Installing steering dampener on my new Prep

[shannonnunley]

I thought that'd get some attention. As most of you know.... my 99S is preppified... except I don't have a steering dampener just yet. Has anyone done this? I have the part, but after looking at the ETK software.... it seems I'm missing a bunch of little parts. A bracket and a bunch of spacers etc. Any feedback would be appreciated before I get in too deep.

I shoulda just bought it this way in the first place.

[bikerfish1100]

Shannon- in one easy & convenient package, here's all the parts you'll need to convert yours to a steering dampered ride. just toss the leftovers........ Or save them for the next project.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=2476323727&category=49977

[Joe]

shannonnunley
you been here long enough for me not to tell you to use the
search..............but

[ckcarr]

There you go, and I always thought all these bikes already had steering dampeners.

[motoyoyo]

Shannon, you will love the steering damper once you get it mounted. I bought a new, complete assembly on ebay a couple months ago and was really surprised at how solid feeling the whole bike felt after that. It is definitely worth the trouble so don't give up on it. The one I bought on ebay was the only one I had ever seen in a year and a half, so there's not much alternative than to just buy the parts and piece it together like you're doing.

[ckcarr]

Really? Here's one right now.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7901173052&category=10065

[motoyoyo]

Yes, but mine came with all the mounting hardware and bolts. It was a simple 5 minute install. This unit will still require all the hassle of peicing the rest of it together just like Shannon is going through....ahhhh, this is the unit Shannon is talking about. Good luck bidding on it Shannon...now that everyone else knows about it now, lol.

[RTAYLOR]

Joe what type of dampner is mounted on your bike and did you use BMW hardware to mount the dampner?

[Joe]

First thing is a damper should make no difference to the way a bike handles the only reason that it's of any use is to dampen any steering input that is too quick like if your front end gets light on acceleration and the tire is easily deflected by road irregularities the damper will help prevent the bars getting whipped out of your hands.

If a damper is set correctly(BMW units are non adjustable) you shouldn't notice it's even there in normal riding. BTW the BMW is so stable it really doesn't need one ....like the one on my bike is more for poser value and at least it's adjustable and rebuildable.


The Damper on my bike is a Harris 70mm stroke and a Hyperpro Clamp mounted to stock BMW mounts. Here's a link that will tell a little more about mounting other makes of dampers.

aftermarket steering dampers

[roger albert]

Well said Joe. If a damper materially changes of the handling under normal circumstances, something is wrong with the bike -- or pilot
This is very true of telescopics, and double true of the telelever where bearing preload plays no role.

[shannonnunley]

Originally posted by Joe
shannonnunley
you been here long enough for me not to tell you to use the
search..............but

Agreed... I should know better. I did no research on this whatsoever and I was bamboozled trying to figure this out last night.... wonder if it had anything to do with the vodka tonics that were going down so nicely?

[shannonnunley]

Originally posted by motoyoyo
Yes, but mine came with all the mounting hardware and bolts. It was a simple 5 minute install. This unit will still require all the hassle of peicing the rest of it together just like Shannon is going through....ahhhh, this is the unit Shannon is talking about. Good luck bidding on it Shannon...now that everyone else knows about it now, lol.

I already have the dampener... i failed to realize that there was a bunch of mounting hardware that didn't come with it.

[motoyoyo]

I have to disagree on this purely based on experience and for no other reason. After having put 10K or so miles on my bike with aggressive canyon riding, I bolted on a steering damper with no other changes and there definitely was a difference. The biggest difference was in the stabilty in turn to turn transitions where the bike would previously get a bit squirmy trying to get it from one side to the other when pushed hard.

As far as overall high speed sweeper stability and anything but very aggressive riding, I would have to agree there was little or no noticable difference due to the inherent stablilty of the bike. However, when riding aggressively in canyons where it is difficult not to induce some counter steering when trying to get this beast to switch back and forth as fast as possible, the damper works great to maintain stability. If you never push the bike really hard, you will never notice any difference. I would have to argue that any of the Boxercup racers would never want to race without one.

[shannonnunley]

don't hijack my thread... this is not about dampener vs non dampener. Take this outside and over to the induct thread. I'm sure Dr. Curve has some valuable input he'd love to share with you.

Seriously.... who wants to send me some mounting hardwear?

[DavidSoine]

I believe the mounting bits are the cheap part - you already have the expensive part. Just order them...you have the part #s. Note that 2,3, 9 and 12 are "2 req". Part 4 & 5 are "3 req".



best,

Dave

[shannonnunley]

Hammersley BMW has been notified. Those two brackets alone come to $40

[motoyoyo]

Ok shannon, I'm in no hurry to get in a deep dicussion about the merits of a steering damper or lack thereof,with the likes of the Curve Burglar. All I can tell you is don't give up on it, it's worth it and I'll keep my eyes open for some hardware.

[shannonnunley]

thanks for the new sig line

[motoyoyo]

[shannonnunley]

ok boys... just received all of my new mounting hardware. Dampener goes on tomorrow. I'm kinda kicking myself for not spending the money on ohlins or something else after market, but whatcha going to do?