Megamoto steering

[GSMarc]

I wonder how many of you consider the steering of the MM to 'light', which means that when you are running relatively fast, the front seems to tack (translator also says : to hedge, to evade the issue).

I know that someones have installed a central steering damper.
What is the real upgrade of that device ?
Are there other solutions ?
Thank you for sharing your experience,

 

[GWJ]

I know this reply is well out of date but I have only just joined the forum. I've had a MM since September 2007 and understand your point about the steering going light at full throttle.

However, my experience is that it never gets any worse, it never threatens to get out of control, and so I have grown to live with it.

What have you done?

 

[GSMarc]

thank you for your answer
I've done nothing yet, I've only 4.000 km.
But as I'm not a champion, if I found something ables to reduce this effect,
I will probably apply it on my bike.
But what a great bike !!

 

[Joe Bar]

I have had / got this problem. It is particularly noticeable on poor road surface coming out of bumpy bends at speed, hard on the throttle, and can get a bit hairy.

A few weeks back, I set aside some time, took my spanners and screwdrivers out and spent the afternoon riding up and down the same piece of road to try and improve it. The fact that I have a screen fitted makes the problem more noticeable (not worse) as higher speeds are more easily sustained.

I have now managed to greatly reduce the effect, and think it is now as good as it's going to be without a steering damper. I'll know for sure next weekend when I'm in the Alps

For what it's worth, here's my final suspension settings. (I'm 13stones, 182lbs or 83kg depending on when you were born / where you live).

Rear pre-load - factory spec.
Front and rear ride heights at mid distance settings front and rear.
Front rebound damping - 15 clicks out from max
Front comp damping - 16 clicks out from max
Rear rebound damping - 23 clicks out from max
Rear comp damping - 19 clicks out from max

Please bear in mind that the following results were obtained by someone else, riding a different bike on a closed circuit, and that I'm just a bull shitter - officer

Where previously the weave was coming in at 85-90 mph on fast rippled corners, it's now much, much less at speeds up to 115-120 mph Running up as high as 135 mph gives a light feeling at the bars, but nothing that makes you think you want to back off. On one particular stretch where the weave was pretty bad at 95-100 mph I was running through at 120 mph without any issues.

I wouldn't say it's perfect, but now it is bloody good, and I wouldn't really want to be going much quicker anyhow. Backing it down to high 80's and 90's, there are no real issues.

I'm sure a damper would give just a little more confidence running at 3 figure speeds and coming fast of high speed corners, but as it is at the moment, on smooth fast sweepers it's as composed as it's gonna get and at that it's pretty damned good.

Prior to fiddling, I also tried it with the screen on and off to make sure it wasn't just that which was upsetting the handling. I'll decide when i get back from the Alps whether to go for a steering damper or not.

 

[GSMarc]

Thank you very much Joe and enjoy your journey in the Alps
I will read with attention your conclusions,
regards,

 

[GWJ]

Taking my MM for a spin last night I realised that since first getting the bike I have changed how/where I sit on it. I've taken to leaning forward when on full throttle and moving well forward on the bike, which of course is easy with the long flat seat. Cannot say whether it has any mechanical effect but it feels better than sitting back which used to see me unwittingly pulling on the bars and making the flighty front end worse.

I'll be interested in what you find if you try the changes sugegsted by Joe Bar.

 

[Joe Bar]

The thing with suspension settings and fiddling is, that as long as you write everything down when you start, and start from factory standard settings, it's always easy to undo and go back to standard if you find things getting worse.

If things get better you can keep going in the same direction until it doesn't. Riding the same piece of road over and over, also gives you a consistent point of reference.

 

[GSMarc]

Does somebody has installed a steering damper (Scotts or Ohlins) on his MM ?
If yes, what's the improvement ??
Thank you,
marc

 

[ovenpaa]

Are we expecting too much of our bikes? I am an ex HP2e rider, I only ever ran it with 17" wheels and whilst it was not a MM it was a HP2 and shared a common chassis. The MM has different forks, shock and wheels and is designed for road use however it is still a HP2. They are flighty out of corners, they do squirm a little on full throttle and they have a knack of shaking the front end and spinning the back through corners if you try hard but isn't this why we own HP2's? In fact this is exactly what I like in a bike and is the reason why I am having so much fun with 650's right now, because I can spend more time on the edge.

I would hate to ride a sanitised HP2.

 

[GSMarc]

Hi Ovenpaa,
each one buy a bike for emotional and/or technical reasons, that's a fact.

After, each one try to "tune" it as much as possible to reach the perfect looking or behaviour for himself.

I'm happy for you if during the time you had your HP2E, you enjoyed it in its original version and could extract
great pleasure out of it.

For sure, a MM is not a HP2E and as I will not go to a 650 in the next future,
I collect infos on how I can (for myself) upgrade the stability of the steering.

I'm not a great pilot but I'm a great fan of this bike

 

[WhiteLightning]

Ok. I stayed outta this... but i'll throw my two cents in.

It needs a damper. Needs needs. Yes, she's very well mannered and if you follow the rules any shake will correct. But the kicks are strong and real. Somehow I always ride this bike hard. And I'm not the smoothest rider in the world but I hold my own. Will not having a steering damper kill me? Nah. Will it slow me down. Definitely. When I ride, I so rarely use both wheels at the same time... As the front bounces on and off the tarmac (from throttle, bumps, the odd wheelie) the big shakes and kicks are spooky, but not life threatening. So.. Yes. I'm adding a damper. And the comfort that comes with it.

WL

 

[Joe Bar]

Ok. I stayed outta this... but i'll throw my two cents in.

It needs a damper. Needs needs.

Just back from a 2,000 mile week covering all kinds of roads in all kinds of weather in England, France, Germany, Switzerland and Italy. At no point did I think this bike definitely needs a steering damper.

As I have posted, I spent a fair amount of time adjusting the suspension on my bike, and it has been superb, whether on the motorway or broken up single track passes in the Alps.

If I were to spend my entire riding below 110mph, I personally wouldn't even consider it needed a damper. Where a damper would help is at speed, where the bike does become quite sensitive to road surface and cross wind. On some roads it started to get a bit loose at 110mph, but on others would run to 140mph and still feel pretty good. A damper in these conditions would give some of the stability back as well as increasing rider confidence, and in the end I may well end up fitting one.

But, everywhere else the bike was stunning, in the Alps on the switch backs and hairpins it was in it's element and on a quick 25 mile run down through the ski resorts following 3 local boys on sports bikes (999, Blade & R1) the MM was sitting right with them, composed, stable and without a twitch, and thoughts of a damper never even entered my mind.

The thing with adjusting and sorting the suspension first is that only takes time, costs nothing and if it gets worse you can just re-set it and start again. Once you're happy it's as good as it's going to get, then it's time to make the decision about what else if anything is needed to get the bike how YOU want it.

The best money I've spent on the MM without doubt, is the screen. The practicality of the bike increases tenfold, and long distance, sustained cruising at three figure speeds becomes a comfortable reality, rather than just hanging on for as long as you can bear it. On my trip my best day's mileage was 615, I had the Airhawk as well which helped, but still a good day's ride on any bike, let alone a bike like the MM.

 

[fixinbones]

You will be much happier with one of these!!!!!!!!!


http://fixinbones.smugmug.com/photos/248595817_4PdNx-L.jpg

 

[GSMarc]

Hi fixinbones,

Is this your bike ?
If yes, can you give us a little report on how much this steering damper
has given a solution ??
Thank you,

 

[fixinbones]

Hi fixinbones,

Is this your bike ?
If yes, can you give us a little report on how much this steering damper
has given a solution ??
Thank you,

Yes, its my bike. I added it mostly for the 1"riser that it provides. I never go much faster than 70-80 so I cant comment on its effect on high speed but it does calm down the front end on rough pavement.

 

[Dee Tee]

Yes, its my bike.I never go much faster than 70-80.

You ARE telling Fibs,i hope ?

 

[(RIP) maverick]

You ARE telling Fibs,i hope ?

Honest officer it can't go faster than that

 

[fixinbones]

You ARE telling Fibs,i hope ?

I wish I were fibbing but I occasionally get her to 90 or 100mph if that makes you feel better!!!!!! Truthfully, here in the states the roads suck, especially in New York and the cops are all over with Laser and radar. Plus, I really enjoy tight twisty road which at about 50-70mph.

 

[Bengaz]

After having ridden a few hundred miles already on the new(ish) MM I will be definately looking to buy a damper. I can see straight away it will make a huge benefit. I will also be dropping the forks a little.
Leaning over the front makes a massive improvement (obviously) and virtually eliminates any weaving.

Anyone know of a descent damper to buy, that will fit?

 

[Joe Bar]

After having ridden a few hundred miles already on the new(ish) MM I will be definately looking to buy a damper. I can see straight away it will make a huge benefit. I will also be dropping the forks a little.
Leaning over the front makes a massive improvement (obviously) and virtually eliminates any weaving.

Anyone know of a descent damper to buy, that will fit?

By carefully setting the suspension I have eliminated over 95% of my weaving. Before I was convinced I was going to need a damper it seemed that bad, now I don't think about it.

There is a guy in the US, can't remember his name that does the best damper kits for the HP2. Fixinbones has one on his bike, if you do a search for HP2 steering dampers on Adv Rider you'll find him, not cheap, but quality work, about £400 plus shipping if I remember correctly.