Steering Damper Dead

badbilly · 01-05-2005, 10:20 PM

Hi All,

Anyone had trouble with the BCR steering damper?

I took a ride up to Kitt Peak Observatory, out of Tucson, about a month ago. It was cold and quite windy. On the way up a wind gust hit me while cornering and it felt like I was going to 2-wheel drift into the Great Beyond. Had lunch (ie, bike had cooled down) and on the way down I was kinda spooked, but still the bike just felt "funny." And man did I get blown into the weeds by an ST4s, which is bad enough--but he was riding double!

A few days later, I went in the garage and turned the bars lock-to-lock--it felt like my old H1 triple Kaw when the steering head bearings were mashed.

Anyway, I removed the damper and the steering has returned much of the "precision" feel I remember. I have have not found any negative side effects. Are there any?

Later, BB

shannonnunley · 01-05-2005, 10:31 PM

dampers go bad and are routinely replaced. Buy a new one and stick it on. Or leave it off.

badbilly · 01-05-2005, 10:40 PM

Shannon, Thanks! Sorry to hear of your mishaps of late. How's things look for the coming year?

emccarty · 01-06-2005, 05:16 AM

Buy a Scotts and forget it. I have used them for several years and have never had a problem.

GotRoad? · 01-06-2005, 05:23 AM

I checked with Scotts & they don't make a specific one to fit our bikes. How did you modify yours to fit ?

peakrunner · 01-06-2005, 08:15 AM

Yep, their dampeners are crap. I'm on my 3rd one. I will replace it with an aftermarket one when the warranty is up and they get sick of seeing me ever six months for a new one.

BoxerRep53 · 01-06-2005, 08:18 AM

Hey peakrunner, Off the topic, but what # did they slap on your BCR?

shannonnunley · 01-06-2005, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by badbilly
Shannon, Thanks! Sorry to hear of your mishaps of late. How's things look for the coming year?

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger I'm told. My bike has been getting warantee work for the last month at ironhorse. Today is supposed to be the big day.

I'll be a riding fool for awhile.

bradzdotcom · bradzdotcom's Garage

billy~

jimbo over at propilotracing dot com has super-cool dampers for our bike. i'm putting them up on his website tomorrow (friday).

...brad

peakrunner · 08:43 AM

I think that it was something like $13,000. JK, the badge in still that nice little box they give you with it. I will check and get back to ya.

Quote:

Originally posted by BoxerRep53
Hey peakrunner, Off the topic, but what # did they slap on your BCR?

BoxerRep53 · 01-06-2005, 08:40 AM

Just curious.....I'm trying to see if I can find #48. Sentimental value

VetteRacer · 01-06-2005, 08:50 AM

BadBilly. I think the non prep/replika models didnt have the damper, so shouldnt be any ill effects, aside from getting used to it not being there (Ive read its not noticable though anyways).

Was the ST4 haulin? I thought I remembered you being in the front groups?

Matt

shannonnunley · 01-06-2005, 09:08 AM

Badbilly... you will get headshake without the damper while accelerating over significant declines. That's where you will notice it.

emccarty · 01-06-2005, 11:27 AM

Gotroad, I made my mounting hardware. Scotts uses one basic damper, the difference from bike to bike is the mounts. I have posted pictures before. If you can't find them I will e-mail them to you.

JonyRR · 01-06-2005, 11:37 AM

And probably the only BMW in the world with a Scott's damper on it, and a fine job it looked like, eddy. It's obvious you are a great fabricator from what I've seen of your stuff; I especially like the air snorkle thru the gas tank; that's one cool-looking piece. From what I've seen the OEM BMW steering damper is a cheap generic piece, and an Ohlins would probably be a much better choice. I personally have had no headshake, but many have reported same. Better to have and not need then need and not have....

ErricZ · 01-06-2005, 11:55 AM

Why did they feel it necessary to add a dampener to the later models? I had an '02 SA and it had none -- nor did it ever feel like it was being crazy -- only one time did I have headshake and that was dropping the front end down hard after and unexpected NOONER.

badbilly · 01-06-2005, 04:52 PM

emc, g-road, peak, erirc jony; Thanks for the info!

Boxer 53; Hey, mine is #54! Lets hope it was a good run.

Brad: Thanks I check it out

Shannon; Lets hope you've filled your shop quota for the year!

V-Racer: Well he was hauling--even if my bike felt "normal" I probably wouldn't stay with him--I just seem to have a built in lean sensor. He had that thing Over--I was impressed. I shoulda said something to him at the bottom ( U da man, etc)..but I was freezing my arse off.

Later, BB

BoxerRep53 · 01-06-2005, 05:43 PM

BadBilly: Sweet....talk about coincidence.

Joe · Joe's Garage

Here are the pictures of the Scott's Damper on Eddy's "S"

BTW. Nice work of killing 3 birds with one stone Eddy with the mounting bracket.

I really don't find it a must have on the "S" like I would on a early TL or many quick steering Jap bikes but if you have the mounting bracket there already you can put on anyone's damper that has around 70mm of travel that you can clamp in a heim joint stud.

Here's a adjustable Harris damper with a Hyperpro heim clamp and stock BMW mounts on my "S"