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Norman Hyde Steering Damper...just installed, thoughts...

27K views 28 replies 19 participants last post by  _seph 
#1 ·
so after waiting almost a month to get my steering damper it arrived today and so far i have to say i am very pleased. initially i was torn between the norman hyde and the LSL. the noramn hyde costs a bit more, but at this point think it was well worth the extra $$$.

first off, the installation couldnt have been easier, seriously. three 8mm hex screws and one 13mm nut and your done. thats it. literally took 5 minutes to install. in lookng at the LSL it has way too many small parts and looks to be more involved in installing.

i also liked the fact that the norman hyde damper is black, and not gold like the LSL.

i've taken it on some turns and plan to hit the twisties tomorrow morning going up lookout mountain and then down 74 from evergreen into morrison, but for now my first impression is just locally here in the city.

i have it set on the 5th stiffest setting. i have heard people state that they dont like the feel maneuvering in parking lots, but i have had no problem yet, and if it is a proble you can adjust it in seconds. i actually did like the feel of it making low speed turns like when you are turning at a light for example because you have less of a tendency to oversteer.

turns at speed are so much more stable and, i am not really sure how to describe this, but the front end now seems to be "connected" or in synch with the rest of the bike and it just feels like one solid piece if that makes sense.

one thing i was experiencing in the canyons and sweepers when i started pushing it a little harder into turns (and i am a newbie so this is a relative statement) is that my forks would almost skip or oversteer (maybe that is my lack of experience) but it seems like this will also be corrected with the damper.

so all in all i am very happy with the norman hyde damper and highly recommend it to others. i am not sure why some have noted that they really didnt feel much of a difference afterr they installed it, because for me it was an immediate change. now i just need to get a superbrace and some flatslide carbs and i will be done for a while!

scott
 
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#2 ·
Excellent Scott, thanks for sharing, I've been considering the Norman Hyde damper as well and look forward to hearing from you once you have had a change to really ring it out in the twisties.

Scott
 
#3 ·
I made my own setup with a storz damper and some clamps.
The NH is a very clean looking setup but at the time I had more time than $$ so that's what I did.
Every once in a while, slow speed manuvers, especially right from a start, are awkward but I am getting used to it and I typically have it on full for speed and back it off a few turns for low speed.
-Ben
 
#4 ·
so i just walked in the door from the initial run with the steering damper. i went out to golden and rode up lookout mountain then took I-70 to evergreen parkway and rode down from evergreen into morrison via 74, tons of twisties and have to say this is the single best mod i have done so far. the bike doesn't want to understeer anymore and bumps and cracks dont elicit the twisting of the bars like it did before.

i ha the damper set between 5 and 6 (7 is the stiffest setting) and and just blown away. i can take sweepers as faster speeds and like i mentioned in the previous post the bike feels so much more stable, doesn't want to understeer, and just feels way better!

go out and buy a damper if you like riding in the twisties, even if you are a newbie like myself, you will notice a huge difference and it will inprove your riding!

scott
 
#6 ·
Hi Scott,

I'm a bit surprised that you turn the damper so stong (5 or 6) on the track you did today. This kind of set-up is quit strong in my opnion. The bike is heavy to steer in such a set-up. Personly I prefer strong settings only wenn I'm on the higway and really drive fast! On topspeed or close to that. The reason I do that is only to avoight a tricky tankslapper. Wenn I ride the bike on a track with beautifull corners I go back on 2. That way the bike is good to handle and you do'nt need so much assistant of the damper.
Further I'm also very pleased with the choice for the NH damper. It looks very stock and I like that, it's just if its belong there.
 
#5 ·
Thanks for the info. I too am looking to put the NH unit on my bike since I got headshake so bad I went down at freeway speeds. The stock steering seems to be unpredictable at best. I'm not sure my front end was set up right to begin with but that's another story. I am leaning towards the NH unit because it looks cleaner on the bike (being black and the way it mounts) and does seem to be better engineered for our bikes. So far I've seen it for $279.99 at NewThruxton/NewBonneville. Where did you get yours and how much was it? I really want one before I go on too long of a ride. I just don't trust the stock steering anymore. Any info would be greatly appreciated.
 
#7 · (Edited)
ThruxtonBoy-

i definately agree with you that the stiffer settings are very nice on the highway and at speed, but i also like the "solidness" and stability with it set to the stiffer settings in the twisties. like i said before the bike just feels way more reliable and stable in the corners. last night on my way home from work (got off at 3am, not many people on the road) i messed around with different settings and prefer the stiffer settings (5-6) all around. with little or no dampening every bump and groove is felt and the bars will jump erratically, even if it is just minimal. since i take the same route to and from work everyday i know each and every turn, corner, bump, crack in the road and rode it with dampening and without. the damper just smoothes everything out and feels more stable.

in my humble newbie opinion the stiffer settings in the turns just inspires confidence and you're not fighting the bike to understeer. you're leaning a bit more into turns, but the bike just hold a better line, even if it hits a bump, crack, etc. i am curious to see what others think of the stiffer setting in the twisties, and like i mentioned before the damper is probably the single best mod i have done so far...

i picked mine up from newbonneville.com for the same price mentioned 2 posts back. i was told it would take 2 weeks, but ended up getting it 4-5 weeks later, which i am guessing isnt newbonneville's fault and probably was sent to them from overseas. every other time i have purchased anything from newbonneville.com and they had it in stock it came super fast and so far love their service. british customs is great too, very knowlegable, will always answer your questons over the phone, and fast shipping and great products.

scott

scott
 
#8 ·
Scott,

I understand your motivation for the strong (tight) set-up of the NH damper. If you are in a position to do it, I recomend strongly to upgrade the rearshocks and the frontend also. I put new shocks and frontsprings on my bike last week, the differense is more than 'day and night'. If you love riding a stabil bike, wich you can use the way it's mented to be, than go for new springs!

Wim
 
#9 ·
i have upgraded the rear shocks with IKONs. i dont mond the front suspension, and the easiest, simplest mod i will do to the front is maybe add a 1" spacer. not into doing the work required to put in emulators and what not. if the spacers dont do much i may just replace the springs all togetherr, but right now for my ability and what i do the stock forks seem ok. i talked with a guy who races in the thruxton cup and placed 10th at daytona and his front end is stock minus the spacers; stock springs, etc.
 
#10 ·
i haul ass everywhere i go,,and have never come close to a slapper,,i do want to upgrade rear end though,,,i think your damper enthusiasm will wear and you'll back off a round or 2,,have thought about puttin one on this bike,,but mostly for looks
 
#13 ·
well, it's been almost 10 months now, and the damper enthusiasm still hasn't worn off, and i still ride it with pretty stiff settings...don't regret the purchase at all.
 
#16 ·
I have the LSL damper which has about 18 settings from memory. Storz also sells this version which can be put on a whole host of bikes depending on which bracket combination you have. I increase the damping for highway trips owing to the rain grooves and poor state of the highways around SF. This setting certainly gives a more stable ride. I'll then back off from 15 to 10 clicks for the twisties. I have Ikons at the rear, progressive springs up front, a fork brace and BT45s front and rear.
 

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#17 ·
Bellacorse Dampener?

Since my main reason or getting a dampener is to minimize head wobble from my hack, I think I've settled on the one from Bellacorse. For me it's a step up from the original idea - using a VW bus dampener. It also must be mounted on the left side, since I have a fitting for the chair right where the Norman Hyde dampener would attach. Does anyone else have the one from Bellacorse? I (think) I've successfully attached a pic of this rig.

Thanks,
Geoffrey
 

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#21 ·
Fitted and astounded!



Fitted the NH and I am stunned by the difference. Why the heck triumph don't fit them as standard?

I like position 5 a lot. I rode 200 miles this week through the canyons and down rutted freeways and the beast feels so much more focussed and unphased. Thanks for the thread sbpark. I would have never added the damper if it wasn't for this thread. Riding pleasure multiplied thanks to you.

 
#20 ·
I have had my NH damper on now for 12 months, I have Gazi P/Bs on the rear, racetec springs and emulators in the front end, my Thruxton is pretty stable then I put the NH damper on and it just made the whole bike so mach more stabe, did make a big diffrents, better in a straght line and great in the twisties, I set mine on position 5 around town and once on the highways then twisties I put it on the 7 position (Max), I have had no problem with it set on max, I ride very hard in the corners and so far hasn't made my arms tired from the high setting even in the city I sometimes forget to lower the settings, but you do notice it if to high in the city at slower speeds.
The best part about the NH is it has all the fittings and is so quick to put on, wish all after mark parts were that simple, I had mine on in less that 5 minutes. so I say yes put a steering damper on, it does make a big diffrents and even better with good handling tyres.

Ashley
 
#23 ·
Though the argument of the necessity of a steering damper seems to be a 50/50 split between functionality and looks, I've gone from stock handlebars to clip-ons and now recently dropped the forks 13mm after dropping in new springs and 15wt oil. As the handlebars get lower and lower, the steering is definitely getting sharper. However, I'm starting to feel like a damper might help settle things down as my baby is now itching to lean into curves and the softness of the steering is becoming more apparent. Any thoughts?
 
#24 ·
I am on the "looks" side of the 50/50. I run a 17" front wheel and clip ons on my Thruxton and bought the damper as a safety blanket and because I like the look of them. it doesn't really make much difference at all on my set up. I suspect it might be more useful on a stock bike as the front end of a stock Thruxton is pretty bad.

Like fork braces they are nice to have and every little bit helps but generally I think you are better off sorting out the problem rather than masking it.

 
#25 ·
Sweet ride!

Spent some more time with the new set up...
The "looseness" up front is only there at low speeds (under 20mph) and shouldn't pose any life threatening problems, certainly not worth dumping heavy coin on a dampener. Decided to get used to the new feel of the bike for now. That is of course, until I'm itching to dump more cash due to my gear acquisition disease!
 
#26 ·
Sanity Check

Just tried to install the NH for my 2013 Mag wheel bonnie. Is this how the front bracket is suppose to look when installed? The directions weren't entirely clear, and this was the best configuration I could manage but it doesn't quite look right. Any suggestions or pics of the proper form?
 

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