Re: Does jacking the back up work
 

Is it not possible that part of the reason these (generally higher cost) higher spec machines have them is that it makes them look "trick" and closer to race spec machines, which in turn sells more bikes? Perhaps an analogy would be a slipper clutch- they're becoming ever more prevalent on the latest sports bikes, yet it's questionable how necessary they are for most road riders. What proportion of their appeal (for most riders, I know you're a bit different ;)) comes from the practical use of it, versus the bragging rights?

As to the SV needing one, I've only had one tank slapper (by which I mean the bars slamming from full lock to full lock, with enough force to dent the lock stops) on the SV and that was when my front wheel hit a deer. I've had the bars "wag" cornering over bumps at speed, but improving the suspension has all but eliminated this. I have seen some people confuse bars wagging with tank slappers, been overly worried about it and "fixed" the problem by buying a steering damper before properly sorting the suspension out. I think this is what DD is talking about.

Re: Does jacking the back up work
 

no,it is not to look trick.it is safety part.
regardless how you ride or how you set your suspension you can run in situation where damper helps.and that is reason it is on bike.
saying it masks bad suspension set up makes no sense.you set up suspension for what you use bike.there is no one set up that works for all riders and all uses.
and it does not have to do anything with set up.many times rider itself makes tank slapper.

Re: Does jacking the back up work
 

tbh my main reason for fitting a damper to my bikes is the extra stability and "safety cushion" they give you when stunting. Ever landed the front wheel slightly off centre after a high speed mono? The steeper the front forks the worse it is if you mess up the landing. same for stoppies (though steering rake makes no difference).

As for modern bikes having trick equipment as standard I suspect it's a combination of marketing and being able to use the trick bits in superstock (they can't fit a slipper clutch if it's not standard equipment)

I'd say we're not well and truly off topic! Sorry

Re: Does jacking the back up work
 

The Honda Fireblade had the MotoGP evolution one fitted for years, and yet Honda will tell you it doesn't need a damper and along with the fact that the race teams didn't use it was proof enough.

Re: Does jacking the back up work
 

Answered you own point there, the fact is a mass produced bike cannot be set up to suit every rider from the factory.

Re: Does jacking the back up work
 

"Somewhat corpulent" Tactfully put!

Preload is set 1 from top (although I understand jacking the back up increases preload slightly for any given setting?)
Fork springs will need doing, particularly after reading up more on here, as i'm around 18st so even more weight over the front end.
I originally thought the requirement for sorting the front end wouldnt matter so much to me, as I dont exactly take the bike to anything approaching its limits (cos i'm still carp!)

I think I'll leave the replacement dog bones off for now, untill I fit some uprated fork springs.

Re: Does jacking the back up work
 

haha i think we must be the only ones to know what a full tank slapper on an SV feels like....:smt115I urge everybody to hit a deer...lol
In that I mean, its a rarety to get a tank slap on an SV and you have to do something pretty spectacular to get one.

Steering damper needed on an SV? what a crock o dogs.....:rolleyes:

Re: Does jacking the back up work
 

exactly.and when I set up bike to suit me it needs damper.
there is nothing wrong with my suspension set up :)

Re: Does jacking the back up work
 

I lock-to-locked mine once. But it took an AWFUL lot of incomeptence when "setting up" my rear shock :mrgreen: So much rebound damping that it packed down massively over a load of bumps then started kicking the front instead of soaking them up. Scarier than actually crashing, that. Luckily it turned out that the perfect response was to freeze in terror and do nothing.

Stock SVs certainly don't need a damper. That's an easy question. Other SVs, not so easy. Depends on build and use. Like, if you rode only at Knockhill, which is now fantastically smooth, then that'd let you away with a lot more than if you rode only at East Fortune, which is like a potato field with a skin of tarmac over it...