Steering dampers

Dan Dailey

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Feb 19, 2001, 1:49:49 AM2/19/01

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This may be a dumb question,but,what exactly do steering dampers do,and how
do they do it?
thanks,
Dan D.

Bob La Londe

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Feb 19, 2001, 10:07:03 AM2/19/01

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Dan Dailey <da...@visi.net> wrote in message
news:Qq3k6.4505$jl.3...@sydney.visi.net...

Since nobody else answered I'll give it a try.

A steering damper is a hydraulic cylinder that prevents sudden changes.

Often the steering dynamics of a vehicle may cause vibrations to be
transfered into the handling of the vehicle. A steering damper allows
deliberate changes in the steering, but prevents the smaller changes from be
transfered into the attitude of the vehicle.

I imagine that for an offroad vehicle this would help to prevent minor
impact changes in the steering from being transfered from the surface of the
track to the steering.

I am familiar with steering dampers for motorcycles with sidecars. In this
case a side hack rig may have steering vibration or steering jitter at
certain speeds due to harmonics and/or imperfect setup. The steering damper
absorbs the energy of the vibration, but allows deliberate changes in
steering from the rider.

My understanding is that if you don't NEED a steering damper and you are
riding competitively you should not use one. It takes slightly more upper
body strength to handle. This can be can have an accumulated tiring affect
over a long race or for street riding a long road trip.

Please, anybody with more experience with steering dampers please feel free
to correct me.

--
http://abate.hypermart.net
Bob La Londe

ABATE of Arizona - Yuma Chapter
P.O. Box 7389
Yuma AZ 85364

Dan Dailey

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Feb 19, 2001, 7:38:54 PM2/19/01

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Thanks for the information Bob.......
Dan D
"Bob La Londe" <bik...@primenet.com> wrote in message
news:96rd1p$fsn$1...@nnrp2.phx.gblx.net...

Chris Burton

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Feb 19, 2001, 9:26:46 PM2/19/01

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Dan,

In a nutshell, steering dampers absorb high-impact hits to your front
wheel (which are frequent on a dirt bike thanks to ruts, rocks, roots,
etc.). This absorption allows the rider to maintain better control of
the motorcycle, and ride faster through gnarly sections of trail. I use
a Scotts, and I find that it saves my ass often. I am able to ride
longer, faster, and crash less often. WER makes a good one too.

Chris

dsc

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Feb 20, 2001, 9:09:46 AM2/20/01

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> My understanding is that if you don't NEED a steering damper and you are
> riding competitively you should not use one. It takes slightly more upper
> body strength to handle. This can be can have an accumulated tiring
affect
> over a long race or for street riding a long road trip.

I have one (a Scott's) and I like it. It is completely adjustable. You can
set it so you get some benefit without any additional steering effort... if
you like. I keep mine set a little stiffer than that. I can say it has saved
my but a many times. I would find it hard to believe that anyone
(riding/racing woods, trails, etc) could ever be so good that they could not
benefit from a steering stabilizer (damper). But I won't insist too strongly
that Shane Watts, Scott Summers, etc get one if they don't already have one.
:)

dsc

Jay C

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Feb 20, 2001, 11:50:36 AM2/20/01

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Chris Burton <chbu...@home.com> wrote in message
news:3A91D46A...@home.com...

> In a nutshell, steering dampers absorb high-impact hits to your front
> wheel (which are frequent on a dirt bike thanks to ruts, rocks, roots,
> etc.).

Not really. Steering dampers do exactly that - they increase the damping
factor of the steering system such that harmonic oscillations (known to
rednecks and knuckle-draggers as "headshake" ;) cannot occur. A side
benefit, allegedly, is resistance to minor deflections, as you mentioned.

Jay