Is there a steering damper available for an 05 1200gs

[djhep]

Hi all.
Can anyone please tell me if there is a steering damper available for a 2005 1200gs.
I hear a lot of folks saying that it is not necessary, but I battled a bit with tank slappers in Namibia in soft powder sand, so hoping a damper may help.

Thanks in advance for any replies.

All the best.

Dave.

 

[Greg Masters]

Scotts do damper kits for the G650GS, the F650/800GS and HP2. None listed for other models.

It might be worth an e-mail to jake AT scottsonline.com as I know they don't always list all that are available.

FWIW, there are two types of Scotts damper - street and trail - and they both look the same.

 

[Nick V]

Something else you may want to try if you're handy.
Take a look at the way the damper is mounted on a Hexhead R1200R or R1200S. If you're prepared to remove, drill and tap the Telelever A-arm and fork bottom triple clamp (you will see that the basic castings on your bike are the same as the R and S), you can pick up an R or S damper from a local breakers and mount that - which, I imagine, would save a fair bit of cash.

 

[djhep]

Thanks Greg....
I've mailed Jake at Scott's online and waiting for a response.

Thanks Nick.....thats very interesting and I'll look in to it.
Just wondering, did you try it out, and if so how did it feel on the tarmac and on dirt roads?

 

[GSA-12]

Hi

there's a Wilbers damper available from Polo-motorrad.
Have a look at
http://www.polo-motorrad.com/en/len...-1200-gs-adventure-blau.html?___from_store=de

Might be something.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Nick V]

Thanks Nick.....thats very interesting and I'll look in to it.
Just wondering, did you try it out, and if so how did it feel on the tarmac and on dirt roads?

No, I haven't yet...

My '10 GSA has none of the mounting holes. My '09 was built using an R1200S A-arm, so it's already tapped. I have dampers available, but never fitted them.

I think I may still be able to answer your question, though. Dampers like this are reciprocation-speed sensitive. In other words, if you move the shaft through the body slowly (like you would in normal steering action), you shouldn't feel undue resistance.
But if the bars start to shake (as in a tankslapper), the same viscosity damping oil is being forced through the same orifices inside the damper at much higher pressure. This causes the damper to resist the higher-speed motion.

What this means under riding conditions is that you shouldn't be able to feel the damper in normal riding - but it will help save your ass when you NEED it.