Steering Damper for Naked Pointy???

[fizzwheel]

OK everytime my SV wobbled its head, it was caused it under damped front suspension reacting poorly to the cr*ppy road surface I was riding on. So my way of thinking is that if you sort the front end, which is always regarded as a weak point on the SV so it soaks up the bumps better then it wont shake its head.

A sportsbike such as my GSXR runs a damper because its chassis geometry is different to the SV IIRC teeper head angle and shorter wheelsbase makes it twitchy and more prone to a tank slap. Hence why the dampers fitted as standard to reduce the risk of it doing it.

[Speedy]

OK. I see where you're coming from with that idea Fizz.

Yes my K7 GSXR had one too, and yes (I don't know the specific angles) but I would imagine the geometry to be vastly different between the two bikes....

However....

As I believe, could steering dampers be fitted as standard to bikes like the GSXR be related to the amount of power that they develop? Hence, giving said GSXR a handfull, taking the load off the front wheel, tank-slapper reduced by damper??

Thats how I perceive the problem anyway.....and like I said, my old K5S never shook it's head at me!!

Fizz, I can understand your way of thinking but why would the difference be so more noticable on a naked. After all, afaik the forks are the same.

[fizzwheel]

Dunno, but heres a thought.

on the SVS and the GSXR you've got more weight on the front granted, but its also encouraging you to lean forward. On the N are you sure you're not exagerrating the weight transfer effect by leaning back or pulling back on the bars.

I can kinda see where you're coming from but I never suffered from head shake on the naked bandit I rode...

Maybe I'm just a fat knacker

[Dave20046]

sportsbikes often have steering dampers because they are ridden by rich, vain ****s, is my understanding of the matter. They're more bling than useful - especially on an sv I would have thought. Like fizz says I'd try upgrading the forks first before fitting a steering damper. I thought tank slappers were largely caused by bad traction with the road surface, if your suspension is losing and then regaining traction that might make sense. My naked feels fine, but it is restricted.

Edit: oh but it does have upgraded springs.

Its just twiching, you only need a steering damper when your getting chucked out the seat!... Which has only happened once on the R6 so i aint botherd getting one and my bike is known for "Slapping more than your ex-wife"

[Speedy]

Originally Posted by suzsv650

"Slapping more than your ex-wife"

I've never been married??

Well, I'm certain its to do with weight.

I will play with the suspension settings, not that there's much to play with, and go from there....

Hyperpro do one anyway.

[yorkie_chris]

My naked one has never slapped about except when I had sharpened the geometry a lot. (SRAD750 shock; taller. SRAD6 forks; shorter), and made a cokc up of setting the damping up.

IMO a steering damper is not needed on an SV on the road. It's a waste of money better spent on a proper bespoke rear shock, or a revalved and sprung gixxer item.

Gixxers etc. have a sight more power, and a hell of a lot more aggressive geometry.

Originally Posted by Speedy

I've never been married??

Well, I'm certain its to do with weight.

I will play with the suspension settings, not that there's much to play with, and go from there....

Hyperpro do one anyway.

neather hav i lol

[Speedy]

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

My naked one has never slapped about except when I had sharpened the geometry a lot. (SRAD750 shock; taller. SRAD6 forks; shorter), and made a cokc up of setting the damping up.

IMO a steering damper is not needed on an SV on the road. It's a waste of money better spent on a proper bespoke rear shock, or a revalved and sprung gixxer item.

Gixxers etc. have a sight more power, and a hell of a lot more aggressive geometry.

Mine is a right slapper!!!