Airhead steering dampers?

BiG DoM · 03-18-2011, 11:42 AM

Sorry noob question? How effective are they really? Also what are CR guys doing with them - I see the occasional bike with that tall bloody nob sticking up on the triple and others without it. Is the damper in place but just adjusted to a standard setting and nob removed?

Hawk Medicine · 03-18-2011, 11:56 AM

If your front end is straight and you don't ride unpaved roads, you probably don't need one.

I removed mine in the early 90's, never missed it and when I rebuilt my bike didn't bother to install one again. YMMV.

This is one of those personal decisions...

wirewrkr · 03-18-2011, 01:05 PM

What he said.

crazydrummerdude · 03-18-2011, 01:08 PM

On my R75, the nonworking damper has been removed. On my R90, the nonworking damper is still in place.

I ride on unpaved roads 36.79% of the time.

rufusswan · 03-18-2011, 01:13 PM

Mine is still in place and I cannot say that it does a damned bit of good while riding. Not saying it doesn't function as a 'damper', and I do ride with it just barely tweeked in the ON position.

BUT, while it is parked and you want to work on the bike, or shine it, etc. it is the most lovely device and I use it all the time. Love it, just like that little knurled thingy under the throttle. Handy as pockets on a shirt.

Country Doc · 03-18-2011, 04:11 PM

As a steering damper, that thing is absolutely, completely useless. If you actually need that device to settle down the front end of your airhead, you have another problem, believe me. You do not need a steering damper on these bikes.

It does work for servicing to keep the front end from flopping to the side, although that isn't really a critical thing. I leave it completely disengaged when riding, and at some point I'll ditch it entirely as it's a waste of space.

dc

Overdog · 03-18-2011, 04:51 PM

I left mine installed but used a couple of pieces of key stock cut to size to lock mine in the max position....then I got rid of the knob and the hardware attached to it. It's 37 years old so it probably isn't doing much anyway but it's on there......

Box'a'bits · 03-18-2011, 04:57 PM

Useful when the bike is loaded with pillion & luggage on rough roads. Or when your front wheel bearings are shot (DAMHIK). Otherwise I generally leave it off.

As a rule, the geometry on these bikes is slow enough that you shouldn't need it

Country Doc · 03-18-2011, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMWRSNUT

.

As a rule, the geometry on these bikes is slow enough that you shouldn't need it

Exactly.

dc

97oilhead · 03-18-2011, 05:37 PM

I don't usually use mine unless there is an extremely high cross wind. I find in this situation for long rides it helps in decreasing fatigue.

BiG DoM · 03-18-2011, 10:22 PM

Thanks - informative replies. I must say I was surprised that BMW had such a thing OEM on such early standard bikes ... thought it may have beeen one of those 'fix the symptom' cures for poor geometry or such. If they had only been on the S, RS models I would not have been so inquisitive I guess. I must say that on my HP2E while a steering damper is not essential (like on KTM's:) it is one of the best additions I can recommend if you are going to use the scoot for what it was designed for - has saved my bacon numerous times!

03-18-2011, 11:42 AM	#1
BiG DoM ^OP African Adventurer Joined: Jun 2002 Location: South Africa Oddometer: 2,250	Airhead steering dampers? Sorry noob question? How effective are they really? Also what are CR guys doing with them - I see the occasional bike with that tall bloody nob sticking up on the triple and others without it. Is the damper in place but just adjusted to a standard setting and nob removed? __________________ BiG DoM Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, thoroughly used, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming... 'Fuck, what a trip!' People are more violently opposed to fur than leather because it's safer to harass rich women than motorcyclists.

03-18-2011, 11:56 AM	#2
Hawk Medicine Coyote's Brother Joined: Jun 2008 Location: NOR CAL Oddometer: 3,299	If your front end is straight and you don't ride unpaved roads, you probably don't need one. I removed mine in the early 90's, never missed it and when I rebuilt my bike didn't bother to install one again. YMMV. This is one of those personal decisions... __________________ Hawkdude Hate rots the pocket that carries it.

03-18-2011, 01:05 PM	#3
wirewrkr the thread-killer Joined: May 2008 Location: HIGH desert Oddometer: 4,297	What he said. __________________ www.wirewerkes.com KILL YOUR TELEVISION !!!!

03-18-2011, 01:08 PM	#4
crazydrummerdude Wacky Bongo Boy Joined: Nov 2006 Location: Moore/OKC Oddometer: 6,975	On my R75, the nonworking damper has been removed. On my R90, the nonworking damper is still in place. I ride on unpaved roads 36.79% of the time. __________________ 1974 BMW R75/6, 1974 BMW R90/6, 1969 BMW R60/2 hack, 1929 Ford Model A, Metal casting, Part 2/Part 1 among others..

03-18-2011, 01:13 PM	#5
rufusswan Studly Adventurer Joined: Nov 2007 Location: Branson MO Oddometer: 916	Mine is still in place and I cannot say that it does a damned bit of good while riding. Not saying it doesn't function as a 'damper', and I do ride with it just barely tweeked in the ON position. BUT, while it is parked and you want to work on the bike, or shine it, etc. it is the most lovely device and I use it all the time. Love it, just like that little knurled thingy under the throttle. Handy as pockets on a shirt. __________________ 1971 BMW R75/5 Toaster LWB 1974 Honda CL200 http://zenhuckfinn.wordpress.com/

03-18-2011, 04:11 PM	#6
Country Doc Wanderer Joined: Dec 2006 Location: somwhere north of Kingston, Ontario Oddometer: 2,451	As a steering damper, that thing is absolutely, completely useless. If you actually need that device to settle down the front end of your airhead, you have another problem, believe me. You do not need a steering damper on these bikes. It does work for servicing to keep the front end from flopping to the side, although that isn't really a critical thing. I leave it completely disengaged when riding, and at some point I'll ditch it entirely as it's a waste of space. dc __________________ Little Bikes, Big Desert II - Death Valley 2012 Little Bikes, Big Desert - Panamint/Mojave 2010 Little DR's, Big Mountains Desert's, Sunshine, and DR's

03-18-2011, 04:51 PM	#7
Overdog 'Burghherfer..... Joined: Nov 2008 Location: McKees Rocks Pa. Oddometer: 190	I left mine installed but used a couple of pieces of key stock cut to size to lock mine in the max position....then I got rid of the knob and the hardware attached to it. It's 37 years old so it probably isn't doing much anyway but it's on there...... __________________ 1974 R90/6 1971 Honda CL 350 (shed queen) ------------------------------------------------- Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall...... Torque is how far you move it. ------------------------------------------------- Some women age like fine wine.......some age like milk.

03-18-2011, 04:57 PM	#8
Box'a'bits In need of repair Joined: Sep 2008 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Oddometer: 1,459	Useful when the bike is loaded with pillion & luggage on rough roads. Or when your front wheel bearings are shot (DAMHIK). Otherwise I generally leave it off. As a rule, the geometry on these bikes is slow enough that you shouldn't need it __________________ My '91 R100GS thread is here My Ride photos are here It's just better when there's twins involved....

03-18-2011, 05:37 PM	#10
97oilhead Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2008 Location: Southern Ontario, Canada Oddometer: 175	I don't usually use mine unless there is an extremely high cross wind. I find in this situation for long rides it helps in decreasing fatigue. __________________ '05 R1200RT '00 R1100S '04 R1200C Montauk '95 R100R Classic

03-18-2011, 10:22 PM	#11
BiG DoM ^OP African Adventurer Joined: Jun 2002 Location: South Africa Oddometer: 2,250	Thanks - informative replies. I must say I was surprised that BMW had such a thing OEM on such early standard bikes ... thought it may have beeen one of those 'fix the symptom' cures for poor geometry or such. If they had only been on the S, RS models I would not have been so inquisitive I guess. I must say that on my HP2E while a steering damper is not essential (like on KTM's:) it is one of the best additions I can recommend if you are going to use the scoot for what it was designed for - has saved my bacon numerous times! __________________ BiG DoM Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, thoroughly used, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming... 'Fuck, what a trip!' People are more violently opposed to fur than leather because it's safer to harass rich women than motorcyclists.

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