steering damper

[sv650rider]

im looking at getting a steering damper for the bike and wondering if anyone could give me a few pointers as to which would be the best one to go for????

[tj2]

Why do you want a steering damper??

[Blue_SV650S]

Any of the main brands will do the job ... not that there is much of a job to do on an SV650!!! :D

I think the circular ones that sit on the top yoke (GPR?*) look cool :cool:

*Googlefooooo

http://www.speedycom.co.uk/shop/product_image.php?imageid=89

[sv650rider]

cheerz,

every time i go out im always getting speed wobbles, some are little ones but the odd few are really violent tank slappers and i want to sort the problem before i bin it!

could it be the suspension or would a steering damper be the best option?

[Biker Biggles]

Is it a standard bike?I'd say there's something wrong with it if it's doing that.
Check tyre pressures,wheel alignment and swingarm/steering head bearings for starters.Is the back end jacked up or the front dropped through the yokes?SVs dont really need a damper normally.

[RingDing]

IMO a steering damper would just mask the symptons of a problem with your bike, in this case.

When you say tank slapper do you really mean a tank slapper? To me this is a lock to lock oscillation of the handle bars (quite bowel loosening IME!).

If it is a more minor weave, then this could be head bearings, worn tyres (a slightly squared off rear tyre can cause this) or mismatched damping and/or sag between front and rear.

A full blown tank slapper can also be caused by suspension but we'd have to have an idea of the circumstances to try to help really.

If it is just a weave then, IMO, it's not much to worry about. My SV weaves a bit in high speed corners at the moment but that's cause the tyres have 8000 miles on them and are squared off. No reason to replace them, just a change in handling with tyre wear.

[RingDing]

Biker Biggles said it in a more consice fashion!

Sorry!

[northwind]

The cost of a good damper goes most of the way towards sorting the suspension... So I'd do that.

[Blue_SV650S]

I'd concur with the others, if you are getting slappers often, you either have particularly awful roads, but more likely have an issue with your bike as it isn't endemic of the breed!!

My money is on it just needing some new tyres ...

[haggis]

..... have particularly awful roads...


I fitted one for just that reason. Although not on standard suspension.

An example: Had a nasty scare one day with a mate following me on B roads. Over a crest and then brake into a gentle left hander, been over it probably near a thousand times on the bike. Except this time there was a depression after the crest due to roadworks (badly patched) and it pitched me onto the front wheel, back wheel about 6" off the ground. It instantly began to violently slap then the rear landed whilst crossed up and it bounced side to side while veering into the right hand lane. Luckily no oncoming traffic. Nice 50yard wiggly skid mark left by the front wheel!!!! :smt103:mrgreen:

My mate still has no idea how i didnt go through the fence, or sent highside - I had no warning and it just went it's own way thru the bend.

Had a few less dramatic wiggles before then, so decided it was time to invest.

Didn't stop me doing a nice 500mile circuit that day tho....:D

[Blue_SV650S]

I fitted one for just that reason.

An example: Had a nasty scare one day with a mate following me on B roads. Over a crest and then brake into a gentle left hander, been over it probably near a thousand times on the bike. Except this time there was a depression after the crest due to roadworks (badly patched) and it pitched me onto the front wheel, back wheel about 6" off the ground. It instantly began to violently slap then the rear landed whilst crossed up and it bounced side to side while veering into the right hand lane. Luckily no oncoming traffic. Nice 50yard wiggly skid mark left by the front wheel!!!! :smt103:mrgreen:

My mate still has no idea how i didnt go through the fence, or sent highside - I had no warning and it just went it's own way thru the bend.

Had a few less dramatic wiggles before then, so decided it was time to invest.

Didn't stop me doing a nice 500mile circuit that day tho....:D

Question is:- did you have the 'nads to try it again after?!!?? 8)

[haggis]

No, they were pummeled into submission that day.:smt103

Having done even more fiddling of the sussies i should take it off and see how it goes..... (gulp)....

[Jase22]

I've got a Sprint damper fitted for the same reason as Haggis, some rough roads near me and my damper came up at a good price at the time when Demon Tweeks were having a clear out.

May be worth sorting suspension first mind, my bike's running uprated stuff front and rear also. Although I still need to fit them ruddy emulators, I WILL do it this winter...

[socommk23]

had a similar thing on my oll sv. all was well till got up to high speeds. 110 over a crest of a hill and the front liften....nothing unusual...but then it came down on a cats eye and wobbled all over the place. desided id get a damper. sprint one to be specific, side mounted. went back to where i had the wobbles....tried it again....actually managed to land it on a cats eye again and nothing! well worth the money in my opinion.
if ya think the sv doesnt need one....ya not using it like i used mine...(little exessive for the road)

[Ratty46]

i have had a nasty tankslapper, and a few lil shakes since....

i thought about a damper, but many on here suggested looking at the suspension first, i havent the money to upgrade it, but i have been recommended a fella whos pretty handy at setting up suspension, hes gonna do it for me saturday:p set it up for my weight.:smt028

gotta do something as the roads i go on are bumpy in places, and when i'm pusing to keep up with a my mates blade teh SV starts to complain!! it doesnt seem to like it when i overtake, if i pin it to pass, and go over anything but silky smooth surface you can feel it go to shake...back off time...

i still may get a damper tho....