| Author | Message | ||
     Silas_clone |
This is a serious question...what does a steering damper do? Is it worth the effort for a person who rides 55 to 70 mph? Will it improve "the Buell experience"? | ||
| Bomber |
Silas Dampener (or dampers -- almost a religious argument over terms for some) do the same thing Shocks do for your suspension under certain circumstances, the front end of a bike will shimmy like your sister Kate (well, not YOUR sister, I'm sure, but you get the idea) -- this is generally seen as a bad thing sometimes these oscillations can progress to a "tank-slapper," where the forks and tress will move from stop to stop all by their lonesome, at a high rate of speed -- this generally shortly preceeds an unplanned asphalt/••• interface you can view these actions as making the front of the bike act like a spring, if you'd like -- the energy will likely lessen over time, leaving hte front of the bike in a neutral state, but it's gonna be darned unpleasant while you're waiting for that to happen (that's if ya don't end on yer butt) steering dampeners, like shocks, take the energy and channel it, generally through the method of forcing oil through orifices, converting the enery into another form of energy (since we can't disappear energy) -- generally heat (not huge amounts but some, anyways) if your Buell front end is very twitchy, wobbles at a high frequency, of goes into tank-slpper mode, the answer is yes, a dempener WOULD improve the Buell Experience (note, if your scoot is doing these things, check tire pressures, sterring bearins, and like that first) if your bike doesn't do these thing, the answer is no -- this does not take into account the "cool points" you get fer haiving one installed, but that's a very personal thing, innit? speed really doesn't come into the equation (although front end misbehavior is generally speed-related, but almost always related to a specific velocity, not a more is more relationship) have I managed to further muddy the waters? | ||
| Silas_clone |
Sooo, itsa little like dual spark ignition? It's cool, can't hurt, may help but not really needed...? Good explanation, the spring analogy clarified everything. | ||
| Bomber |
that's my view, sir -- other's won't leave their driveways without em ;-} I've only felt the need for one once or twice on my tuber, and getting the tire pressure, steering bearings, and rear wheel alignment all within spec disappeared the need, even for track days | ||
| Hodakaguy |
I've got one on my 97 S1. Really needed? Probably not as I rode mine quite a bit before it was installed. I've had a head shake one time, going into a corner at around 80mph on a rural road where we like to ride every now and then. There are a couple small ripples in the road surface on this corner. When your leaning way over and the head shakes it's kinda spooky. I installed the steering dampner and so far have never had it happen again. There are numerous settings on the dampner and I usually leave it completely turned off in town and adjust it up when we head out of town on a ride. They can be adjusted while you ride. They come up on e-bay once in a while and you can get some great deals, thats where I picked up mine. I'm glad I installed mine, plus as mentioned earlier I also like the way it looks on the bike :-) You can see a picture of it mounted up at: http://webpages.charter.net/hodakaguy/hodakaguy/ Just my 2 cents Hodakaguy | ||
| Philip |
i have a damper on my 99 m2. took all of the wiggles out of the front end. usually only happened when accelerating hard out of a turn. i have it on the lowest setting and it makes the bike hold a line at low speed. by that i mean you lose the completely neutral feel at low speed. you kind of get used to it. philip | ||
| Lake_bueller |
I have one on my S1W. Agreed that it's probably not necessary. For me, it was more of a "insurance". With the set-up on my S1W (race bars, rear sets & pro-series springs), I felt the front wasn't as stable on high speed corners. But I don't get the same feeling on my S3T (different set-up & riding position). If you plan on doing some track days, I'd get a dampner. Otherwise, probably not really worth the expense. | ||
| Pancho |
Philip, can you give me some input on the steering dampner you have on your M2? Brand and installation requirements or pix? | ||
| Philip |
pancho...it is the one stortz sells. came with the clamps for the fork under the lower tree and one for the frame. i had to work it around the jag oil cooler. because of that it sticks out more than it should but has not been in the way of anything. i have a digital camera but am not very good at posting pics. i'll see if i can get one posted tomorrow. philip | ||
| Hodakaguy |
There is a WP steering dampner on ebay that just came up. I'm in no way connected to that auction, just thought I would pass it along. Here's the link: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Buell-S-1-S-2-S-3-X-1-M-2-WP-Steering-Dampner_W0Q QcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ35569QQitemZ4599648214QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW | ||
| Seth |
Thanks Hodakaguy, I really needed the extra people out bidding me   | ||
| Firemanjim |
No good deed goes unpunished. I have found it is cheaper to buy the damper body on eBay and then get the clamps separate from LP or whoever.The Buell ones always go high.Both of mine have totaled about 100.00. | ||
| Silas_clone |
geez, i was gonna bid on that too...well, I'm out. | ||
| Matty |
Steering Damper:  Steering Dampner:  | ||
| Seth |
Aaagghhh... what's up with the squirt bottle? | ||
| Hodakaguy |
I think its a steering "dampner" :-) Hodakaguy | ||
| Philip |
that's funny | ||
| Bartimus |
Hmmm, that appears to be a '69 CB750, Nice to see old iron still running around! | ||
| Djkaplan |
I've have never felt the need for a damper on my 2000 M2. There are some bikes I wouldn't ride without one, though. | ||
| Bomber |
mounts are easily spun up by any entirely incompetant machinist also, do-able for anyone with an entire day, a drill, maybe some taps, some files, and some alum stock -- no majik on the mounts atall, atall | ||
| Rick_a |
I get it all the time on the S1 and can coerce headshake out of XB's, too. Just exit a corner hard on the throttle while still partially leaned over. With the front end nice and light with a light steering input and a loose hold on the bars you'll get a bit of wiggle even with a steering damper. Put a fierce hold on the bars and you're in for some real fun! |
