Steering Damper installation

[jmnjrpa]

I like the idea but was wondering what other dampening methods have been tried.

[MaximPhil]

Hi79Xs11F,
No expert. however my recolection of the dampers i have seen were mounted at 90 degrees to the orientation you appear to be planning.
Check your steering head bearings if she is shaking her head.
Phil

[petejw]

ive only seen a cpl of pics with a fitted
damper on an xs and they were attached to the fork
by a clamp that ran behind the fork, under the lower tripple tree
and attached to the opposite side of the frame.
im no expert either i figure if you can turn the bars
lock to lock and have the rod positioned half way in the damper,
i couldnt see any reason why it wouldnt work.

i like the idea of the steering damper i get a lot of steering
wobble coming out of a corner hard.

[WMarshy]

i like the idea of the steering damper i get a lot of steering
wobble coming out of a corner hard.

I second that, comming in hot and exiting like a F1 car usually does it. Not the best feeling in the world either. Next sumer I will have the FJ forks and hope to see an improvement, if none, I will be considering a dampener. Keep us updated, it would be nice to see a tech tip when your done, give us a how to on tuning.

[Rstyduck]

My 79 GS1000 shook hard at 235kmh. Figured out how to control it.
DONT GO 235KMH!!! Lol

[cywelchjr]

I second that, comming in hot and exiting like a F1 car usually does it. Not the best feeling in the world either. Next sumer I will have the FJ forks and hope to see an improvement, if none, I will be considering a dampener. Keep us updated, it would be nice to see a tech tip when your done, give us a how to on tuning.

Thats the famous (or infamous) "hinge in the middle" affect on these things. Reportedly tkat's fork brace makes that go away, or at least mostly. I just don't push it that hard, since the poor thing is having to work hard enough dragging my fat azz around.

[petejw]

hi Cy,
Ive got tkats fork brace fitted,
as good as it is, unfortunately it doesnt stop the handle bars
slapping if you take a corner hard.

[cywelchjr]

Hmm, if the brace is not stopping it I'm not sure a damper would do any good, as my understanding is that it's the forks flexing, not the triple clamps and bars moving. I don't think I've ever had the bars move on me, but the very few times I've pushed it in turns I've felt the front end wobble on me, but I'm pretty sure the bars didn't move. Are you sure there's not something else going on with the steering head or something? I've heard these things are pretty solid with a fork brace and some suspension mods. I know that when I replaced my original forks because I couldn't get them apart to replace the seals it handles a LOT better now, and I think the XJ shocks helped it even more.

[79XS11F]

Hmm, if the brace is not stopping it I'm not sure a damper would do any good, as my understanding is that it's the forks flexing, not the triple clamps and bars moving. I don't think I've ever had the bars move on me, but the very few times I've pushed it in turns I've felt the front end wobble on me, but I'm pretty sure the bars didn't move. Are you sure there's not something else going on with the steering head or something? I've heard these things are pretty solid with a fork brace and some suspension mods. I know that when I replaced my original forks because I couldn't get them apart to replace the seals it handles a LOT better now, and I think the XJ shocks helped it even more.

That "wobble" you describing can quickly become a tank slapper if your anything other then locked elbows and using lower shorter handlebars. It can come on real fast with clubmens installed. The shorter the bars are the less leverage you have to counter this effect.

Rob

[79XS11F]

Thats the famous (or infamous) "hinge in the middle" affect on these things. Reportedly tkat's fork brace makes that go away, or at least mostly. I just don't push it that hard, since the poor thing is having to work hard enough dragging my fat azz around.

Yes, "hinge in the middle" is another description and reputation these bikes had back in the day. That "hinge in the middle" effect can also quickly become a tank slapper.
A steering damper helps the bike track in the line your picked and reduces input from the frame into the forks.
Rob

[79XS11F]

Hi79Xs11F,
No expert. however my recolection of the dampers i have seen were mounted at 90 degrees to the orientation you appear to be planning.
Check your steering head bearings if she is shaking her head.
Phil

Yes they can be installed across or kitty corner as well but space is limited and there's wiring there as well to consider. I will finalize the install when I get the clamp for the fork tube and have a better idea what my options are. I have seen a few installed kitty corner from frame to lower yoke and a few from frame straight out to lower yoke. There's no room on the 11s lower yoke and its also hollowed out on the bottom under side so there's no smooth surface to work with. That's why I have to go to the fork tube with the clamp. A solid alloy lower yoke and upper crown would do these bikes a world of good but would have to be made up.
Rob

[TADracer]

You might run into a few nagging problems using that PARTICULAR damper. I had one exactly like yours fitted both on the side like you but 90 degrees to the fork tube (which put it at a drastic downward angle which was not very asthetic) and also mounted behind the fork across the bike. Neither method worked reliably since the damper you have does not have Heim joints on the ends. So, because there is not much way to allow for flexibility of fastening, alignment became a real problem keeping the connections tight. Also, the damper travel might run out before you reach the fork stops on a deep, slow speed turn.

But, while it was on it did the trick (I guess) and you did not notice it was even there. Chasing after it became a chore so I removed the damper.

I have seen where someone mounted it above the front of the tank and attached the body of the damper to a bracket on the triple tree and the plunger end to a bracket attached to the frame up near the head tube. Puts it right up into view though, and I do not know how it worked.

[79XS11F]

You might run into a few nagging problems using that PARTICULAR damper. I had one exactly like yours fitted both on the side like you but 90 degrees to the fork tube (which put it at a drastic downward angle which was not very asthetic) and also mounted behind the fork across the bike. Neither method worked reliably since the damper you have does not have Heim joints on the ends. So, because there is not much way to allow for flexibility of fastening, alignment became a real problem keeping the connections tight. Also, the damper travel might run out before you reach the fork stops on a deep, slow speed turn.

But, while it was on it did the trick (I guess) and you did not notice it was even there. Chasing after it became a chore so I removed the damper.

I have seen where someone mounted it above the front of the tank and attached the body of the damper to a bracket on the triple tree and the plunger end to a bracket attached to the frame up near the head tube. Puts it right up into view though, and I do not know how it worked.

I also have some concerns about the lack of Heim joints at the ends. Before the installation is fully completed I will be looking at what is available to correct that.
Rob

[Eveready1100]

Steering Damper installation

Haven't had one on an XS but I had one on my old GS1000S and two on my modified H2 triple (scary bike!!!!)
Those units normally mount with the body at the frame end with a bracket coming off the downtube and the shaft end mounted under the lower triple clamp between the forks. Where you are siting it will give the unit a lot of leverage over the front end so be very careful of the drag setting as it could be very stiff as I see it.

[79XS11F]

Haven't had one on an XS but I had one on my old GS1000S and two on my modified H2 triple (scary bike!!!!)
Those units normally mount with the body at the frame end with a bracket coming off the downtube and the shaft end mounted under the lower triple clamp between the forks. Where you are siting it will give the unit a lot of leverage over the front end so be very careful of the drag setting as it could be very stiff as I see it.

Yes I sort of figured that was the normal situation as well but if I turn the unit around the adjustment knob will be into the fuel tank or mounted so low it might interfere with fork travel. If not for the headlight mount brackets I would have lots of easy options to mount it but thats just not the case. final position will be determined by what's available at the biker and hardware shops. That's why I have not as yet bothered to paint the bracket. This sort of input as to normal location and pit falls is what I'm looking for. It did not come with any instructions. It also looks like the one end that is currently mounted to that small bracket is in deed a Heim joint. So at least one end has some flexibility.
Rob