Steering Damper for Touring

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Stephen Hill

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My 1972 has the usual minor bar wobble at 25 mph. Normally no big deal.
But when I load the bike up with panniers to go touring, the wobble at low speeds becomes much worse.
Example, slowing down to do a hand signal at 25 mph produces significant wobble.
I am considering installing a steering damper for when I go touring with loaded panniers.

My questions are:
1. Does the bar wobble get worse when you install panniers and load them (rear weight bias).
2. When you installed a steering damper, did it reduce the bar wobble?
3. Did the steering damper produce any unwelcome issues, such as hard steering, etc?

I am aware that many bikes do not suffer bar wobble, and that 1000 variables can make it better or worse. I'd rather not get into a rehash about how a well sorted bike doesn't need a steering damper.

Thanks in advance for comments from folks who have experience with adding a steering damper to address load induced bar wobble.

Stephen Hill
 
I can't really answer your question directly, as I've not fitted a damper to my bike. I did, however, ask the exact same question here a few years ago and with guidance from the forum I was able to make my steering wobble go away. Are you willing to pursue that, or are you intent on putting a bandaid on it?

And yes, adding weight to the rear by packing luggage or even moving your feet to the passenger pegs makes the head shake much worse. It has to do with the front wheel.
 
Thanks maylar.

I am interested in hearing from folks with steering damper experience under touring load conditions.
I am NOT interested in the usual check list for possible marginal improvements. Been there, done that, read the threads.

Stephen
 
yes I have had a steering damper fitted for the past 20 years just in case of an emergency tank slapper

I know you don't want to hear this but there is no "need" of a steering damper otherwise

and your symptoms strongly indicate something is very wrong, could be as simple as poor balanced tire or excessively worn steering head bearings, poor weight placement

but given that you have said you have been down the road of trying to find and cannot fix the underlying problem then yes I sure would fit one
 
I have one, it stops the "hands off the bars coast down" wobble, its adjustable so I can dial it up for fast work and to move the bike around I just loosen it back up.
 
Thanks 1up3down,

I agree, "poor weight placement" is a major source of the problem. This is what happens when I install a Craven rack and pannier, then fill them with tools, camping gear, etc. Hard to do much about that. I could take my VFR, but it would piss off my British bike touring buddies.

The fact that Norton produced a steering damper kit tells me that they know the frame geometry was marginal. It also tells me that there is no sin in using one.

Thanks Jimbo, I was curious if it would reduce a low speed wobble, not just a high speed wobble.

Stephen Hill
 
I could take my VFR, but it would piss off my British bike touring buddies.
Click to expand...

Stephen, take the VFR, better chance of coming back alive versus dealing with an overloaded, overbalanced, 45 year old British bike, I beg of thee....
 
I think a steering damper will do exactly what you want of it and for touring loaded up will stop the headstock shake. What it won't do, is improve any high speed weave problems. It's quite difficult to load up the front end of a Commando weight wise with high bars and a sit up riding position. A full interstate tank and lower bars along with a tank bag is about as good as you can go. I even tried a tool roll under the headlight but that was to cure a high speed weave that was purely down to a 18" front wheel.
 
Jimbo,

Could you please tell me what the stroke is on your steering damper? I have an Ohlins damper and thought I'd make some bracketry along the lines of the Norton kit. Knowing the stroke required will help me determine if the damper I have is going to be of any use in the project.

Thanks,

Stephen
 
I bought one for a Dunstall conversion with clip-ons years ago.
Note the Usage text!
Steering Damper for Touring
 
I would never ride a bike without a steering damper and a friction damper is not good enough. That wobble you have is a warning. I have had the situation where the handle bars have turned into a blur in a lock-to lock crashing tank slapper and it came from nowhere. I simply use on old damper from a Kawasaki two stroke of the 70s. It has a knob on the end to adjust the stiffness. The beauty of the hydraulic damper is that the quicker it moves the more damping you get. You should find the reason for the wobble.
 
I have never used a steering damper on any of my bikes for over 40 years of riding, in 2013 I brought a new Triumph Thruxton and did the usual things to it, Gazi rear shocks and Raceteck springs and Ecumelators up front, this bike handles pretty good and is very stable at high speeds, but for some unknown reason I put a new Norman Hide steering damper, man what a big diffrents it made to the feel of the bike on the road, I run around the streets set on number 5 setting and when out in the tight twisty roads I set it on 7 max, it makes the bike handle and feel so much better, when I go away on long trips I have fully loaded saddle bags, swag over the rear seat and a big canvas bag, it make the bike with all my gear so much stable even at high speeds, I am so impress with it that I am going to get one for my 850 Featherbed although it handles pretty good and I have never had any wobbles in the 35 years since I built it up, ut I think a steering damper will also make a diffrents, maybe thats why most sports bikes have one fitted.

Ashley
 
If you decide to install one, here is another option, this is an inverted Scott type, fitted to my race bike, standard fork yoke
Regards Mike
Steering Damper for Touring
 
acotrel said:
I would never ride a bike without a steering damper and a friction damper is not good enough. That wobble you have is a warning. I have had the situation where the handle bars have turned into a blur in a lock-to lock crashing tank slapper and it came from nowhere. I simply use on old damper from a Kawasaki two stroke of the 70s. It has a knob on the end to adjust the stiffness. The beauty of the hydraulic damper is that the quicker it moves the more damping you get. You should find the reason for the wobble.
Click to expand...
that's the same one that Norton sells
 
I put a steering damper on this spring .... I think it's great and yes , seems to tighten up handling in all situations .... mine came from Brit Cycle and I believe it is German made .... easy install and 6 or 7 positions .... a definite improvement ...
Craig
 
Mine does that when the front tyre is worn on the edges,. It seems to be a common problems here in NZ, according to those who know how to ride. Bike rides like a tain at high speeds. not a problem. damper might be a waste of effort. removed the damper from my 750 after the restoration [ fitted because of a faulty front tyre ].. Dont need it.
Dereck,
 
This is the one I fitted.
I used one of these plastified clamps used on the Mk3 passenger handrail for the bottom fitting (not the clamp in the picture).
Gives it a bit of flex but acceptable.
Does the job when carrying luggage or a passenger.
Never needed to set it higher than step 1.
The adjuster JUST stays clear of the bottom exhaust rocker cap nut when steering hard left.

Steering Damper for Touring


Steering Damper for Touring


Steering Damper for Touring
 
On my bike I don't use a clamp on the frame to mount the end of the damper. I use a tag off the end of the little plate which covers the end of the rocker spindle. So if the motor moved, you would feel it through the clip-ons. - Not the best way to go on a normal Commando. Whenever I have had the big crashing tank-slapper, it has usually been caused by losing the front end by pushing the bike too hard. It can happen anywhere at any time if you tend to get a bit silly. It doesn't only take a bad front tyre to cause it. If you hit a patch of gravel or water in a fast corner, you could easily be in business.
If it ever happens to you, the normal reaction is to try and fight it - that usually makes it worse. On some occasions, I have let go of the bars and grabbed the tank and waited for it to stop. If you grab the bars too soon, you get launched. The steering damper stops that sort of drama from ever happening. I know guys who race without a damper - VERY FOOLISH !
Always remember, you haven't crashed until you are off the bike.
 
I too have the wobble on my 73 850. My 72 Combat was worse. I experienced a couple of tank slappers on that beast. I fitted the Norton damper to it in about 73 or 74. No more wobble. I plan to get one soon for my current 73 850 Norton. I did discover just yesterday that I had a number of loose front spokes. I tightened them and most of the wobble went away. For my own peace of mind I still plan to get the damper.
 
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