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Steering dampers?

jonr

jonr

Forum Mentor
TGSR Superstar
I picked up a NOS steering damper bracket off of ebay a few weeks ago for my 78 GS750E and I have been looking around for dampers that would possibly fit. Does anybody have any experience with these thing? Are they worth it? Had a guy tell me one time it made a huge difference at higher speeds.
 
Damper

Damper

How slow do you want the old girl to steer? Most old bikes dont need them unless somthing is seriousally wrong. Never had a head shake on my 1000 even with the front wheel touching down at 180kph slightly crossed up.
 
damper

damper

Well, to be honest, I have not witnessed any shaking in the front end either. I cruise around 60 MPH (~100KPH) and I get her up to 90 MPH (~150KPH) once in a while. I prefer going straight on the 90 MPH spurts as well :D

I was under the impression that it helped with steering at higher speeds. Shows you what I know about these things. So, all in all, all they do is reduce front-end shaking at high speeds? if that is the case, I'm not even going to pursue it further because I don't have any shaking.
 
Steering dampers should only be used on bikes that have very agressive steering head angles and/or very little trail. Your bike has ample amounts of both unless you've changed you frame/suspension radically.

All a steering damper does is make it tougher to steer quickly. It's job is primarily to prevent tankslappers like this>> http://www.southbayriders.com/forums/videos/tankslapper_paul.wmv

I seriously doubt that the steering geometry of your bike merits the use of a steering damper and all it would end up doing is making you a)have a hard time turning in parking lots and b) you'd probably understeer in panic/highspeed turns because it would require more force to turn the bars.

You still have to land your wheelies straight even with a steering damper ;)
 
I have a steering damper on my S model.
It is adjustable, so at low speeds I can loosen it up.
At higher speeds, highway I run it tight.
No problems. Does it work? Yes The 80GS1000S will head shake over 100mph.
I've tried the damper on numerous settings, and 15 years of riding this bike, I can feel a difference.
Do you really need one? Depends on your riding habits.
 
damper

damper

Mookie & Keith,

Thanks for the advice. I really don't think I need this damper on my bike. The most I hit is about 90 mph simply because any more makes my neck feel like it will snap off. I only go that fast on straight-aways anyway. the bike preforms well right now with the stock setup so if it ain't broke, don't fix it right?

Thanks again for all the advice!
-Jon
 
All of these old 58+ inch wheelbase GS Suzuki's were set up pretty conserative as far as rake/trail go and do not need a damper. Any front end shimmy on these bikes is usually the result of worn or loose steering head bearings or worn tires. Look at the "cutting edge" Katana's of the early 80's, and by todays numbers (wheelbase and rake/trail) these bikes are very conserative. Most modern sportbikes now are set up so radical-55 in wheelbases are norm-that dampers are required to keep the front end in check. They do slow steering in low speed turns but make up for this when the front wheel is light under acceleration. I have never felt the need for one on my highly modified 83' GS750ED but I would not ride my 55 inch wheelbase 2001 TL1000S without one.
 
I would leave it off. I used to run my old GS at 130 MPH without one and it was very smooth (stock rake). I had an old Triumph that had a knob you would turn to tighten down the stearing head. Now that was a dampening system!

Mookie said:
Steering dampers should only be used on bikes that have very agressive steering head angles and/or very little trail. Your bike has ample amounts of both unless you've changed you frame/suspension radically. ;)
Click to expand...

A drag bike with a modified rake and stops will require one depending on the speed it runs. These bikes will do anything but turn.

"2.4.5 STEERING DAMPER
Mandatory on all bikes 9.99 or quicker or 120 mph or faster, and
may not act as fork stops."
 
When I went from full throtle to brake I had a tankslapper whit my Gsx1100e whit 92 1100R front zx6r rear wheel.
Mayby there is something else wrong in my bike??
 
You mean besides putting Kawasaki parts on it? You've got a Kawazuki.
Besides, the Kaw wheels and forks are set up for different frame characteristics.

Harrison
 
That kaw wheel is fine on your bike as long as it is in the right place. I had a 68 inch 1150, with a raked neck and a damper(adjustable), the bike rode and turned just fine. The dampers are for high speed handling and safety at the track. they are usually required to race once you start going fast.
 
And that just emphasizes my point. A stretched frame and a raked neck change the frame characteristics. If gsx1100e is running a stock frame with the different forks and wheels, then the handling of the frame can change. Sometimes it's not for the better.

Harrison
 
From what I have heard It is agravated if you have a 16" front wheel
 
I'm putting a damper on my wifes GS700E. Not because it needs it, but because when I had a flat on the front at 70 mph, I really wised I had one. Better safe than sorry. Even if you have it set on the mild side, any damping in that situation would've been nice.
 
KGB said:
I have a steering damper on my S model.
It is adjustable, so at low speeds I can loosen it up.
At higher speeds, highway I run it tight.
No problems. Does it work? Yes The 80GS1000S will head shake over 100mph.
I've tried the damper on numerous settings, and 15 years of riding this bike, I can feel a difference.
Do you really need one? Depends on your riding habits.
Click to expand...

Mine, too...
Don't have a damper, bit I want one.
 
Got one on my S too. The fairing is meant to mess with the high speed handling (does it?). I don't even notice it's fitted at low speed.
 
I've picked up cheap dampeners off e-bay from late model gsxr's. Usually about ten bucks plus freight. Non adjustable except for fluid viscosity. different weights of fork oil make them looser or stiffer. Thats what I run on the drag bikes with 7-weight R/C shock oil
 
damper

damper

In discussing the 80 81 GS1100E, several motorcycle magazines commented on the instability at very high speeds. After heaping every accolade possible on these bikes, one magazine indicated that, yes, the GS1100E could be a "wriggling handful at speed", something he had only experienced at the track. Not having researched what "speed" was, I had my bike out one summer evening on a long flat nearly deserted road on the outskirts of town. Decided to see "what it would do". I don't remember the exact numbers (it was 1985 - and yes, I was young and stupid) but do remember figuring that according to the tach, I was right at 130 mph. This bike was meticulously maintained. Good tires properly inflated. Aligned properly. Balanced wheels. Well, you know what is coming next: I hit the tiniest little bump and the handlebars went into a violent shake. We are not talking about a mild shimmy. I mean 8 inches back and forth, and I could not get it under control. Blipped the throttle back and forth. Tapped the brake. Finally just let it coast down, all the while shaking so much that I could not have changed directions to save my life. Not until I got back down below 100 mph did it subside. I had been between 90 and 100 mph on numerous occasions with no sign of a shake. I pulled over to the curb, got off to collect my wits (evidently only had 1/2 of one that night) sat on the curb and watched my knees knock. Oh, I went back and did some research, and "speed" = 120 to 130 mph.

The guy I had purchased the bike from had been bugging me for quite some time to buy it back. We made a deal the next morning.

Part of me always regretted selling that bike. My buddy still has it, and I have borrowed it numerous times over the years when I wanted to ride. Some of you know I just purchased an 82 GS1100E. My buddy was there when it was unloaded. We laughed about the shake. Rest assured, this bike will never see those speeds with me on it.

Damper? If I were going to take my bike to the track, you bet. If I were young and foolish enough to do 130 on the street, you bet. Right now, just don't think I would put one on it. Why tempt myself?


Lynn
 
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