steering damper

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BikerGran · #16 Post by **BikerGran** » Tue Nov 26, 2013 1:34 pm

I won't get a bus pass - I'm scared of buses - it's not that they go too fast but they stop too fast!

lazarus · #17 Post by **lazarus** » Mon Dec 02, 2013 5:18 pm

D-Rider wrote:Very cheap - wonder if it's any good?

Worth bearing in mind if I ever get a bike that needs a steering damper.

Never had a bike with a steering damper and dont really know what it is about a bike that makes one necessary. Is this because all my bikes have been either tourers or sports tourers or adventure types ie with more relaxed fork angles than sports bikes?

Just wondering - unlike many posters on here I have never ridden a full on sports bike. Nearest was a VFR800 that I had for a few years

fatboy · #18 Post by **fatboy** » Mon Dec 02, 2013 7:22 pm

Those that feel the need to fit a steering damper have probably experienced mild/meduim or alarming handlebar waggle when the front wheel passes over obstacles or undulations.
I remember reading that bike manufacturers use a target weight of 14 stone for the UK market when setting up suspension, not ideal for racing snakes like me.
Although not all problems can be attributed to supension, a steering damper certainly pacifies the effect of the bike 'shaking its head', so it can be a quick, cost effective way round steering niggles.
Goes without saying, if you have a steering/handling problem, check everything !

Dusty · #19 Post by **Dusty** » Mon Dec 02, 2013 7:25 pm

I haven't ridden a bike that I felt needed one since the 1970s/80s. I have very vivid memories of that head shaking that quickly progressed to a tankslapper. Either the bikes are much better now or I'm a lot slower with a greater sense of self-preservation. Probably a bit of both!

Aladinsaneuk · #20 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Mon Dec 02, 2013 7:54 pm

The front end of my falco is a little light after moving the bars over the triple...

So, I used that as my excuse for fitting one!

It's not like the madness of several bikes I had in the 80s though...

D-Rider · #21 Post by **D-Rider** » Mon Dec 02, 2013 9:26 pm

lazarus wrote:
D-Rider wrote:Very cheap - wonder if it's any good?

Worth bearing in mind if I ever get a bike that needs a steering damper.
Never had a bike with a steering damper and dont really know what it is about a bike that makes one necessary. Is this because all my bikes have been either tourers or sports tourers or adventure types ie with more relaxed fork angles than sports bikes?

No I've never ridden a bike with one either - and never ridden a bike I felt needed one - not even back in the days when I was a pretty quick rider and rode frequently on particularly bumpy roads

BTW when I use the term "pretty quick rider" the "pretty" has never referred to any visually appealing factor. That has always been conspicuous by its absence.

#22 Post by **mangocrazy** » Mon Dec 02, 2013 10:41 pm

The only bike I've ever owned that probably needed one was a TL1000S. And Suzuki fitted one F.O.C after a few months of ownership anyway. Bloody ugly thing that fitted over the top yoke and made low speed manoeuvring a pain, but it probably stopped most of the lawsuits...

MartDude · #23 Post by **MartDude** » Tue Dec 03, 2013 4:23 pm

Some of my first few bikes had steering dampers. Triumph 6T, BSA A65; can't remember if the TR7RV had one. A big black knob on the top yoke, which you turned to tighten or loosen the friction plate; IIRC, how tight or otherwise the contraption was made little difference.

D-Rider · #24 Post by **D-Rider** » Tue Dec 03, 2013 4:34 pm

BikerGran wrote:I won't get a bus pass - I'm scared of buses - it's not that they go too fast but they stop too fast!

I wonder whether this frightening nature suggests that these buses need a steering damper ........... as well as more feeble brakes .....

fatboy · #25 Post by **fatboy** » Tue Dec 03, 2013 7:22 pm

MartDude, you are so right !
The 6T steering damper made no bloody difference at all, even with a new friction plate and weird spider spring washer thing...
But ithe massive adjuster did look good polished up !

MartDude · #26 Post by **MartDude** » Wed Dec 04, 2013 3:55 pm

fatboy wrote: But ithe massive adjuster did look good polished up !

Yep, nothing gives as much satisfaction as a well-polished knob

#27 Post by **mangocrazy** » Wed Dec 04, 2013 6:12 pm

MartDude wrote:
fatboy wrote: But ithe massive adjuster did look good polished up !
Yep, nothing gives as much satisfaction as a well-polished knob

Cheers Mart, I now need to remove a large mouthful of tea from my keyboard...

lazarus · #28 Post by **lazarus** » Fri Dec 06, 2013 5:48 pm

went out on the bike today and with this thread in mind I let go of the bars several times but it still ran straight. Went over a few potholes and manhole covers too but whilst I could feel the back end step out a bit ( not unusual) the bars didnt move.

Suppose I travel a lot slower than all these Aprillias