Steering damper

While riding the other day i noticed the front wobbling and feeling quite unsure while turning at high speeds. i was accelerating hard and i thought if it wobbles on flat turns, what would happen if i hit a dump or something?

Because of this i was slowing down and not wanting to lean the bike over anymore. probably not a bad thing but its not what i want.

so can anyone recomend a steering damper? im not looking for motogp standard here, just something to make me feel a bit safer and more stable as i ride. money is a factor in this.

i have a naked k3

thanks for any help/advice etc.

Give it a go. You won't regret it...

http://forums.sv650.org/viewtopic.php?t=16800

[embee]

Originally Posted by Wiltshire7

.....what would happen if i hit a dump or something?

....yeah, that can be really slippy, especially horse

Was wondering if you could help me on two things?

1, What on earth is a steering dampner and what does it do?

2 The last time i was out on my bike, i was cornering (not really that hard) and the bike was getting to the point that it felt like it was going to fall down, infact i think if i hadnt stood up a little it would of. Now im not riding it like a loonie as ive only just passed my test 6 months ago, is it the way im cornering or is it something to do with the bike? The roads were dry and it was a warm day so i dont thnk it was todo with the orad surface as it did it on a few corners

These prolly seem like silly questions but i dont know who else to ask with out the fear of looking like a totaly wally.

[northwind]

Hum. The only argument I can think of against it, is that a damper covers up the problem, while improving your suspension (probably rear) could fix it entirely, which would be better and give other benefits. My shakes went away when I finally got the Ohlins dialed in to any degree that wouldn't be described as criminally incompetent

But even with that said, a damper might save you sometime iif you hit a pothole in a corner or you pull an almost-wheelie on rough roads, so why not? I'll almost certainly be fitting one but not just yet, got some other things to take care of first (he said gnomically)

[rictus01]

Originally Posted by Wiltshire7

so can anyone recomend a steering damper? im not looking for motogp standard here, just something to make me feel a bit safer and more stable as i ride. money is a factor in this.

i have a naked k3 .

I'd have to ask if you've changed your front springs and oil yet? or set up the sag?

do these before anything else (£60-£80),

as to the steering damper, well I'd say as a general rule the SV doesn't need one, only if you change geometry dramatically should the need arise for one. I've got a 2 1/2 inch rise on the rear and was looking to fit a steering damper as the bike was on the verge of shaking it's head on hard acceleration out of corners, my solution was to fit heavier barends (£3 for a breakers), giving a degree of stability without the restrictions of a damper.

Would I fit one? well yes if I needed it, but that would be if I raced an SV, or if I had money to burn, for cosmetic reasons (the ones Mike does look really trick).

However if you want one, for either cosmetic or confidence reasons then that's fine, the cheaper one look it and are generally non-adjustable, so I'd spend on something with a bit of quality and adjustment.

Originally Posted by ReLoAd

Was wondering if you could help me on two things?

1, What on earth is a steering dampner and what does it do?

2 The last time i was out on my bike, i was cornering (not really that hard) and the bike was getting to the point that it felt like it was going to fall down, infact i think if i hadnt stood up a little it would of. Now im not riding it like a loonie as ive only just passed my test 6 months ago, is it the way im cornering or is it something to do with the bike? The roads were dry and it was a warm day so i dont thnk it was todo with the orad surface as it did it on a few corners

These prolly seem like silly questions but i dont know who else to ask with out the fear of looking like a totaly wally.

1. does the same as the middle of your rear shock(without the spring), basically a rod attached to the yoke and through a plunger system connects to the frame adding resistance to the steering, you tend to lose a degree of responsiveness as it stiffens up the steering.

2.A number of things could be draw from your comments here,
either you weren't going fast enough, (you need a certain momentum to corner hard over).

or the front tends to "dip" (and possibly bottom out) apexing the corner on standard springs, which can make the bike feel unsettled.

or your front tyre is profiled either through ware (shoulders wore) or by design.

or your front tyre pressure could be low.

or your technique could do with brushing up, do you shift you weight at all?
try lowering your centre of gravity by applying pressure through the foot pegs and away from the seat.

Hope this helps.

Cheers Mark.

Wilts, you might want to have a look at your tyre pressures as well.

Originally Posted by ReLoAd

The last time i was out on my bike, i was cornering (not really that hard) and the bike was getting to the point that it felt like it was going to fall down, infact i think if i hadnt stood up a little it would of. Now im not riding it like a loonie as ive only just passed my test 6 months ago, is it the way im cornering or is it something to do with the bike? The roads were dry and it was a warm day so i dont thnk it was todo with the orad surface as it did it on a few corners

Without seeing you ride I can't be sure but I would suggest that you were a) holding on the bars a bit too tightly and b) weren't being positive enough with the throttle to take a bit of weight off the front and drive the bike forward.

As to whether you should add a steering damper I would second what Rictus has said but do bear in mind that there are steering dampers and steering dampers. Interestingly enough the GPR kit is actually badged as a stabiliser in the US rather than a damper.

I wish they hadn't tried to rebrand it in the UK as stabilising is exactly what it does. The benefits of this particular type include the bike being more stable on the brakes and, bizarrely enough, stabilising the bike under fast riding conditions. The guys who used them at the IOM TT said they stopped the gentle weave you get at high speed which in turn reduced the amount of arm pump they were getting.

My tyre pressure probably does need correcting. last time i checked they were 1.5 lower than they should be on both front and rear. btw i have them at 33/36. thats right, isnt it? stock tyres.

as for the forks, i havnt changed anything about them. what would different springs and oil do? stiffen it? how would that help? and also, does it matter what brand of springs i get? r some better for my weight than others?

and the rear suspension (also stock), does that need to be made stiffer? its set at 3 i think, stock for a naked k3. if i should change it should i just put it to 4 or 5? or does that require oil and stuff also?

all my mods so far have been cosmetic, cos im a bike tart!

I haven't got as far as changing the springs in my forks (on the cards, just got to get round to ordering them from maxton)
but I found a huge improvement shortly after getting the bike when I just changed the preload.
I can't remember my settings, but not a long way from the hardest it'll go.