madmartin
Registered user
No peter. Something decent.
The steering damper works
- Thread starter Nutty
- Start date
LiquidLAN
Registered user
After hitting a deep pothole at over 80mph today, I'm pleased that I've got the steering damper. A quick shake of the bars, and it corrected itself instantly.
Anyone travelling between Burford and Stow on the Wold, watch out, as it's on a fast bend.
fast bend??? I thought they'd made everything around that way a 50 to accommodate the lowest common denominator
Good to know the damper works!
Mr K
Registered user
Wow! They've taken 10 years to recreate the stability of the original 1200GS.
Wow! They've taken 10 years to recreate the stability of the original 1200GS.
And the performance of a decent bike....remarkable advance.
Mr K
Registered user
GC6269
Registered user
There's never been any doubt about the steering damper, it's a simple piece of kit, of course it works.
The question is whether the GS needs one.
The question is whether the GS needs one.
Thought that had already been answered??
It needs a damper like a push bike needs stabilisers - it's entirely down to the needs of the rider.
It's certainly not like my old TL1000S that needed one regardless of the rider due to its tendency to oscillate when unsettled.
LiquidLAN
Registered user
I thought it was more to do with compensating for a poor design than a poor rider, I also think you've proved that referring to your TL1000S. If it was designed right in the first place, surely it wouldn't end up with harmonics that cause it to oscillate???
madmartin
Registered user
Its radical /aggresive steering geometry but also poor rider too. Nothin to do with harmonics. Road surface,too much power in the wrong hands,holding on too tight,incorrect throttle control,rock hard tyres,poor suspension setup,crossed up wheelies and dont know what your doin ,all add up to headshake/tankslappers. And there be a dozen more reasons. Tankslappers=frontend trying to right itself in the straight ahead. Applying the brakes mid slapper is impossible,holding on till it stops is another and powering out is allegedly the best option but you try it. I know cause i had the worst tankslapper at blackpool motorcycle sprint on a zxr1200 about 14years ago. Were knocking it into 3rd id say about 120 when the steering just snapped out of my hands lock to lock for about 3seconds. Feels like forever, Shit my pants and thought i were gonna die in front of a mass crowd. No brakes by the way pistons forced back into the calipers and fork legs twisted in the yokes. But i was just glad to be alive and not buried in the prom sea wall. Im talking proper tankslapper not headshake. Youll know the difference if it happens to you...
Then I'd argue it doesn't need one.
Bails
Registered user
I have a 2013 and have no complaints about stability. However this is something I observed two up with luggage and a 17,000 K old front Next tyre. At between 70 and 80 kph there is a slight vib in the handlebars. If I set the cruise and take my hands off the bars this develops to a very scary head shake that would go to a tank slapper if left. I am not sure why , think combo of more weight to the rear and worn front tyre is catalyst over 100 bike perfect and have had both hands off . I post this only as a note of caution as it gave me a big surprise, I repeated several times to be sure it wasn't just a fluke , got same outcome each time.
Not seen this on my early 2013 LC and have always used Tourance Next on my LC - if anything the bike is more stable two up with luggage - what are your suspension settings? - mine is set to max pre-load and max rebound damping (manual suspension)
Bails
Registered user
I have the full bottle bike and had the suspension set 2 up and normal damping. In no way was this suspension , it felt like wheel balance was causing the vib , it was only when I took my hands off the bars did things get really interesting. I have not noticed when one up. Handling was perfect this isn't a handling issue.
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