Today was my first time on ANY bike since my surgery last year. I went out on my Coment with the modified steering stem, thornton shocks (coil over at rear) and the front springing described in my earlier post.
I was gobsmacked!! It was suburban riding - Hope to get it out into the countryside in the next few days. Immediate observation is that the front suspension to the eye is much more active. Under accelaration the front of the bike rises slightly; Under braking the front dips slightly - but more significant, under braking when traversing irregularities the front suspension continues to move allowing the rfont tyre to remain in contact with the road surface.
General impression is that the bike is much more planted, feels much more secure on the road. The only downside - and I'm sure I will quickly get used to it, is that the bike feels just a wisker taller than before - due I am sure to the slight but definite increase in the front end ride height.
Regarding steering damping I have fitted a Kawasaki type steering damper across the front of the motor - see photo's. I wanted to retain the crash bar and transport tie downs and it took an amount of trial and error before I got the mounting brackets working with nothing clashing anywhere.
Here are a few photo's of the damper setup - some taken without the fuel tank in place, some with it in place.
Now if you wish to duplicate my damper mounts, here are the drawings to help you do so. I made mine up from store purchased mild steel angle and strip using no more than a small angle grinder with a cut off wheel, a drill press and a bench grinder - and liberal amounts of time. The important thing is the relative position of the holes.
Hopefully more info to follow after a country run in a few days time (weather permitting)
Martyn