance of the shield (deflector).

One is that it keeps the engine cooler ???

Two is that it re-directs turbulent air away from the rider ???:Shrug:

Many have been removed and never re-installed.:Shrug:

Now I notice the one from BK biker is not available and it did look like it would fit any hints and universal ones along with brackets

 

[stacebg]

do you have a low speed wobble around 30mph?

didnt see it any of the comments.. may have missed it

just making a guess here ...

do you still have the stock triple tree?

is so get a set off raked trees

i should away with most of the wobble and you will think you added power steering

 

[toutlnone1]

Little bit of wobble

do you have a low speed wobble around 30mph?

didnt see it any of the comments.. may have missed it

just making a guess here ...

do you still have the stock triple tree?

is so get a set off raked trees

i should away with most of the wobble and you will think you added power steering

Yes slightly new rear tires helped out a lot. Also set the tour pack back as far as it could go. Puts the passenger back further and puts my weight back a little bit further as well that helped out a lot . Got a new trach specific Avon front tire coming hopefully that will make it even better yet. But yes about 30 miles an hour when I’m just moving along if I accelerate no problem just usually when slowing down or just cruising about 30 miles an hour what would pressure would you recommend running the new Avon tire Would lower pressure be better for wobble or higher pressure

 

[toutlnone1]

Also don’t wanna spend the money on the triple tree trying to keep it as economical as possible

 

[stacebg]

Also don’t wanna spend the money on the triple tree trying to keep it as economical as possible

ah understand

that wobble at about 30 seems to be the nature of some beasts... with 3 wheels rather trike or sidecar... no explanation why that is....

i dont believe the rear psi will make much difference...at least not on any that ive build

a little lower in the front might... but if i remember .. low enough to help.. the tire is way lo an would over heat..the front

i have had one sidecar and one trike i couldnt get rid of the wobble no matter what i did .. and gave up... got the best of me (i hate that)

this is what i used...

https://www.jbugs.com

seach pn 113425021 or 113425021J

there are several version i find these work well

certainly more place even an auto supply would have them i ask for one for a super beetle 71-74 i just did a google searh to find u a photo

you need a heim joint 3/8 i think for one end

it should be as close to 90 degrees from the stem so it doent wear out the rubber bushing..

and it can be quit a pain to get it in the right spot so you are using the full travel of the damper

this was the side care obviously not a sliding front end but still a pain to get in the right place

if you can afford it at some point go with the trees you will wish u did it sooner... steering is so easy

 

[toutlnone1]

ah understand

that wobble at about 30 seems to be the nature of some beasts... with 3 wheels rather trike or sidecar... no explanation why that is....

i dont believe the rear psi will make much difference...at least not on any that ive build

a little lower in the front might... but if i remember .. low enough to help.. the tire is way lo an would over heat..the front

i have had one sidecar and one trike i couldnt get rid of the wobble no matter what i did .. and gave up... got the best of me (i hate that)

this is what i used...

https://www.jbugs.com

seach pn 113425021 or 113425021J

there are several version i find these work well

certainly more place even an auto supply would have them i ask for one for a super beetle 71-74 i just did a google searh to find u a photo

you need a heim joint 3/8 i think for one end

it should be as close to 90 degrees from the stem so it doent wear out the rubber bushing..

and it can be quit a pain to get it in the right spot so you are using the full travel of the damper

this was the side care obviously not a sliding front end but still a pain to get in the right place

if you can afford it at some point go with the trees you will wish u did it sooner... steering is so easy

Yes I looked into a triple tree in the past and thought about doing it, but then I read that you have to change the ignition switch? Because it might interfere with the tank. So I have made a big improvement over when I got it getting the new trike tire mounted Wednesday and it’s in the Avon trike specific tire hoping that will help. I did play around with air in the back tires. The tires it came with were 235 wide put 215‘s on their road a lot better steer it a lot easier. But I notice if I play with the front fork pressure rear airbag pressure rear tire pressure and front tire pressure changes the speed at which the wobbling starts. I didn’t know if there was an ideal setting for each? But I currently am running 24 in the rear tires 42 in the front tire which is a front motorcycle tire, 10 pounds in the front forks and between 50 and 70 pounds in the rear as I am fairly Large About 450 pounds combined weight thanks for your help