| Author | Message | ||
     Hardluckxb |
Has anyone installed steering dampers on their XB?  | ||
| Englishman119 |
Oh yes, look at http://www.ramraceco.com/Mark.html At the bottom of the page, there is a pic and detail on the left. Mark | ||
| Doitindark |
Whats the + and the - to getting a steering dampers? | ||
| Bads1 |
Down the road I will most likley put one on my 12S.My tuber had one and it got rid of any headshake.The XB's seem like they could really benefit as well. | ||
| Spyder12s |
I would like one soon as well ...get rid of the  | ||
| Al_lighton |
You'll hear arguments that a well setup bike doesn't need one, but out there in the real world, there are things that can upset the steering of even a well set up bike. I hit a large rock in the road on my wife's SV650 and sure wish I'd had one (it has a Scotts on it now). I was very lucky not to crash after the thing went into a brief tankslapper that settled out as I fell back onto the seat. I think they're a good safety investment. | ||
| Court |
I've a pal who recently installed a Storz Dampner on an XB to meet the Land Speed Record requirements. The KEY is to insure that it is installed properly and nothing binds. He ended up backing off the mounting bolt, where the device attaches to the fork leg, about 1/2 turn. Following installation, a thorough test ride should be performed. The XB, a convincing argument can be made, does not need a steering dampner. If you are going to add something that impacts handling, ergo safety, do it carefully and properly. Ride Safe, Court | ||
| Buckinfubba |
I like the head shake ....it reminds me of sex!!!!  | ||
| Gonen60 |
I like the head shake ....it reminds me of sex!!!! hey man, get it anyway you can !!! | ||
| Englishman119 |
I have a Storz damper on my XB. At the time it was the only one available. Now there are several. Look at the Woodcraft one www.woodcraft-cfm.com . It mounts under the triple clamps and out of the way in the event you went down. Kind’a like a Ducati one but underneath!! The frame to fork tube items (Like mine) are long!! and require quite a bit of room to accommodate full steering travel. Pros and Cons - In normal riding you should not need a damper. If your XB regularly shakes its head, look at the adjustment of the steering bearings (mine were way too tight out of the crate) or look at you riding! There is nothing like a Death Grip on the bars to induce a head shake when you wind her on. That said, the down side of a short wheel base bike is the possibility of instability at high speed. If you are to become a serious Track Day Junkie or are planning motor upgrades, then a steering damper should be part of the project. And like Court said, it has to be set up correctly or it can cause you problems as well as fixing some. 119 | ||
| Misato |
I dont like the ones that stick out a mile and a half past the headlights, it just doesnt look right on the S. I want to try the woodcraft one but I'm gonna have to do something to the S's headlights | ||
| Henrik |
English is right; if it's shaking, look for the reason rather than bandaid it. That said, I have a Scott damper on the SV (track bike mainly). But then I've raised the rear a couple of inches and dropped the front 12 mm, which is headshake territory on bumpy tracks. I like the Scott; mounts well and out of the way. A friend of mine had a problem with a Stortz damper when the ball joint mounts deformed enough that the damper didn't move freely =:-0. If you use that style damper be sure to not over-tighten the mounting bolts - and get it rebuilt frequently to avoid problems. Henrik | ||
| Dcmortalcoil |
I have Storz damper for my XB9S. It mounts pretty easily, although it kind of looks odd like Misato said. I got it mainly for safety reasons. I don't race or ride hard, but I've seen what could happen without one. My understanding is that tank slapping can occur even at low speeds (25-45mph) if the "right combination" (whatever that is) of circumstances happen to coincide, especially during cornering. One drawback I notice is that the damper induces the bike to take a gentle "S" (zig-zag) pattern when going below 10mph. In other words, it make the bike very difficult go straight at very low speed, like when you are coming to stop. I think this has to do with the damper tending to make the front wheel one with the frame - resisting acute steering adjustments for making the bike go straight until the momentum (at higher speed) overcomes it. That issue goes away if the adjustment is turned to the lowest setting. I ride with mine on at 7 clicks (halfway). Otherwise, I see no difference in handling. | ||
| Fullpower |
the stock XB is the most directionally stable motorcycle i have ever ridden. any steering oscillations are very likely operator induced. try taking a hand off the grips, and see if it calms down. these bikes only go 140 mph, what do you need a steering damper for? | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
going 140...Actually I get a tiny bit of headshake above 80 which is rather common around here. Traffic tends to roll at 85. I didn;'t have this problem when the suspension was set up for a 240lb rider which is how the dealer delivered it... | ||
| Misato |
I'm lucky to get 120 | ||
| Fullpower |
wycked, have you check ed your steering head bearings? maybe loose? | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
yup did that when I installed the crossroads bars just to make sure I wasn't binding up any of the cables. | ||
| Easyflier |
Wycked, Are you still running stock tires? When I switched tires I found that virtually all of that "tiny bit of headshake" disappeared. | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
I didn't have the problem til I set the suspension for my weight rating so I may just start stiffening things up half a line at a time and then 1 click at a time til it goes away. The roads here are also a little on the choppy side so I will get a stabilizer just for added security. | ||
| Dynarider |
The woodcraft one is nice, the one sold thru American Sport Bike looks ridiculous, its the one mentioned that sticks out way past the headlight & makes the bike look like its getting ready for a jousting tournament. And 140?? Must be downhill with a tailwind & an optomistic speedo. | ||
| Dcmortalcoil |
Woodcraft damper only fits XB-R version. | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
As I said Dyna as "indicated on the speedo" and that was just hitting the soft limiter. I expect real world speed to be less. Between the Dyno drags claiming my top speed was 135...and the mags claiming what 132? I figure thats about right, somewhere between the two. | ||
| Dynarider |
I know Wycked, all bike speedos are hopelessy optomistic. Think of the poor guy with the Busa that believes his stock bike is actually doing 205 mph when in fact its only doing a mere 182mph  |
