Aftermarket steering dampers

[mattcfish]

From what I've read on other sights...one thing they do is prevent a tank slapper. If you hit a bump just right in a turn and your weight distribution leaves the front tire your forks can get sideways quite easily without one......especially if your riding position is compromised by said bump.

[Major Softie]

Thus their importance on track bikes being pushed to their limits.

[ME 109]

Track bikes and street bikes might be equal in need for a damper given the generally much poorer road surfaces encountered by road bikes.

I did a 6 klm stretch of deep sand last year loaded for touring, damperless.
Ass puckering stuff.
I wonder if a damper would have made the situation worse.

[KenHawk]

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.

My answer to this situation on my "S" bike was to throw away the stock damper, brace my /6 frame a bit, add a big tube swing arm and set my bike up correctly. That means that I rebuilt the front end, added new shocks, adjusted the steering head bearings, etc.

Now frost heaves, pot holes and ripples no longer upset the bike and it tends to take care of itself through unpaved sections. I just weight the pegs, giveit it's head, make gentle/smooth inputs and apply some rear brake from time-to-time. No, it;s not an adventure bike and I wouldnt willingly take it out in sand but on it's first road trip I rode it a good 35 or 40 miles of rutted gravel roads with no problems what-so-ever.

Of course you do have to know how to ride reasonably well and many of you "riders" could use a brush-up skill wise. (Hint, hint...!) And yes, thats my pretty new Hot Rod on the right, on it first road trip and covered with dust!

[Mal S7]

My answer to this situation on my "S" bike was to throw away the stock damper, brace my /6 frame a bit, add a big tube swing arm and set my bike up correctly. That means that I rebuilt the front end, added new shocks, adjusted the steering head bearings, etc.

Thanks Ken. I didn't mean it to sound like my ol' bike does this on any old rough patch or pothole. I used to get around on dual purpose bikes and I appreciate the similar characteristics of the /7.

I am talking about belting into a corner and hitting the "I wish I was somewhere else right now" stuff. (Ask someone from Victoria about NSW roads.)

The bike is set up OK, but yes, I'd like to fit a big-tube swing arm.

cheers
Mal