Most outfits need some sort of steering damper to counter the low speed handlebar shakes.
One problem with our faired bikes is that there aren't any convenient fixing points for a hydraulic damper, so when I built my outfit I came up with this idea for a friction damper. Simply it's an O ring under the knurled bearing adjuster ring which bears on the steering column. From memory, it was about 4mm section and I used a cut down early Gold Wing oil filter O ring.



To set it up, firstly set the correct adjustment for the head bearings without the O ring in place. Then mark the position of the knurled adjustment ring with respect to the steering column (I use a wax crayon). Now fit the O ring and tighten the knurled ring to where the marks line up. This ensures that the head bearings are correctly set.
How long does the O ring last, you may ask? Well I still have the original ring in place, so perhaps I should leave it another year before giving a prediction?......That would be a nice round quarter of a century.
Paul.

Paul, appreciate your post, but wasn't the K1 equiped with a steering damper? Seeing as your fix has lasted quite some time maybe not needed for yourself, but there are K's with dampers.

ReneZ wrote:but wasn't the K1 equiped with a steering damper?

The K1 did also have a Marzocchi fork and other fork bridges, similar bits was
also used on the 16V.

Inge K.

Hi Rene,
The K1 wasn't around in '88 and looking at pictures of the K damper (on this forum) I think fitting one to an earlier K might not be easy or economical.....has anybody done it?
Cheers,
Paul.

Thank you Paul
I test rode again yesterday and the low speed handle bar head shaking has gone, the cheap o-ring done the trick.

Cheers, Waz, the best things in life are free (well at least very cheap).

Paul.

great suggestion paul ....yet again

onya waz