Steering damper available

[OZRIDER]

There is a new Australian underbar steering damper available. It is made by MSC under a new brand.. "Ralle Moto" and available through "Adventure Moto" who will ship world wide. See details at www.rallemoto.com or contact [email protected]

Here are some pics on my F800GS... It worked a treat on a recent 4500km trip.

 

[DirtyinOz]

Yeah, I just got a Ralle Moto damper for my F800GS from Motorrad Garage here in Western Australia. Haven't fitted it yet but looks like a good piece of kit

 

[twisticles]

What experiences on the 800GS made you feel you needed a damper?

Just intrigued really...

 

[Tim Cullis]

Off road probably. Certainly the F650GS could do with one; the quick turning 19-inch front wheel is great on tarmac but it needs a firm hand amongst stones and rocks.

Tim

 

[DirtyinOz]

I got mine mainly for the conditions that I ride in overhere. Sand,and limestome rocky areas.
Basically you get "pinged off" every rock when your in the rocky areas, and the steering gets all skidish in sand.......I find that this accessory is well worth the $ when you consider it has 3 modes for terrain, and upto 8 dampening adjustments. But I couldnt see any real benefit or advantage if you were to just use the bike as a commuter. But again as Tim points out, it could even benefit more so on the F650GS

I have also seen others posting over in ADVrider about their findings on this item

 

[everywherevirtually]

I've got risers on my 800. From the photos I can't see how I could combine the two unless these guys make a riser to fit this device.

 

[DirtyinOz]

The unit will lift the bars up by 25mm

 

[OZRIDER]

What experiences on the 800GS made you feel you needed a damper?

Just intrigued really...

It's mostly insurance.. I come from a dirt bike background and at times find myself taking the big bikes I have owned over some pretty rough terrain... More suitable for a 450 or big thumper. I love that the F800GS is comfortable for bigger trips and I swapped out of a 1200GSA to get down on weight. But the F800 is still a big bike and it certainly ain't no thumper. How much damage do you think it would sustain on a rocky off? The less I drop it the cheaper the steering damper becomes. I have already done a few thousand kms with it on over mixed surfaces and it certainly inspires confidence that's for sure.

I think Adventure-Spec in the UK might be a dealer or you can order direct from adventure moto or motorrad garage in Oz.

Cheers

 

[OZRIDER]

I've got risers on my 800. From the photos I can't see how I could combine the two unless these guys make a riser to fit this device.

Ye you would have to ditch your risers, but the kit is an under-bar mount and it raises the bars by almost an inch (20mm about). I'm 6ft and it works for me.

 

[everywherevirtually]

Ye you would have to ditch your risers, but the kit is an under-bar mount and it raises the bars by almost an inch (20mm about). I'm 6ft and it works for me.

That's cool then as the risers are 20mm

 

[Tim Cullis]

There's a write-up on the installation at http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=448366. It looks a well-engineered solution, but the price of A$879 (nearly £450) plus shipping and import taxes is a downer.

The F800S and F800ST have steering dampers and Hyperpro sells upgraded products for these bikes at £168-193 depending on the version plus £49 fitting kit. I could see me spending maybe £250 but £500 plus would be hard to justify.

Tim

 

[chrisjk]

Steering Damper

Just installed one of these on the 800

I had read about them on ADVrider and because I have had a number of scares in deep gravel with weaves and semi-tank slappers, ordered one and fitted it. I have not used it in earnest yet but having taken the bike up and down a heavily rutted steep lane with plenty of rocks and holes to deflect the bars, I can say I am extremely pleased with it. It helps the bike track very precisely and somehow gives the impression that the suspension is working much, much better than before. I don't know if this is just a perception or whether the fact that the front wheel is not being knocked sideways so much actually does allow the suspension to do its job better.

It really is a night and day experience. I think I will still go ahead with some planned mods to the suspension (I am thinking of the Bitubo cartridge kit for the forks and a better rear shock) but the improvement has been so good it's given me pause for thought before I spend yet more money on the bike.

Having said that I like the 800 so much, it might just become a long-term keeper which ends up with so much love and cash invested in it that it becomes virtually a custom bike - cashwise it's a fair way down that road already!

The manufacturer is Australian here, although I in fact ordered mine from a US source - BestRest Products.

 

[Gecko]

That seems to counter everything I would want when riding a big heavy bike off road. I want to feel what the front is doing so spending a small fortune to dampen that feel seems pointless.....which is maybe why I've never seen or heard of this product or anything like it before and I've been riding a GS for 10 years....

 

[D6]

if a dampers so good, why dont trial/trail riders have them?, i tried this on an xl 600 a while ago and nearly killed myself off road with it, i put up without and wobbled on the road instead,
there must be a flaw with the 800.s if they need this?
if it works though, all well an good

 

[Greg Masters]

if a dampers so good, why dont trial/trail riders have them?, i tried this on an xl 600 a while ago and nearly killed myself off road with it, i put up without and wobbled on the road instead,
there must be a flaw with the 800.s if they need this?
if it works though, all well an good

I just spent a small fortune trying to fit an Ohlins steering damper to my Husaberg.

Greg

 

[alimey4u2]

 

[chrisjk]

if a dampers so good, why dont trial/trail riders have them?, i tried this on an xl 600 a while ago and nearly killed myself off road with it, i put up without and wobbled on the road instead,
there must be a flaw with the 800.s if they need this?
if it works though, all well an good

I think you'll find some riders of other off-road machinery do use them..

 

[earthmover]

I have one on my 640. It makes a difference.
I don't feel the need for one on my 1200, or my 250.
Mark

 

[Tim Cullis]

The whole purpose of having a narrow 21-in wheel on the F800GS (against the wider 19-in on the F650GS) is to help make the bike less sensitive offroad to rocks. So I can totally understand why fitting a steering damper helps this even more.

The reason a damper isn't needed on Gecko's 1100GS is because the bike just demolishes obstructions by ploughing through them.

Tim

 

[Chris G]

Off topic, but hi Chris, how did you get the damaged rev counter repaired from the ADV rally in March ?