Where to mount steering damper?

[wera racer]

Taking my 78 GS1000 vintage racing which requires a steering a damper. Having trouble figuring out how to mount it as the tank covers much of the frame. Looking for frame bracket ideas and how best to attach it at the triple tree. Many thanks! Rick

 

[Agemax]

i got a GS mount that bolts across the front of the frame brace. cant post a pic at the moment cuz photobucket is down. i will post a pic as soon as i can

 

[Agemax]

here you go,

 

[wera racer]

Agemax, you da man! That's awesome. I'm on it. Many thanks!
Rick

 

[Agemax]

front view.....

 

[salty_monk]

Nice solution. Not see it done that way before. There are other ways if you search but that one seems really easy unless you are using an oil cooler.

Those Aluminium brackets for the fork leg are available on Ebay.

 

[posplayr]

That is clever and gives me some more ideas, but I would rather not put the clamp below the lower triple as it limits the fork travel.

I have a fairing mount as the ED shares the same frame as the faired ESD. I was having some interference with my oil cooler mounting to the lower triple from the fairing mount.

Honestly have not really had any indication of a tank slapper so have been less motivated to put it on but is kinda cool anyway.

 

[salty_monk]

My forks would have room for that clamp without limiting fork travel....

 

[Agemax]

i have never had a fork travel issue with that clamp on

 

[posplayr]

i have never had a fork travel issue with that clamp on

You can see the tail of the tie strap right at the top of the travel. Most of that is from aggressive braking. I could recheck my sag but the front is pretty firm.

 

[posplayr]

My forks would have room for that clamp without limiting fork travel....

I know your skunk is using every bit of it's travel

 

[salty_monk]

:lol: Only with your ass on it.....

I don't think the skunk travels all the way up to the bridge even with no springs in.

The GSXR front end on my 750 doesn't but perhaps that has a travel limit kit in it. I know it's been played with as it's an ex race front end but never had them apart.

 

[apogeecustom]

This might be right on time for me. What are the symptoms that require such a fix? I've noticed on my gs1000 that if I'm stationary and I twist the steering back and forth rapidly that's it's like a musical saw or something. This seems to translate to a little wobble with high speed cornering. Is this something that would correct my problem or should I be looking at other causes?

 

[Agemax]

This might be right on time for me. What are the symptoms that require such a fix? I've noticed on my gs1000 that if I'm stationary and I twist the steering back and forth rapidly that's it's like a musical saw or something. This seems to translate to a little wobble with high speed cornering. Is this something that would correct my problem or should I be looking at other causes?

sounds like you need to either adjust,grease or replace your steering head bearings

 

[apogeecustom]

sounds like you need to either adjust,grease or replace your steering head bearings

Thats what I thought at first, but its more like I can feel the kinetic energy through the forks themselves. I haven't taken the time to tear down the front end and inspect, but it passes the rattle test when its on the center stand. The forks are a little bouncy so I'm wondering if a lack of fork oil would have the same effect. Didn't mean to thread hijack, just wondering if the gs1000 is known for this behavior.

 

[salty_monk]

No it's not known for this behaviour.... It's long wheel base & heavy enough to generally not need a damper.

Damper is mostly for race applications on our bikes although it can add a margin of safety for the street too.

I would bet your bearings are either too tight or dry & rusting or a combination of both...

 

[jwhelan65]

You can see the tail of the tie strap right at the top of the travel. Most of that is from aggressive braking. I could recheck my sag but the front is pretty firm.

Not to jack here but Jim that thing is a work of art! Nice pic!

 

[posplayr]

This might be right on time for me. What are the symptoms that require such a fix? I've noticed on my gs1000 that if I'm stationary and I twist the steering back and forth rapidly that's it's like a musical saw or something. This seems to translate to a little wobble with high speed cornering. Is this something that would correct my problem or should I be looking at other causes?

A steering damped is generally to protect against some unforeseen suspension input that initiates a wobble leading to a tank slapper. The damper keep the oscillation from building to a tank slapper.

As a general rule you should be able to tune your bike so that it is rock solid (to a limited speed) without the dampener.

From you brief discussion sounds like you might need to tighten/adjust the steering head as well as increase the rear spring rate.

I must reiterate that for a stock GS this will get you up to say 80-85 mph in hard curves at which point tire flex and frame flex will start to give a little wobble.

Lower profile wheels/tires stiffer swing arm with better shocks push the upper speed for comfort/stability significantly but again within limits.

Most stock GS's don't need a dampener and you certainly don't want to put one on to try to fix a known problem only for unexpected stuff.

Anyone else feel free to weigh in on this. I'm sure the racing requirement is there for the unexpected. Like taking a sudden lateral force to the front wheel which starts to initiate a wobble.

Got off track so a little tarty in posting this

 

[MassJosh]

My GS is stable, my Wing needs some help. I plan on taking the front end apart this winter. 105,000 Miles I think it is time. I get an aweful shake if I hit a bump just right or brake hard. Forget taking my hand off the bars. I have Progressive springs, new seals and a new head bearing. If it is still bad after that I will try and figure a way to fit a damper, almost impossible with soo much stuff around the steering.