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Steering Dampers

  1. #1
    Fuckin' right doggy!!
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    Steering Dampers

    Just wanted to hear thoughts and opinions on steering dampers. Is this a good addition to my bike if i'm just going to be riding the roads? or a waste of money?

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  2. #2
    Lifer brewmaster's Avatar
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    Steering Dampers

    Do you get head shake? If so when?

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  3. #3
    Unsafe At Any Speeds Jim's Avatar
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    Steering Dampers

    i asked the same question. from what i've been told from the general responses was that it's useless for street riding. it's essential for stunters, and some racers. i'll take the $400 for a speedohealer, TRE, and PCIII

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  4. #4
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    Steering Dampers

    Quote Originally Posted by brewmaster View Post
    Do you get head shake? If so when?
    well to be honest i haven't even taken my new bike out yet, but didn't know if dampers may be something i wanted to add when messing around this winter.

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  5. #5
    Unsafe At Any Speeds Jim's Avatar
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    Steering Dampers

    my friend with the same bike as you would never buy a damper for his bike. for every day street riding, you're probably wasting your money.

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  6. #6
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    Steering Dampers

    Quote Originally Posted by DBConz View Post
    i asked the same question. from what i've been told from the general responses was that it's useless for street riding. it's essential for stunters, and some racers. i'll take the $400 for a speedohealer, TRE, and PCIII
    yea i hear ya...can buy a lot of fun things for $400 instead of buying just the damper, especially if it's not needed.

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  7. #7
    Lifer brewmaster's Avatar
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    Steering Dampers

    Spend the $$ on some track days. You'll get ALOT more out of that than anything you can add on to the bike. Remember the biggest problem with most bikes is the rider not the bike!

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  8. #8
    Lifer brewmaster's Avatar
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    Steering Dampers

    I can't say that they are useless, but......
    In most cases the rider isn't weighting the pegs enough or the suspension is not tuned very well. Generally fixing those things takes the "shake" away.

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  9. #9
    Lifer Pittenger5's Avatar
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    Steering Dampers

    I got one for my 636 and I tell ya, it makes a huge difference. It might very well be mental, but I have a lot more confidence in the bike, and like was mention 93 is shit and I feel some nice bumps with the damper, I wouldnt want to hit them without one.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Pookie View Post
    My favorite was you going through T2 with your eyes closed.

  10. #10
    Lifer brewmaster's Avatar
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    Steering Dampers

    I have steering dampers on both my street bike and my race bike. In both cases as I have improved my riding and worked with the suspension, I have turned both of them down to almost nothing. That said T7 to T8 at Loudon will throw a fun shake at you. The same is true for the back kink at Beaverun. That is a full throttle left at near full speed with some serious ripples in the pavement, a bit unsettling to say the least.

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  11. #11
    Lifer RyanNicholson's Avatar
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    Steering Dampers

    i don't currently have one on my street bike, but i can tell you from experience its like wearing gear....useless 99.99% of the time but you'll be damn glad you have it if that time ever comes

    i plan to put one on the street bike, but i will never go on a track without one...thats for sure

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  12. #12
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    Steering Dampers

    Quote Originally Posted by RyanNicholson View Post
    i don't currently have one on my street bike, but i can tell you from experience its like wearing gear....useless 99.99% of the time but you'll be damn glad you have it if that time ever comes

    i plan to put one on the street bike, but i will never go on a track without one...thats for sure
    thanks man...this will definitely be something to think about!! Who are good manufacturers of these if I decide to put one on?

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  13. #13
    Lifer RyanNicholson's Avatar
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    Steering Dampers

    they're all pretty good, ohlins i think is the best built but of course comes with the corresponding price tag. I use a sprint upper mount on my race bike and i like it....the CRG triple mounts are good as well. Scotts are also a good brand.

    They all run $350-$400ish except for the ohlins which is like $500

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  14. #14
    Lifer Pittenger5's Avatar
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    Steering Dampers

    I dunno bout the others, but Ohlins you can buy mounting brackets seperately so you can just buy a mounting bracket if you ever switch bikes, you dont need to buy the whole assembly again, something to look into

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    Zip Tie Alley #505

    Quote Originally Posted by Pookie View Post
    My favorite was you going through T2 with your eyes closed.

  15. #15
    Winter sucks Nate Dawg's Avatar
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    Steering Dampers

    I have a Matris M3. Only because that was the only company I could find that made something I liked for Triumphs. Damn English bikes are so hard to find parts for!!!

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  16. #16
    Fuckin' right doggy!!
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    Steering Dampers

    Quote Originally Posted by Triumphdog View Post
    I have a Matris M3. Only because that was the only company I could find that made something I liked for Triumphs. Damn English bikes are so hard to find parts for!!!
    do they help a lot? or do you feel it was somewhat of an unwarranted purchase?

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  17. #17
    Winter sucks Nate Dawg's Avatar
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    Steering Dampers

    I bought the damper because I started feeling some wheel shake at the end of last season. Once I felt that shake my confidence was shot for the day. The damper has 13 different tension settings to allow for different riding situations. I like mine and feel it was a great purchase for me. It was hard to justify spending $400+ on something like that, but I'm glad I did. It came in handy down in Tenn. riding shady valley.

    with all that said...I suggest you ride your bike first. Since you haven't even ridden it yet. Since I don't know how experienced you are I can't say if a damper is something you need. In your case it might be money wasted and can be spent on more important things. It took me awhile to learn my new bike before I got to the point where I felt it necessary to buy a damper.

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    Last edited by Nate Dawg; 11-22-07 at 02:11 PM.

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  18. #18
    Fuckin' right doggy!!
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    Steering Dampers

    Quote Originally Posted by Triumphdog View Post
    I bought the damper because I started feeling some wheel shake at the end of last season. Once I felt that shake my confidence was shot for the day. The damper has 13 different tension settings to allow for different riding situations. I like mine and feel it was a great purchase for me. It was hard to justify spending $400+ on something like that, but I'm glad I did. It came in handy down in Tenn. riding shady valley.

    with all that said...I suggest you ride your bike first. Since you haven't even ridden it yet. Since I don't know how experienced you are I can't say if a damper is something you need. In your case it might be money wasted and can be spent on more important things. It took me awhile to learn my new bike before I got to the point where I felt it necessary to buy a damper.
    understood!! I appreciate the insight and will definitely wait until next season to decide...man I wish my bike was on the road today is a great riding day!!!

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  19. #19
    Winter sucks Nate Dawg's Avatar
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    Steering Dampers

    I hear ya. Mine is in parts strewn around my guest bedroom. I love the smell of gasoline in the house!!!

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  20. #20
    Fuckin' right doggy!!
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    Steering Dampers

    hahaha i wish i had the room for it in my apt!!! Gotta drive 2 hours back to my parents house to even look at it.

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  21. #21
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    Steering Dampers

    A damper is a good addition to any bike if you can afford it.
    Certainly doesn't hurt on the street, and I've never ridden on the track without one.

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  22. #22
    Lifer CMG241's Avatar
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    Steering Dampers

    Quote Originally Posted by brewmaster View Post
    I have steering dampers on both my street bike and my race bike. In both cases as I have improved my riding and worked with the suspension, I have turned both of them down to almost nothing. That said T7 to T8 at Loudon will throw a fun shake at you. .....
    add coming out of T4 hard on the throttle.
    Say what you will about a Buell (my street bike) but its rock solid every where / all the time, I go over low pavement on bridges (RT 93 at border was horrible until last month) to the biggest expansion joints doing 80 with one hand on the bars, it would only need one on the track. Back in the 80's it seemed like every street bike needed one, my 1st new bike was a 84 GPZ750 an the high speed wobble was extreme, same with 85 Ninja. Never had one on my mid 70's KZ's but wish I did.

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  23. #23
    Just Registered Crash Dummy Denno's Avatar
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    Steering Dampers

    get a sprint damper - great english company

    i like the linear dampers better than the rotary

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  24. #24
    Just Registered Doc's Avatar
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    Steering Dampers

    Have to chime in...

    So how experienced are you Wortown03?

    I agree that a damper is something that can be useful... If you NEED it nd to a lesser degree can afford it.

    I was getting a wobble coming our of 7 going into 8... I talked to some people and they said loosen up on the bars. Worked PERFECT! NO more wobble.

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  25. #25
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    Steering Dampers

    Quote Originally Posted by Doc View Post
    Have to chime in...

    So how experienced are you Wortown03?

    I agree that a damper is something that can be useful... If you NEED it nd to a lesser degree can afford it.

    I was getting a wobble coming our of 7 going into 8... I talked to some people and they said loosen up on the bars. Worked PERFECT! NO more wobble.
    extremely new hahaha...only road a couple times my whole life. I haven't driven this bike yet as I bought it at the end of the season and didn't feel like putting it on the road for 2 weeks. Just wondering if they are a good idea if money wasn't an issue.

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