 Steering Damper, Why?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,416
Oil Expert
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OP
Oil Expert
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,416 |
Please forgive my ignorance, but what on earth would this do for me? I honestly don't know. Please enlighten me... web page 
"Wise men speak because they have something to say, fools because they have to say something."
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Re: Steering Damper, Why?
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,669
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,669 |
My guess would be that it helps keep or return the front end in a fore and aft position with the rest of the bike. I'm thinking from what it says on their page, when crossing a deep groove or lets say a diagonal RR track, the bike would stay true instead of trying to follow the impression on the roadway. I may be completly wrong, just my take on it. But if I'm correct, and that's all it does I would have to pass on it, kinda usless for me.
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Re: Steering Damper, Why?
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
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They are for race bikes and unless your living on the ragged edge there is no use for one on cruiser.
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Re: Steering Damper, Why?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,126 Likes: 13
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,126 Likes: 13 |
Thwarts tank slap brought on by high speed harmonics or should I say dis-harmonics?
Blowing gravel off rural roads
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Re: Steering Damper, Why?
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,937
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Apr 2008
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+1
THAT'S the number one reason.
And you may see me tonight
With an illegal smile
J. Prine
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Re: Steering Damper, Why?
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,671 Likes: 15
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Feb 2008
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One ride on a Kawasaki H2 Mach IV, WOT, and you'll know why...that said, no need on a BA or SM, IMO.
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Re: Steering Damper, Why?
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 497
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 497 |
They are more suited to sports bikes with a steeper rake and shorter trail,- they turn faster but are more twitchy. Our bikes have a flatter rake and longer trail,- more stable but slower to turn. Not really necessary for us.
05 Speedmaster,Reverse Cone Shortys,Thunderbike AIR Kit,K&N Air Filter,Snorkel Removed,Dynojet Stage 1 Kit(126 main),Needle-Clip 1 From Bottom,42 Pilot,NGK Iridium Plugs,Progressive Springs,Hagon 2810's,Barnett Green Springs,TTP Safe-Start,MOSFET R/R
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Re: Steering Damper, Why?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,416
Oil Expert
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OP
Oil Expert
Joined: Jan 2005
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Thanks all for answering! That was my guess as well. Tank slapping/wobbling isn't that common in the world of cruisers. Probably as necessary as knee sliders... 
"Wise men speak because they have something to say, fools because they have to say something."
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Re: Steering Damper, Why?
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,243 Likes: 64
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,243 Likes: 64 |
My Suzuki triple could have used one, at well over 100mph it would start to do the tank slap motion. It smoothed right out when I let off the throttle though. Never had any hint of that on my SM.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Steering Damper, Why?
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,671 Likes: 15
Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Quote:
...It smoothed right out when I let off the throttle though...
Ahh...thats where the H2 would get temporarily worse, by chopping the throttle. It's been nearly 40 years & I vividly recall that.
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Re: Steering Damper, Why?
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Joined: Apr 2008
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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My H2 & H1 both have them. My America, Honda Custom, & the GS do not. BUT, I'm gettin' one for the GS, as it is MUCH faster now! 
And you may see me tonight
With an illegal smile
J. Prine
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Re: Steering Damper, Why?
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 544
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Feb 2012
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Img going to autozone and getting a trunk/tailgate/hood piston and ducttapping this onto my bike tonight!
Yeah never got why people put them on bonnies and thruxs, I get the curb appeal and all but they aren't fast bikes, I've seen them on sportsters and a daynas too.
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Re: Steering Damper, Why?
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Joined: Apr 2008
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Apr 2008
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 Might work IF your only ridin' on the salt! 
And you may see me tonight
With an illegal smile
J. Prine
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Re: Steering Damper, Why?
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 544
Adjunct
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Adjunct
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If it'll keep me upright on oil slicks I'd put one on! I dropped the triumph twice in two different parking lots sence I moved to az.. I sware everyones car here leaks a quart a day!
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Re: Steering Damper, Why?
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2 |
Quote:
Thanks all for answering! That was my guess as well. Tank slapping/wobbling isn't that common in the world of cruisers. Probably as necessary as knee sliders...
I'm not so sure I can agree with what everyone is tellin' ya here, Bengt. And so, let me ask you the following question:
Have we all not read at least half a dozen threads at this website in which someone will ask why their front wheel starts shaking whenever they come off throttle, and usually at around 40MPH or so?"
And the replies the thread's author usually will receive are things like "worn steering head bearings" or "your front-to-rear wheel alignment is off" or "your front tire is too worn". And very often even after the person checks out all those possible causes, they still very often report back that their steering shakes.
And so, the reason I bring this up is that it seems to me a steering damper like this MGHT just do the trick to help keep that from happening EVEN of our long-wheelbase raked-out cruisers.
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Steering Damper, Why?
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,243 Likes: 64
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,243 Likes: 64 |
Probably would Dwight, but the shake is on a small number of bikes. Seems to me in most cases a front tire change fixes it.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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