One of the previous posts was half right, a steering damper shouldnt be fitted to mask fundamental problems with suspension and geometry. Having said that there are a number of bikes that are fundamentally nervous and can have a propensity to wobble.
But there is another compelling argument that steering dampers should be fitted as a secondary safety device. If for example you run wide off a turn and into the ''greenery'' an effective steering damper may save the handlebars being wrenched from your hands by a deflecting influence. That may keep you upright. Or at a trackday another rider/ bike clips you whilst passing, sending you off the track.
The cheap steering damper you have found on the net is not pressurised and will cavitate. It will have a small air bubble deliberately left inside it on assembly ( it will homogenise in use ), this to allow for oil expansion in hot conditions. Parts availability is ''more than challenging''.
If you buy offshore that is another nail in the slow decline/ bastardisation of NZ business, especially in specialist fields. The very same NZ business sector that provides ordinary everyday Kiwis employment, brings in foreign exchange and shoulders the heaviest parts of the tax burden. And the very same often scathingly referred to ''sector'' that always pays commercial clearance charges and gst on all goods and clearances, for all imported goods. NOT a level playing field. I make no apologies for saying that, this is doing long term damage to what is a small and vulnerable country.
The only true high quality steering dampers available ( i.e Ohlins and WP ) have a pressurisation chamber and expansion tank to compensate for heat expansion, negating the cheap and cheerful air bubble. Positive pressure means no cavitation and consistent performance, as it should be!
But, supply and demand being what it is such manufacturers can only economically produce complete, specific steering damper kits for more recent model high volume sales sportbikes. Moreover, I dislike the top mount transverse action ''fashion fad'' steering dampers, even though Ohlins list a few. Arguably such a mounting position is more crashproof for those racers who have a propensity for crashing often, but it is also one more appendage that gets in the way when you have to remove the tank. Moreover you are asking a small, squat steering damper to provide a lot of damping force within a very very short stroke. Some of the bodged up ''Kiwi can do it'' installations I have seen reinforce what I have just said. The need for precision, top quality components and absolutely no cavitation magnifies enormously with transverse installation.
If a damper is sidemounted it will stroke over a much larger distance for the same relative arc radius of handlebar movement. Those familiar with fluid dynamics will know that it is much easier to accurately and reliably modulate more mass oil flow than a tiny amount. A proffessionally mounted Ohlins SD140 sidemount damper will work extremely well with a 20 click wide response range of adjustment. The only difference between what you can buy and the Ohlins steering damper used by Casey Stoner is material, his are made of magnesium. Long term reliability and the ability to be serviced is why 90% or more of WSBK, MotoGp, 250GP, 125GP teams etc use Ohlins steering dampers. The safety benefits are just as applicable to ordinary everyday road riders as they are to racers.
Ohlins spend their time in making sure that material choice, function, adjustability, long term reliability etc is all top notch. Anodising colours are subtle and tasteful rather than looking like a gawdy, cheap tart on a street corner. In line with the expectations of Ohlins their distributors are not merely resellers of product. We provide FULL AND PROPER LOCAL BACKUP SERVICE, when needed several years down the track. We have the full service kit, parts and experience. How many can sincerely say that ?
In Auckland we have a couple of people who we can trust implicitly to fit sidemount steering dampers. If you have questions further to my diatribe above please pm me or for a faster response e-mail to
robert@northwest.co.nz
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Originally Posted by Biggles08
renowned for being skittery.
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