Steering Damper positioning

[Blue_SV650S]

Ok, I have a generic damper that was sitting about. All I have is what you see in the photo:-

http://upload4.postimage.org/709051/damper.jpg (http://upload4.postimage.org/709051/photo_hosting.html)

Any ideas where the best place is to fit it on a curvy? i.e. tank mounts and topyoke nut, bottom yoke to frame … fork to frame??

Also can I get a generic mounting kit or will I have to fashion my own??

[chazzyb]

When you find out, please let me know too. I have one of those; last fitted to a 1975 CB750. :?

[21QUEST]

I don't think fork to frame would work due to not bring long enough/stroke.

:idea:

Piece of Ally with a hole bolted to bottom yoke using the yoke pinch bolts. Then use a bolt and nylock to secure left side of steering damper.

For the right side again a piece of Ally bolted to the middle of head stock next to fairing subframe. You'll of course need longer bolts to replace the original bolts for the fairing bracket. Again a Nylock to secure.

That make any sense? :? . Whats the stroke of the damper ?

Cheers
Ben

[svrash]

I fitted mine to the horn bracket and the to the bottom of my SRAD yokes
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a300/svrash/damper4.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a300/svrash/P0505_113644.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a300/svrash/P0505_113815.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a300/svrash/P0505_113758.jpg

If you've got standard yokes.....................then i have no idea :wink:

[TSM]

I have a normal GSXR one, and tried to fit it similer to the way that SVrash did to the underside of the bottom yoke. But as he has the GSXR750 SRAD yokes, the mount is already there for one end of the damper, the other end he bent the steel horn mount and used it as the point to link the other end of the damper.

I on the otherhand have GSXR600 SRAD yokes, these dont have a mount but i do have a fork clamp. I looked at several ways to fit it but came to the conclusion that it would be unsafe as it intruded on the fork travel.

There are some large dampers that clamp to the fork and the side of the frame, but i dont think they work with faired SVs. The only real way is 916 style.

[Tim in Belgium]

Have yo guys radically altered your suspension/geometry to need a sterring damper?

How much do you have to do to an SV to actually require one?

On a standard curvy s being ridden hard I find occasionally it'll shake the bars, but nothing big.

[TSM]

Have yo guys radically altered your suspension/geometry to need a sterring damper?

How much do you have to do to an SV to actually require one?

On a standard curvy s being ridden hard I find occasionally it'll shake the bars, but nothing big.

It will easly do it if on the power very hard out of corners on a bumpy road. I got it once on a flat road, 1st wheel wheelie to 2nd gear and up again, when it came down it was realy violent. No that was probably a tad to do with the rear suspention being realy hard.

But with GSXR conversions, the steering is going to be faster anyway as the forks are shorter, giving that it may be that you get head shakes more often.

[21QUEST]

JMHO :arrow:

I get what you are saying but in reality the SV doesn't really need one even with the GSXR Front end running a 120/70.

I've had a GSXR front end with an 15mm-18mm longer shock without a damper. Arguably a bit much for the road but even then provided you are relaxed(as we all know) , it's all good. Infact I tried a 120/60 with same shock length and that was definitely an accident looking for a hedge without a damper.

It's easier for it to feel a bit iffy :lol: if things are not right ie head bearings, tire getting worn etc and the obvious bouncy bits setup. I had a damper but took it off as I just don't seem to get on very well with them.

There are a few things I've noticed(or is that confirmed) comparing the OE and the GSXR frontends but I'll keep my views to myself :wink: .


Cheers
Ben

[TSM]

Yep i have a 120/60 at the moment, which does not help. I am planning on getting it changed soon though, still not decided what to get though.

[curium]

I'm surprised people are fitting dampers to the 650s.

Did 31000 miles on mine with lots of fast riding including a trip to spain and it's always behaved immaculately.

Are you sure there isn't an underlying problem which a damper would just mask?

[TSM]

I'm surprised people are fitting dampers to the 650s.

Did 31000 miles on mine with lots of fast riding including a trip to spain and it's always behaved immaculately.

Are you sure there isn't an underlying problem which a damper would just mask?

but some people have done GSXR front end conversions. The GSXR forks are shorter than the original forks by a couple of cm, this makes the bike steer fast and without a little compensation of a 120/70 the front will still be very low. On a normal SV frontend , i did not have issues that would want a damper.

[northwind]

Mine is pretty tall at the rear... A revalved and sprung Ohlins shock at full length, plus a set of what I think are JHS raising dogbones. Plus, the GSXR front is shorter as's been said. However, I've offset the drop with a 120/70 tyre, so it's now no lower than it was with my dropped SV front end. And just for laughs, it's got an extra 10bhp to play with.

It's pretty stable... It'll shake on full power in first and second, but not badly or uncontrollably- I'm sure I can adjust that out from the shock if I put the effort in, but I just ride around it for now. I tend not to ride like that on the road anyway, and on track it's not an issue. But with that geometry, I'm sure it'd be an absolute ******* with less good suspension.

Basically, I consider steering dampers on most SVs to be a patch, not a fix. Most of the time, if the head's shaking you've either done something stupid, or you have a suspension issue, and it's better to go to source and fix the problem than to slap on a plaster to cover it up. Having said that, I've often considered getting a 916-style damper and having it set really low, partly as insurance and partly because they look cool :)

[Blue_SV650S]

I was thinking of putting it on my track bike, not my road bike.

I am going to set my track SV up aggressively, I already have put in a longer ZX636 shock, and the shorter dogbones, I will drop the forks through the yokes as much as I can get away with too. Oh and I will be running a 70 profile front.

This, plus intended use might make it a bit more of an animal??? Who knows … but I have this damper knocking about, so might as well use it?!?!? I can always take it off again.

I’ll measure the stroke later. I like the idea of having it where the stock GSXR one is, but is there a bolt hole on the normal SV forks? I also like the idea of the fork clamp bolts to the fairing stay mount.

[Robw#70]

leave the forks flush with the yokes and get the **** as high as possible ground clearence is far more important and use the damper to hold the garage door open when you load the van. more useful than fitting it to the bike. you've got to be along way out with setup on a carby before you should even think about one.
im running gsxr front with rear on max and shorter links with 20+hp more and no damper without issues

[northwind]

Yep, but what have you got in the back, Rob? I'm presuming a quality aftermarket item rather than a shoddy kayaba number off another bike ;)

[Blue_SV650S]

leave the forks flush with the yokes and get the @rse as high as possible ground clearence is far more important and use the damper to hold the garage door open when you load the van. more useful than fitting it to the bike. you've got to be along way out with setup on a carby before you should even think about one.
im running gsxr front with rear on max and shorter links with 20+hp more and no damper without issues

Perhaps I’ll leave it for now … I’ve just had that damper sitting around for years and finally thought I had found an application!!! :lol: