Steering Damper's for noobs?
 

I've just picked up my new sv on friday and I noticed when coming back on the motorway, cruising about 85-90 I got a slight bit of a wobble on. I considered the wind buffetting my upper body so did the gripping-bike-with-legs-whilst-relaxing-upper-body trick which seemed to ease the wobble and eventually make it stop. I've been riding 6 months so I'm still learning new info/concepts etc but would a steering damper help with this sort of thing?

A mate of mine explained them to me saying that they stiffen up the steering as speed increases... this reduces/prevents any wobbles under hard acceleration or high speed. Would it be worth me looking into this sort of thing or do I just need to re-assess my riding style (since I came from an up right honda cbf600's' which never gave me any wobbles or weaves)?

If they are generally a good accessory to have & use, how hard are they to fit? all rants/advice/knowledge welcome...
Tia PT6^

Re: Steering Damper's for noobs?
 

I wouldn't really say one was needed. I've had the odd head shake over bumps etc, but nothing to upset me.

Maybe a wheel balancing issue?


Oh, and I noticed you're from Dewsbury in your alst post - we'll have to meet up when the weather gets better.

Phil

Re: Steering Damper's for noobs?
 

I ride my SV like a **** on some terribly surfaced roads, and so does my ex, and we've never seen the need for a steering damper on either her SV or mine.

Re: Steering Damper's for noobs?
 

Just one of those things, to be honest I've only ridden the bike for half an hour (rotherham to mirfield when I bought it on friday) and in that time I covered motorway and town centre roads plus had a shunt up the **** so not had chance to acclimtise to the bike yet.

sent you a pm phil, think we've met twice at squires? I'm a mate of lukes (he's sv_to_gsxr on here)

Re: Steering Damper's for noobs?
 

Probably just the wind - I've pushed way too hard coming out of bends on rough surfaces and the most I've ever felt is a light shake of the bars. It's generally only higher powered stuff that goes into tankslappers - SS1000's (and SS600's sometimes)

Re: Steering Damper's for noobs?
 

I rode a mate's near new TL1000S once for about 5 miles, even accelerating hard from 50mph in top gear on a smooth surface was enough to send it lock to lock. Not my idea of fun at all. We stopped and I demanded my Firestorm back, which wasn't the most stable bike but a damn sight better.

Re: Steering Damper's for noobs?
 

The SV doesnt need a steering damper,so I would check other stuff.First port of call is tyres.Are they worn and are the pressures correct?
That usually sorts it.

Re: Steering Damper's for noobs?
 

You def don't need one. If it has got a high speed wobble that's not something you want a steering damper for they're for under hard acceleration. You may have something else wrong with your bike it's that bad

Re: Steering Damper's for noobs?
 

85-90 is rock solid cruising here, i've only had the sv shake once, that was hitting a cats-eye whilst leant over and giving it the beans, and holding on too tight. as others have said it's not really needed on the SV...

the bike wasn't involved in a prang before you got it was it? if anything was bent it would certainly have affected the handling

Re: Steering Damper's for noobs?
 

You don't need one on an SV ;) don't lean on the bars when riding ;) Build up those tummy and thigh muscles man!!!