Aftermarket steering dampers

[Major Softie]

MS, this forum is about old bikes. If someone infers that I am talking about new technology on new bikes, then I apologize. I am talking about the old stuff and how it performed.......... only.

I have never ridden a newer bike an never will, as i have no interest. Nothing I ever say applies to anything after about 1980. I think that this is made very clear on my website about the older bikes.

Understood, but you posted in response to his discussion of mounting very new technology on his old bike. I'm having trouble coming up with another example, but I've seen this happen a lot over the years: A device becomes popular despite the technology being underdeveloped, eventually everyone discards it because of the inherent problems, then years later it reappears as technology has caught up with the original idea and it can now be done so much better.

[Duane Ausherman]

Even back then the industry had decent shock units that could be mounted and worked well, just not BMW.

Actually, they worked very well, sort of. The entire purpose was to add boiler plate to ward off suits for damage from high speed wobbles. They may have solved that issue.

The only mechanical thing that they accomplished was on the /5 series. They would hold the forks in one position while working on the bike.

The /6 went back to the hydraulic with adjustment............... that didn't work and got sloppy.

[dougie]

I have used these in the past (NHK).
Good for the money.
A bit of a fiddle to set up in order to get full lock-to-lock.
http://www.mikesxs.net/product/28-4008.html

[mattcfish]

With all the discussion about old vs new, my original question comes to mind, are cheap, Asian dampers better than old tech, expensive BMW ones? I ride on a lot of Mountain roads with great twisties but quite often uneven and degraded surfaces. Lots of great input guys. I'm keeping my eyes open for a deal.

Dougie, what sort of performance gains did you get out of the NHK? Did you find the stroke of the example you linked to be OK for an airhead? Excellent price. These guys like the quality. http://www.fastfromthepast.com/servlet/ ... Categories

[Duane Ausherman]

The BMW dampers were useless, so you have to ask if the Asian dampers are worth anything at all.

Why are people mounting dampers on solo bikes?

[dougie]

Dougie, what sort of performance gains did you get out of the NHK? Did you find the stroke of the example you linked to be OK for an airhead? Excellent price. These guys like the quality. http://www.fastfromthepast.com/servlet/ ... Categories

Never fitted one on an airhead. (my Monolever bike doesn't seem to need one)

[ME 109]

I ate my damper.

It's an Aussie thing ya know.

[dougie]

I ate my damper.
It's an Aussie thing ya know.

Turn 5 at Shannonville Motorsport Park ate mine (ancient Canadian history, filed under "ouch").

[Mal S7]

I've always wondered why they went to so much trouble to fit a piece of equipment that doesn't work properly on a bike that doesn't need it. Not in my experience.

My /7 writhes like a big snake when hitting mounds and potholes mid-corner, and I've hit some big ones hard enough that I thought it was last days for me. But its always lateral; frame and forks hinging side-to-side, that's the feeling, to my surprise the bars don't wave, the forks don't slap. I think BMW done good.

[ME 109]

I think much like you Mal. My bike has been damper less for about five years.
What are they 'sposed to do anyways?