Steering dampers???

Ok, as im relitively new to biking and my first bike was a cruiser 125 im still learning. I've been on the squires website, looking at Steering dampers for my Sv650S (and thanks to Hovis now know its a curvy and should in fact be yellow, what the hell lets all pretend it is). But what is it that they do? How do they make things better and why? I know this will sound like a novice question but heck, im a novice lol.

The other thing was 299 quids, it better be the dogs kahunna's for a price like that

Steering dampers do just that - damp movement of the steering, which can help to prevent 'tank slappers' (rapid oscillation of the bars from lock to lock, often caused by power application over bumpy surfaces).

They can also make steering heavier at low speed, which can be interesting if you're not used to it, although a decent steering damper will often have a high and low speed adjustment.

I'd guess, if you're a novice and don't know what they do, you probably don't need one.

TBH I don't think a steering damper is going to help a stock 650 in any way, in fact probably the opposite. Fair enough if you've changed steering geometry about but in my rarely humble opinion, you not only don't need one on a stock bike, you don't want one.

Search around for articles about the early TL1000S if you want to know about tank slappers, or watch this - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymvVv_zbOjk - basically as 63 says, typically encounted under power mid corner over a bumpy surface. There's one stretch of road near me which causes most every bike to shake it's head if you open it up a bit too viciously, despite actively trying I've yet to get the SV to do this.

I've only ever ONCE felt like I needed a damper on my SV (K6 - pointy).

This was because I'd played with my suspension settings, combined with the fact that I was pushing the bike too hard on a road I didn't know. The road had some serious bumps, and caused a mild tank slapper at best.

Since then, I've changed suspension settings again, and the problem has disappeared.

If you're on stock settings and think you need a damper, I'd wager that you're holding the bars a little too tight. Relax & let the steering do it's job, and you'll be fine. Yes, the bars will move around a bit, but they're supposed to.

If you're not on stock settings, or you're not sure what you're doing, get someone to setup the suspension on your bike for you.

I don't think steering dampers are needed on an SV, unless perhaps if you have a GSXR front end etc, even then, I'm dubious.

You've said you're a novice, and I'd go by the opinion of "if there's nothing wrong, save yourself £300!!"

Thankyou Very much guys,

It was something that caught my attention whilst browsing and I just wondered why prople need them, and what it was that made them need them.

I absolutely love my curvy and have had no problems with the steering. In fact the oppersite. I've moved from a cruiser and have never had the lean factor. As I have naturally gotten used to my new bike ive started to lean more (as the tires are new still unsure what my chicken strips will be like). Yesterday i was out for a ride and was going right on a fairly large rounderbout, i was doing about 40 and was obviously in "auto-pilote" as when i went to indicate left it suddenly kicked in how far id leaned over to stay in my lane. It was a feeling of success mixed with fear.

No doubt i'll be stumbling across other things to ask about.