Anyone removed the WC steering damper?

stevemersey

stevemersey

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I am a few weeks into 2014 WC ownership and whilst mostly a good experience, especially at higher speeds, at lower speed I have this very slight sense of the bike not quite responding the way I would like. It reminds me of an old bike I once bought that had an over tightened steering head. Not as obvious as that was , but just lacking a little responsiveness. Certainly not as good as my old twin cam. It was quite noticeable yesterday when I had to slow down a little in some heavy rain and ride smoother. I do not notice it when throwing the bike about, but something is stopping me gel with the bike at lower speed and I can't put my finger on it.

I have started to think this might be an effect of the steering damper so I am thinking of removing it. Anyone tried this? Could you notice the difference? Any downside?
 
stevemersey said:
I am a few weeks into 2014 WC ownership and whilst mostly a good experience, especially at higher speeds, at lower speed I have this very slight sense of the bike not quite responding the way I would like. It reminds me of an old bike I once bought that had an over tightened steering head. Not as obvious as that was , but just lacking a little responsiveness. Certainly not as good as my old twin cam. It was quite noticeable yesterday when I had to slow down a little in some heavy rain and ride smoother. I do not notice it when throwing the bike about, but something is stopping me gel with the bike at lower speed and I can't put my finger on it.

I have started to think this might be an effect of the steering damper so I am thinking of removing it. Anyone tried this? Could you notice the difference? Any downside?
Click to expand...

My 2013 bike came without a steering damper - never been an issue, unless they changed the steering head geometry on the 2014 model then removing it should not cause any issues, but if BMW did change the geometry then it might be wise to leave it in place.
 
I had similar issues as the OP on a gsxr. On track I couldn't hit an apex until I changed the cheepo OE damper for a more expensive adjustable one, the bike was transformed, much tighter turn in on slower bends.
You've got me thinking now, I might try a different damper on my LC. I had a Matris one on the gsxr good and strong, it survived three crashes.
 
CPJS said:
I had similar issues as the OP on a gsxr. On track I couldn't hit an apex until I changed the cheepo OE damper for a more expensive adjustable one, the bike was transformed, much tighter turn in on slower bends.
You've got me thinking now, I might try a different damper on my LC. I had a Matris one on the gsxr good and strong, it survived three crashes.
Click to expand...

Smudger's comment about insurance made me think maybe an alternative more sophisticated damper is the compromise rather than removing it altogether so I think I will look for an after market damper as you have suggested.
 
My lc 2013 has no damper fitted but my pals lc 2014 has. We have ridden each others bikes and i commented how much slower his bike steered to mine. He agreed how much flightier on the steering the 2013 is. Remove the damper n give it a go.
 
madmartin said:
My lc 2013 has no damper fitted but my pals lc 2014 has. We have ridden each others bikes and i commented how much slower his bike steered to mine. He agreed how much flightier on the steering the 2013 is. Remove the damper n give it a go.
Click to expand...

I just disconnected the accessible end of the damper and had a fiddle. There is a lot more resistance than I expected and a fair bit of stiction. To remove it completely it looks like the wheel will have to come off to get a torx bit on the mounting bolt. That will have to wait until the weekend, but I am pretty sure removing it will make a noticeable difference.
 
Take it off. There is nothing in your Motor policy that says you cannot take anything off your vehicle. There are 1200 WC GS's being driven around without their clocks, fer feck's sake.
 
stevemersey said:
I just disconnected the accessible end of the damper and had a fiddle. There is a lot more resistance than I expected and a fair bit of stiction. To remove it completely it looks like the wheel will have to come off to get a torx bit on the mounting bolt. That will have to wait until the weekend, but I am pretty sure removing it will make a noticeable difference.
Click to expand...

Im sure you"ll notice a fair difference with the damper removed. A set of good sport touring/road tyres will also enhance the handling no end. What tyres you running at the mo? Mines on dunlop roadsmart 2. Me pal has the pr4's
 
Conti road attack 2s on the GS and quite impressed, especially on the dirty back roads where they deal with odd patches of gravel very well, and the high speed grip and handling on smooth tarmac is spot on. I like PR4's though, got them on another bike and hard to beat for wet grip but not experienced them on the gs.

madmartin said:
Im sure you"ll notice a fair difference with the damper removed. A set of good sport touring/road tyres will also enhance the handling no end. What tyres you running at the mo? Mines on dunlop roadsmart 2. Me pal has the pr4's
Click to expand...
 
Wapping said:
Take it off. There is nothing in your Motor policy that says you cannot take anything off your vehicle. There are 1200 WC GS's being driven around without their clocks, fer feck's sake.
Click to expand...



Yeah ..... Two fucking months after they were nicked for fuck sake ...... fuck fuck fuck ..... :rob
 
Maybe they should move on to nicking steering dampers and do the OP a favour .... :D
 
Reminds me of the two steering dampers fitted to my old H1a .even with those two it constantly tried to kill be on the gas .I was 18 at the time so it did not register . I do not notice the damper on my LC GSA so maybe you need a ginster or a big pie to MTFU :D
 
I take it the steering damper on the GS's are non adjustable .... ??
 
Take it off and god forbid you have a serious accident where someone else is hurt you have given the insurance company a perfect excuse not to pay.
Worse if you are hurt by someone else , their insurance can use it as a reason to argue why you shouldn't get as much insurance

They will claim that it is fitted for a reason and can you prove hat it didn't cause the accident
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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