Triumphrat

deaddeaddead · 07-26-2006

Well, the only way to fight ignorance is to ask questions, so....

What is the purpose and function of a steering damper? Does the average person benefit from having one, or is it something that only the really quick need to have? I had one on my RD400 and my RZ350 and it didn't really seem to make much of a difference.

Also, I assume that a slip-on pipe is just that, it slips on easy. Is there an advantage or disadvantage to having a slip-on compared to a half system? Other than the price?

lromoda · 07-26-2006

A steering damper offers resistance to the triple clamp turning quickly in the headstock. The idea is to minimize the road surfaces influence on steering position. The quicker the jolt, the more damping it should provide. Hence, your relatively slow input on the bars isn't encumbered.

Whether you need one or not. Here's an analogy,

Taking an aspirin a day can stop you from having a heart attack which can kill you.

Having a steering damper can stop you from having a tank slapper that can throw you off the bike and kill you.

So, would you have had a heart attack today without aspirin?
Would you have had a tank slapper without the damper?

If you're not pushing hard out of a corner at the track, you're probably ok without it on the S3.

About the exhaust.

I think your options are slip on, or full system.

Full system will replace everything all the way to the engine.
Slip on will leave headers and clamp on to the pipe before it splits into 2 for the 3-1 systems, or replace the twin cans on a 3-1-2 system.

If you don't know which one you need... it's the slip on.

R100Pilot · 07-26-2006

Slip-on = muffler. It's the can with the baffles, just like a car.

A half system is gonna depend, but generally it replaces the plumbing that usually houses the oxygen sensor and/or catalytic converter, without replacing the header pipes.

Steering damper = lateral shock absorber for the front end. Iromoda's right - it offers protection from sudden jarring, as well as reducing vibration and keeping the front end steady at high speeds.

Old BMWs had one built into the steering head with four different settings. Turn the knob, adjust the damping. It's actually quite useful. Around town, at slow speeds, less damping makes it easier to turn. On the highway, turn it up for more damping and a steadier feel both in straight lines and through corners. Very crafty, those Germans.

[ This message was edited by: R100Pilot on 2006-07-26 18:32 ]

realizations · 07-26-2006

The last time I bought a steering damper, I was standing in line at the parts counter with blood dripping down my shoulder from the pothole induced tankslapper. It was a stable bike with a 19" front wheel, but squirrely with a 17's front and rear. Also, I had the forks pushed up 2" through the triples. Lost a lot of trail.

Geof3 · 07-26-2006

Not a single person here has had a serious tank slapper on the S3, and several do track time, to include myself. The front end of this bike is super solid. The geometry is perfect for what it is designed to do.

Some people do run them though... But most of the options look to be spotty at best. There is only one that I have seen that even looks like it would be helpful, and I'm not sure what the brand is...

zooplancton · 07-26-2006

'real', *** kind of bike is that? looks like a serious mod from street to dirt back to street.

thx in advance.
-b

sabocat · 07-26-2006

Geof might be right about the likelihood of tankslappers, but he is a little more certain than he should be. Only half of the tankslapper is a product of the bike, the other half is the product of the size of the bump you hit. Bumps can induce negative trail which results in a tank slapper. In other words, any bike can be made to tank slap all it takes is a big enough bump, the only question is relative probability and how you assess the risk/reward. Have you ever experienced headshaking the way you ride on the roads you ride? If not, well, you probably don't need a steering damper. If you ride on the track alot you are crazy if you don't have a steering damper and, indeed, most race organizations require them on all bikes, trail values be damned.

Now, on the other side of the equation we have the trail value on an S3 which is actually smaller than any current model GSXR. In other words it takes a smaller bump to induce negative trail on an S3 than on a GSXR (though there are other differences that matter such as the long wheelbase of the S3 and the relatively light front of the S3).

Steering dampers--as some have said (but others haven't) are used to damp out oscillations induced by ground irregularities (i.e. negative trail). Using them for anything else will compromise handling and safety namely because if there is an oscillation from something else the damper will only mask it--leaving it to bite you in the a$$ when you aren't expecting it.

sabocat · 07-26-2006

P.S.: if you actually have a tankslapper, use the rear brake.

Geof3 · 07-27-2006

Sabo... tracks around here only require them on race bikes or race scenarios...

While I totally agree with you overall, if you are hitting a bump that big, you prolly have more things to worry about beyond a tank slapper...

I do think one would have to F-up pretty bad to get a good slapper going on the S3... A bit of head shake, sure... but that's not really what dampers are designed to do is completely eliminate front end feel... I think some believe the damper is basically designed to almost lock up the front end...

Tee-Dub · 07-27-2006

I have only had my 05 for a week or so and I already am thinking about the LSL steering damper. With the short wheelbase, the amount of power and tendency to wheelie, this bike is made for a steering damper. Grabbing second gear hard tonight getting on the freeway, there was a small bump and she shook a bit. Nothing scary, but none the less!