Steering Dampers

[Jon]

Bit of advice needed if poss.

Looking at ordering a steering damper this week for around £200, should get it at trade price though. However, which one should I go for? Toby or Sprint? any suggestions for a Hornet 600?

Cheers

[Rob W]

Do you really need one on a Hornet 6?
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TS50 > Senda 125 > ZXR400 > CB-1 > GSX-R1000 > Bandit 600 > ZXR750 H1 > GSX-R750 SRAD > '98 RR-W Fireblade > T595 Daytona > Hornet 900 > '04 Fireblade > GSX-S1000F (x2) > '23 XSR900

[Jon]

[Rob W]

Why exactly? Never heard of Hornet 6's being prone to tank-slappers or having dodgy handling.
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TS50 > Senda 125 > ZXR400 > CB-1 > GSX-R1000 > Bandit 600 > ZXR750 H1 > GSX-R750 SRAD > '98 RR-W Fireblade > T595 Daytona > Hornet 900 > '04 Fireblade > GSX-S1000F (x2) > '23 XSR900

[Jon]

I'd much rather spend the money on some decent tyres but I tend to get one too many tank slaps when I go out on my Hornet, probably to do with me only weighing a kilo Plus it's pretty essential on the track when you tend to be riding pretty hard.

[Fortuna]

I only have Ohlins, but they are worth it on certain bikes. Namely tuned R1's

[streetfighter]

Both dampers are good, it's a case of aesthetics.

They all do pretty much the same thing but some look better than others.

I'd pay the extra and get an Ohlins damper mounted on the top yolk.

[Jon]

Didn't realise you could get an Ohlins steering damper mounted on the yolks for a Hornet?

Would like to but way too much

Toby

High quality dampers and fitting kits manufactured by M.Toby one of Europers leading Grand Prix suppliers. All dampers have 25 adjustments, PTFE anti dust seals and come with a 12 month warranty.


Sprint

Sprints long term development programme has enabled them to manufacture tried and tested steering dampers with many unique features that combine high tech performance with reliability and affordability.
* 13 position - click adjustable.
* Unique low friction seals to prevent heat seizure.
* O'ring controlled heat expansion device.
* Fully rebuildable.
Available in Silver, Black, Gold, Blue, Titanium, Purple or Red.


The Sprint is 20 quid more though

[Bendy]

RiDE mag recommended the Arrow damper. The Sprint scored the most points, but they said the adjustment doesn't make much difference until you get to the extreme end of the range.

They didn't test the Toby though - scores went:

Sprint - 47
Extreme Tech - 47
Arrow - 45
Matris M3 - 41
Ohlins - 39
Matris M4 - 38
Hyperpro - 34
Bitubo - 30

[jonboy]

I have to say I thought that damper test was the worst review Ride has ever done..Things like initial 'stiction' actually being a good thing, and testing the resistance at speeds of approximately one lock to lock every 5-10 seconds, led to me thinking the manufacturer's comments at the end were rather restrained.

I've got a sprint damper cos it was going cheap, but there's little difference in price being sprint and ohlins and most others, so don't rule the ohlins out.

[Korn]

[tintin]

Save your money, you really don't need a steering damper on your bike. I've had 3 R6's and never needed a damper on any of them, even for track days.

Spend the money on getting the suspension set up properly for your riding style and weight and that will solve any problems you might be having.
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The older I get the better I was

[jay12329]

I'm in two minds about fitting a dampner to my hornet 6. I've had a few moments mainly on the track where the front has had a slightly scary wobble.
On the other hand after talking to some people from the nest it seams that a dampner causes more problems than it solves for road rideing on the Hooner.
HTH
J

[jay12329]

On another note the money might be better spent on a fork re-valve (~£250.) But this means sending your forks away so you will be off the road, i think this normally takes around 2 weeks and well worth it if you are going to enter the hornet cup.
J

[Jon]

Yep, spoken to a fair few people now and it looks like it could be to do with the suspension set-up. Getting my braided lines fitted on Sat so will see what the mechanics say about the suspension

Jay - have you got the Hel lines yet? £63 all in on ebay. Were £55 a week ago! Book Silverstone aswell, think I'll also be in novice.

[stormwarning]

[jay12329]

Yes I have hel lines, only fitter the rear at the moment. Might do the fronts tomorrow. Dead easy job to do. For suspention i'm just upgrading my forksprings to ohlins to see what that does before i go the whole hog of re valving. another reasonably simple job when i get round to fitting them.
I'm still a bit unsure of silverstone, no point doing it if its wet cus i'll jsut be paranoid.
J

[Dr Nick]

Yes u do need a damper on a Hornet 6, i get little moment son mine all the time, especially from when comin down from wheelies, which is quite a lot now its downgeared. Think u can get Sprint dampers and bracket for £180, or jus get the bracket fromt sprint for £80 and get an ohlins damper?

If you get one tell me how well it works etc, might buy one myself.

ta
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is that it

[jay12329]

I've been looking on e-bay and found the two options,
Yoke Mounted;
https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10460&item=7945976287&rd=1
And Engine mounted;
https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=25623&item=7944763983&rd=1

When changing the fork springs stick with 10W oil. Use of anything heaver gives the impresion of extra dampning but its just slower moving, this increases the presre on the valves and cause excessive ware.
HTH
J

[Korn]

[Jon]