Steering Damper question

[Jobe Zeebuh]

Can somebody explain to me what steering dampers do? Is it just a knob for fine steering? Why are they $500???

 

[dave_xb12r]

It doesn't allow twitchy movements in steering. It stabilizes your steering. This is needed when doing hard acceleration on less than perfect roads and when hard braking into a turn. Firebolts are pretty stable and those that have them have them on their buell for looks. Yes it's good, do you need it? No. Not really on a buell. If you're having problems, turn your attention to your suspension tuning.

 

[Jobe Zeebuh]

do u actually steer with it or do you just adjust it?

LOL! speaking of tuning my suspension...it was tuned for a 100 lb girl. No wonder why my wrists and hands were going numb last season. After the tune holy **** what a difference. I love my bike even more now.

 

[dave_xb12r]

It comes with a microphone and you just say which you you want to turn and thats the direction it takes you... haha.. j/k....

It basically provides friction when turning the bars. So you can set it up really light friction or really hard friction depending on your tastes in steering feel.

 

[Jobe Zeebuh]

$500 for that? sheesh. Some bolt on parts are way to expensive.

 

[dave_xb12r]

Agreed. If you're racing or doing a lot of track days, it's probably a good buy. But for road riding, you don't need it. Nitto is probably one of our fastest members and he has one, but he'll even tell you that he doesn't need it.

 

[Puzzled]

Most often you find out you need one when its to late. On the 1125's they are very light in the front end. Add a tune and a pipe and they get even lighter in the front end. They are more for the "spirited" rider. Cruising to and from the local hang out wouldn't have much need for one. The vast majority of the Inline Fours now all come with a stock version of a stabilizer. That tells me they are needed more so than one would think. I agree they can get expensive. I have always runs Scotts and they sure are proud of what they make!

 

[Jornum1]

I agree with Puzzled. I would have never thought of getting one before.
But being that I ride relatively fast on my 1125 at the appropriate time, I have had my fair share of head shakes from the front end unintentionally coming up a 1/2" or so in hard acceleration. Not enough to make me crash, but enough that if I had to react at that point I wouldnt have been able to. I have also read plenty of posts about people getting into tank slappers due to this problem as well.

I also agree with you Dave, I never had that problem on my xb. But the xb I could ride to its limits, the 1125 I dont even come close on.

So I would compare it to gear, do you need it? No, but you sure will be glad you have it when you do.

 

[Stevenc150]

Nitto made his own, but there were some minor issues if I remember right. Maybe he'll post up, here's the DIY:

- $85 Steering Damper

 

[anrkizm95]

They also help when setting the wheel back down at 80.

 

[nitto12ss]

Nitto is probably one of our fastest members and he has one, but he'll even tell you that he doesn't need it.

I had no idea I was so awesome LOL. Your right thought, if the suspension is setup correctly on the bike you should be good to go.

Nitto made his own, but there were some minor issues if I remember right. Maybe he'll post up, here's the DIY:

- $85 Steering Damper

MikeD718 was was the man behind that mod, I just followed suit. The problem I had was due to the mounting. I had it mounted to the isolator bolt and at a RPM range of 2800-3000, it would resonate and cause the bike to vibrate. Could have probably figured something out, but I just spent the cash a got a Storz. I prefer the look of the exposed damper anyways.

Hope that helps, have questions, fire away.

 

[BuellerPilot]

http://www.buellxb.com/Buell-XB-Forum/Buell-Lightning-XB12S-XB12Ss-CityX-XB12Scg/steering-damper

http://www.buellxb.com/Buell-XB-Forum/Buell-Firebolt-XB12-XB9/steering-damper

http://www.buellxb.com/Buell-XB-Forum/Buell-Parts-Guy-Questions-and-Answers/Steering-Stabilizer

http://www.buellxb.com/Buells-for-S...ther-Steering-Stabilizer....Different-Fitment

http://www.buellxb.com/Buell-XB-Forum/Buell-Lightning-XB12S-XB12Ss-CityX-XB12Scg/Steering-Dampners.

http://www.buellxb.com/Buell-XB-Forum/Buell-Firebolt-XB12-XB9/Steerin-Dampers-How-important-are-they

And that's just one page of 5+ lol

~Mike....

 

[racepro716]

Be careful. They can be very dangerous at low speeds on high settings. (The guard rail in the pitlane at Mosport and I became real intimate) Poked a hole through the bubble on my 125GP bike doing a stoppie because the damn thing wouldn't turn! **** did I look stupid!!! lol Wayne

 

[xtremelow]

 

[Jobe Zeebuh]

~Mike....

You are like the library of Buells!!! [up]

 

[xb12 tripp]

steering damper not so worried about, but xtreme's carbon is nice. is it from ASB Xtreme?

 

[nitto12ss]

steering damper not so worried about, but xtreme's carbon is nice. is it from ASB Xtreme?

Thats the a picture of the EBR 1190RS, not extremes bike.