adjusting the damper

dan.46 · Jun 7, 2009

was up the cat n fiddle last week and there was a wet patch in the centre of the road half way up on the long staight(ish) part like there always is. i sat the bike up on the wet bit and clipped a cat's eye and kind of ripple in the road. bars shook pretty violently and **** me up a bit. think if i didn't have the steering damper i would of been in trouble.

never had this before and since having the factory with the ohlins damper, running over cats eyes has never upset the bike. wondering if it was coz it was a mixture of wet road/cat's eye/crap road as well as brand new tyres i just had put on.

does stiffening the damper have any negative affects? i thinks is still standard setting.

cheers all

r896neo · Jun 7, 2009

it will affect very low speed manoevering but obviously only when making steering inputs.

fusebox · Jun 9, 2009

yes it will mate!
in my experience having the damper over tightened will cause the wobble as well as having not enough damping to cope with the road conditions!

i road some pretty gnarly roads over the last few months going out on tour , that at speed can make things interesting, probably cos im crap!.
but my damper doesnt get turn up any more than 4 clicks otherwise it does a have the effect of dulling the sensation of being able to steer the bike normally ie shiftin body weight rather than having to physically push the bike into the bend with the bars!
are the tyre pressures correct?
steering head bearings in good shape?

these could be contributory factors to cause the wobble!
or you just could have been unlucky.... just check these for peace of mind mate!

cheers
Griff

dan.46 · Jun 9, 2009

cheers griff. how would i check the steering head bearings? or is that best left to a mechanic when i take it in for a service? tyre pressure was spot on as i just had new tyres fitted and always check what the tyre fitter inflates them to.

thanks

r896neo · Jun 9, 2009

a decent rough guide is to get the weight off the front wheel, a centre stand is ideal but front paddock stand won't do!

With the weight off the front wheel grab the forks and try to pull them towards you, try to rock them back and forward and there should be pretty much no play. Any clunking grinding sounds would especially indicate the need for replacements. i too only have 3 clicks on the damper which is enough to help slow a bad wobble but is virtually unnoticable at very low speed town riding which i do a fair bit of.

TTruckie · Jun 11, 2009

Just bought and fitted an ohlins steering damper..... the damper seems lose even thought the bolt is tight (long bolt) it rocks back and forth. Is this normal?

Any help out there from a factory owner.

Ta

TT

sorry for hijacking thread:dunno

Nadz · Jun 12, 2009

Do you mean there is slack before it takes the damper takes tension ? If so i dont get anything like that, sounds like it needs a service if so.

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adjusting the damper

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