Steering Dampers

.Bishbash. · World Chat Champion Joined: 06 Sep 2010 Karma :

OK, I have been shopping for a steering damper for my track bike 06 R6 if you need to know it.

They are quite pricey for the decent makes, averaging around £200.

So, I had a peek on eBay and found a few less know brands for around £80 new.

Here's an example

My question is, has anyone had experience with these? Are they any good? What difference will the decent makes have against these? I mean, it's only a piston and fittings right?
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Current bike - GSX-R1000 k8

b422063 · Crazy Courier Joined: 14 Oct 2014 Karma :

How much fine tuning do you want? How much do you trust it not to seize/bend/break and not jam your steering? How often do you want to replace to seals? How easy will it be to find the replacement seals?

.Bishbash. · World Chat Champion Joined: 06 Sep 2010 Karma :

b422063 · Crazy Courier Joined: 14 Oct 2014 Karma :

I haven't, but it's purely because I decided that I'd rather have a second hand premium brand and service it than go for the cheaper brand. I did have to wait a month before 'winning' one on eBay.

I doubt you would have problems other than the seals going quickly just down to tolerance issues, but it is your steering that you're playing with....

P.addy · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

Had a Sprint one, think it was Sprint.

Seemed ok, adjustable enough and never had the R1 throw its head anywhere.

.Bishbash. · World Chat Champion Joined: 06 Sep 2010 Karma :

Cheers guys, had a bit of a search around and I could not find any bad reviews from the chinese makes. I will think a bit more about it and/or wait to see if a decent one pops up

Praying

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Current bike - GSX-R1000 k8

CaNsA · Super Spammer Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Karma :

I've had a sprint steering damper on both ZXR400's i've owned.

Top notch, and quite a few of the 400cc racers use them.

b422063 · Crazy Courier Joined: 14 Oct 2014 Karma :

I have Sprint damper on one of my bikes, I forget which though which I think is the best compliment a damper can have. Laughing

.Bishbash. · World Chat Champion Joined: 06 Sep 2010 Karma :

Sprint you say huh, I will give them a search, any other makes that are good, let me know Wink

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Current bike - GSX-R1000 k8

Scythe · Crazy Courier Joined: 24 Jul 2010 Karma :

My track bike has a Sprint too, can't say it's bad tbh.
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2009 Yamaha YBR125 -> 2000 SV650S -> 2005 Kawasaki ZX6R 636

b422063 · Crazy Courier Joined: 14 Oct 2014 Karma :

The other dampers I've got is a Ohlins and GPR. I think the GPR is the only one I'd express any disappointment with. Where it's done 30,000 miles now the metals worn in the bracket and has a bit of play left to right now.

Obviously you can't buy new brackets though just the whole kit. Rolling Eyes

Edit: It looks like the distributor does sell the separate parts now. Though when I bought the kit it was £200 in 2007 and now it's nearly £400. Laughing

robs321 · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 24 Feb 2010 Karma :

Had a Toby one, made in Belgium with good range of spares. Better than chinese poo!

Bikeless · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jun 2008 Karma :

After 2 monumental slappers on my blade I drove up to sprint in Nottingham and bought a damper,got a deal for cash as well. Best thing I ever done,had it set quite low so steering still felt quick but it stopped any problems from then on,I even tried to provoke it as well.

CaNsA · Super Spammer Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Karma :

Legsy, a lurking BCFer, bought a CB600F.

We went to "The Moon" over the water, a long stretch of straight smooth road where people go to pop wheelies and do speed runs.

Legsy stepped up for a speed run on his new bike.
Hit a tiny bump in the road while pinned and started to wobble, massive tank slapper.
Powered through it, didn't crash or die.

"My suspension is all out of whack, that's why it happened"

£300 and 2 weeks later he had a genuine Honda steering dampener with "CBR" laser etched.

Fucking poser.

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

A crap steering damper will make riding the bike horrible... A sprint one is the minimum I'd go for I think.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

P.addy · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

Wave2k · G's Stalker Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Karma :

My riding style never really led to many tank slappers , like to think I'm quite smooth .

However quite a few bikes I've had have come with them .

The standard unadjustable Suzuki isn't much good but the fully adjustable ohlins one was very decent .

I had it on the lowest setting most times
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Ducati 1299 Panigale
2009 Corvette C6 z51
RS125->CBR400->RXS100->GSXR750K2->Ducati749S->CBR600RR5->TL1000R->DRz400->RSVR1000->Honda VTR SP1->CBR400->GSXR1000K6->Honda H100->CBR600RR3->Ducati1299

woo · World Chat Champion Joined: 14 Feb 2005 Karma :

I bought and 03 R1 in october 2014 which came with an ohlns steering damper
best thing i did was take it off and sell it on ebay for £145
i hated the bloody thing even with the lowest setting i hated the way it made the steering feel different, the bike now feels so much better without it.
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Elen sila lummen omentielvo!