[Q: Who “Needs” a Steering Damper?]

Being an ignorant Philistine, I need further Clarification from Ratchet Hack:

Question 1: I need a steering damper to ensure the level of safety acceptable to me. Safety from tank slappers, causes by the very occasional perfect storm of tire, road, velocity, weight balance, too little rake and trail, flexing frame, imperfect alignment, rider input, etc. Why Ratchet do you need a damper? 1 zillion words later and I still don't get it.

Question 2: I might have gotten it and fully agreed with you, but you suggested that it is perfectly fine to have damper set to minimum, take your hands off the bars and whack the bar. While the motorcycle has self centering engineered into the geometry, there clearly are factors that can produce lethal tank slappers, and whacking the bars strikes me being one of those factors.

If you have this much faith in whacking the bar while riding no handed with damper set to minimum, why would you suggest that dampers are needed?

 

 

I suspect Ratch does a lot of whacking . . .

[Q: Who “Needs” a Steering Damper?]

 

 

This little guy is the problem.

 

Hmmm. Nemo... I miss his nonsense, as good as Ratch's but I could stand to read it all.

 

You're right. Nemo was full of shit, but his writing style didn't make one's eyes bleed.

[Q: Who “Needs” a Steering Damper?]

I'm beginning to suspect that Ratch is just another of Capt Nemo/Enzo's noms de web.

[Q: Who “Needs” a Steering Damper?]

"They're coming to take you away, Ratch; they're coming to take you away . . ."

[Q: Who “Needs” a Steering Damper?]

Again I note dryly how terrified all the riders (save Guzzimoto) of "stable" red frames are of riding without a steering damper. Those who have eyes to see will see the irony in this. The rest will look foolish to those with eyes to see. Or, they'll realize that the reason they're terrified to ride without a damper is because those bikes aren't all that stable. And the "proper" set up espoused by some here makes the bikes even less stable. Heretical, yes, but look at your own fear of your own bikes to see the proof.

[Could it be immobiliser problem?]

Have I mentioned yet that yak fat is toxic to imobilizers?

["typical" v11 problems for 2003-mod. and onwards?]

A Scura shouldn't really need a damper. Early Sports are a different matter. I suppose it's safer with one, though, so rebuild it if you like.

[Q: Who “Needs” a Steering Damper?]

Who now can doubt that Ratch has lost his mind?

["typical" v11 problems for 2003-mod. and onwards?]

Cafe SPorts come with an Ohlins damper. I've seen many Ohlins fail. They do not leak. They just suddenly stiffen up, but intermittently. It feels like you've got a front tire going flat. Then, it'll loosen up, and then stiffen up.

[Q: Who “Needs” a Steering Damper?]

Q.E.D.

["typical" v11 problems for 2003-mod. and onwards?]

Looking for a Cafe Sport(2003-2006?), and would like to know what kind of typical problems I should look for/ ask seller about. Can I forget about the pre-2003 problems, or do they still exist?

 

What kind of modifications are highly recomended?

 

 

 

Ketil

 

Typical problems are Ojlins steering dampers that intermittently stiffen up. If yours stiffens up, throw it away, as it's really not needed anyway. Ohlins shock that begine leaking. Fix it when it happens. Same with fork seals. Might want to replace the relays. Typical upgrades are aftermarket exhausts and moving the fairing back so it looks better and swings with the bars.

[Q: Who “Needs” a Steering Damper?]

Perhaps you should put a Ghostbusters sticker on your damper. Or take the damned thing off entirely 'cause your bike is set up so well that it's entirely stable. I'll take off mine if you take off yours. Let's see some substantiation: man or mouse?

[Q: Who “Needs” a Steering Damper?]

You got a good one, Guzzimoto, as most others have. I really do not mean to disparage the red frames. My friend Motomonster has a really sweet one. His seems great. Still, one of the first things he did was to upgrade the steering damper. He is no dummy and does not spend money foolishly.

 

And what you say about riders is spot-on. Some riders bear all their upper-body weight with their torso musculature, transfering just fingertip pressure to the bars. Others let their weight sag to varying degrees onto the bars. Those latter folks act as their own steering damper. What works for one may not work for the other.

 

Gussimoto: Ever tried an Aprilia SXV? It seems to be the type of bike you would love . . .

[Q: Who “Needs” a Steering Damper?]

I agree, Guzzimoto; it's just that I've been lectured about how if they're "set up" right, the red frames are perfectly stable, when part of that "proper" set up decreases stability, as you have pointed out. After these folks have decreased the stability of an already marginally unstable machine, they of course feel the need to lecture about how anyone who doesn't keep a steering damper on their machine and keep it cranked to near max is an idiot. Square wheels again.

[Q: Who “Needs” a Steering Damper?]

If they're so damned stable, why the hell would you need a steering damper? Billy Bob don't need one.

 

Of course, what I'm pointing out is that y'all're admitting that they really aren't that stable. Many of them need a band-aid solution such as a steering damper to make them safe in the real world. But that's the sort of heretical truth that always gets the heretic roasted at the stake, what?

[Q: Who “Needs” a Steering Damper?]

I have always set mine up to the highest setting that still steers easily enough at the lowest speeds, and if for any reason I was going to exceed 120 Veglia MPH, I reach down and give it two clicks.... of course I usually forget to dial it back out and when I go to park the heavy steering is unnerving and hazardous, but not as potentally deadly as a wobble at over 120MPH.

 

Ah, the legendary stability of a properly set up red frame. Nothing to fear. Really.

[More on mpg]

Put some Dellortos on that accursed beast.

[Q: Who “Needs” a Steering Damper?]

I note that it's MOSTLY the red-frame guys who think you need one and have to have much damping cranked in. Who could've predicted that?

[Could it be immobiliser problem?]

All of these Piaggio POSes will be rendered toss-aways by this crap technology within 10 years. Shit, if a satellite passes over your position they fart and pop every time unless you have applied a layer of tinfoil inside your helmet. Why would anyone steal one?

[8V is running 10W40... hmm]

Clearly, your bloke has not heard of the wonders of yak fat. Give him Pete's phone number and the clear instructions to call during Pete's most lucid hours, say between 3:00 and 4:00 A.M. Bungendore Mean Time.

[no charge]

Congrats, Doc.

[Q: Who “Needs” a Steering Damper?]

When I have my steering damper at max, the steering feels so impossibly heavy that it feels like the front tire is flat or that the steering head bearings are maladjusted.

[It is now September....]

It is still shut down, pending a judge's decision on whether a bunch of it can be moved.

[Bar end mirrors]

CRGs along with heavier end weights. You'll be able to tell if that car behind you is a cop at 100 yards or more. If you never actually look back, the others will do fine.

[no charge]

The 450-watt upgrade is the same 350w alternator you already have. Why they call it a 450-watter I do not know. The magnets are in the rotor and should tickle your new stator well enough.