Hydraulic steering damper

Status
Not open for further replies.
Well, just mounted mine - used:
  • 90mm stroke Ohlins (SD2)
  • Frame clamp/bracket from NYC Norton (thanks Kenny!)
  • 39mm x 11mm thick generic fork leg clamp from eBay (I've verified, as far as possible over 1500 miles, that the slider doesn't go there)
Photos below show both ends of stroke. Hard right - the damper rod misses the brake line fitting by 2-3mm. Hard left - the damper rod-end misses the head and exhaust rose by 15mm. No binding of rose-joints anywhere in movement (after a little fettling)
Still a bit of finishing off to do. Needs a proper spacer instead of the NYC spacer plus 10 washers.

...and before nay-sayers chime in - no, I don't have any "symptoms that I'm covering up", it's just insurance against a very nasty experience.
Now, where's that in-line oil valve...?
Cheers
Hydraulic steering damper
Hydraulic steering damper
Hydraulic steering damper
 
robs ss said:
Well, just mounted mine - used:
  • 90mm stroke Ohlins (SD2)
  • Frame clamp/bracket from NYC Norton (thanks Kenny!)
  • 39mm x 11mm thick generic fork leg clamp from eBay (I've verified, as far as possible over 1500 miles, that the slider doesn't go there)
Photos below show both ends of stroke. Hard right - the damper rod misses the brake line fitting by 2-3mm. Hard left - the damper rod-end misses the head and exhaust rose by 15mm. No binding of rose-joints anywhere in movement (after a little fettling)
Still a bit of finishing off to do. Needs a proper spacer instead of the NYC spacer plus 10 washers.

...and before nay-sayers chime in - no, I don't have any "symptoms that I'm covering up", it's just insurance against a very nasty experience.
Now, where's that in-line oil valve...?
Cheers

Looks good - I hope to do something similar this winter with an Öhlens I've acquired on FleaBay.
Click to expand...
 
kerinorton said:
I might as well fit my Kawasaki steering damper to the 850. Bit of a waste sitting on the shelf.
I use a damper off an early H1 Kawasaki., on my Seeley It is riight for the age of the bike. One end is bolted to the bottom Yamaha TZ fork yoke. The other is bolted to a bracket which is help to the head by the two screws which hold the front left hand rocker spindle in place If the motor comes loose in the frame, I would know it. 'Somethings are so bad that they are good' ?
Click to expand...
 
After fitting and testing (#101 above) - one thing annoyed me. That was the rose joints were a bit loose - so that the damper could potentially flap a bit in the breeze.
Solution - install small cross-section o-rings above the front one and inside the rear one.
Now is still able to move as required but is a bit less loose.
Hope this helps someone!
Cheers
 
Last edited:
Fullauto said:
I think you'll find that they are mandatory in most forms of classic racing. I stand by my claim. But, I guess that users find them "cool".
Click to expand...
No - I find it reassuring that some change in circumstance is less likely to end in disaster.
I'm glad your Norton and the roads it travels will always be near perfect.

So... why is it that you read these "damper" threads? Are you really slightly insecure about this?
 
I’ve had lots of ‘head wobbles’ on road and track, the Commando shakes its head some times but always remains composed (I fitted a damper purely for comfort factor reasons. As I often tell my Missus, I don’t care if it’s placebo so long as it works)!

The only genuinely serious full blown tanker slapper that I’ve ever had was on the road.

Actually the road, with off cambers and potholes and the unpredictability of riding roads you don’t know well etc, can pose more chances of such things than track riding.
 
Fanfan26 said:
What is the cost of the OLHINS ??
Click to expand...
Your point is valid. The only two things bad about a steering damper are the cost and aesthetics (subjective)
Mine was $410 USD but they vary quite a bit.
If you have a standard lower yoke (triple clamp/tree) then NYC Norton's offering is worth a look: https://nycnorton.com/product/steering-damper-kit-ohlins/
I used Kenny's frame bracket but needed a longer stroke damper.
Cheers
 
robs ss said:
No - I find it reassuring that some change in circumstance is less likely to end in disaster.
I'm glad your Norton and the roads it travels will always be near perfect.

So... why is it that you read these "damper" threads? Are you really slightly insecure about this?
Click to expand...
I travel on all sorts of roads and I've never had a problem. Though my bike is quick steering, it is also very stable and won't change line without you telling it to. Insecure? No, you sound like the insecure one. I personally don't need a placebo to make me feel safe.
 
1. Restored Norton
2. Rode Norton - shakes head at ~40mph
3. Got Nervous - put on steering damper kit
4. Steering damper kit damages front fender
5. Ride other Nortons - all shake head at ~40 mph
6. Shrug shoulders
7. Bin steering damper
8. Find that steering head shake is not horrible - can live with it
9. Continue riding Norton for another 20 years :cool:

Now - running with a bit too much rear isolastic clearance.... whooooole different story - LOL!!
 
I spoke to Steve Harris about steering dampers when I was building my Harrier. I been reading about chassis set up and how someone had wrote that a steering damper is just covering up poor chassis design.

When I relayed this to Steve his reply was something along the lines of: “hmmm... frankly ALL motorcycles should have steering dampers. It’s insurance. You hope you’ll never need it and you probably won’t, but if you do, it could save your life”.
 
Last edited:
Fullauto said:
Sigh. Show me a Commando that needs a steering damper and I will show you a badly set up Commando.
Click to expand...
A steering damper id like an insurance policy, you don't need it until you need it. Any bike can be ridden past the point of adhesion of the front tire. When that happens, you get the tank slapper - just a fact of life.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top