why a damper?

[xcaptainxbloodx]

I really dont understand the fascination with dampers around here. you guys really all get such bad head shake that you want to throw ~$400 at it?

400$ would very comfortably tune your suspension with appropriate springs/oil in the forks and a proper spring in the rear. and it would make a far greater difference in the handling.

[Spidey]

A damper is not and should not be used as a remedy for headshake.  It'll just mask underlying suspension problems.  If people are buying dampers cuz they're getting headshake, then they're being misinformed about the role of a damper.  That said, because of the rea-weight bias of the monster (or at least the earlier ones), a damper is probably even more suited to a monster than some other bikes with more weight on the front.  Some of the "fascination" you're noting around here may come from that. 

A damper is an insurance policy against a tankslapper.  Enough people around have either had--or know some who has had--a tankslapper that $400 seems like good insurance.  For example, as Scott Nelson about what he thinks of steering dampers.  I think of dampers like gear.  I don't need it until I need it.  Then I'm glad I spent money on it.  

BTW, thank you for spelling it properly.  I get all OCD when I see someone talk about a dampener.

[xcaptainxbloodx]

it just seems that alot of people are very quick to drop the cash on a damper vs. getting their suspension properly sorted.

i see alot of mod threads with people listing dampers but no suspension work. I understand the insurance aspect in preventing a tank slapper.

steering dampers came about primarily to assist in diminishing wobble (a tank slapper being an extreme form of wobble, something I confused as headshake) thats it. it can actually make weave worse and BOTH of those are diminished with better suspensions. save for a few of the  monsters, the stock suspension can be upgraded pretty easily for under the 600$ price tag of the ohlins damper

[Spidey]

I hear what you're saying, but if I had $400 to spend, I'd get a damper and then turn as many knobs on the stock suspension as I could.  After that, I'd start putting money into more serious suspension work -- oil, springs, valving, shock replacement, etc.

[xcaptainxbloodx]

I hear what you're saying, but if I had $400 to spend, I'd get a damper and then turn as many knobs on the stock suspension as I could.  After that, I'd start putting money into more serious suspension work -- oil, springs, valving, shock replacement, etc.

I guess id do (err did) the exact opposite build a suspension thats close to what I want, twist the knobs, then get a damper.

the knobs cant change the damping curve

[RAT900]

I guess id do (err did) the exact opposite build a suspension thats close to what I want, twist the knobs, then get a damper.

the knobs cant change the damping curve

Yeah old Scott used to shovel out the same spew about how a damper wasn't required if you knew how to set up your suspension properly blah ablah ablah   

it was all on TOB 

then one day Scott went over a cattle crossing and got a dose of reality that transcended "proper suspension set up"

I really don't give a rats farking ass if someone gets one because their suspension isn't tweaked right for them

or if they get one because they want the reassurance that it can somewhat mitigate violent road conditions being transmitted into the bike

it is cheap insurance if you have ever gone into a slapper and crawled out of the bushes afterwards...

I did with my damper turned off when I slammed into a pothole at the apex of a right sweeper in full lean...and yes with a fully dialed in suspension Race tech tubes built for my config and the obligatory Ohlins rear set-up for me as well

i encourage anyone to get a good one if it gives them a better sense of confidence...

jeez it might even save their farking life....tuned and dialed-in suspension or not

[xcaptainxbloodx]

why so hostile?

there is no doubt that a damper is a legitimate, useful, bit of kit for riding, it WILL save you from tank slappers. and for that reason I WILL mount one when the right deal comes along (now that my suspension is handled).

It just seems that the blingy part gets priority over an aesthetically invisible but more useful handling mod.

did you deal with your suspension before or after the damper, if you had to remove one/go back to stock which would you do? why?

 confidence in a bike is important, misplaced confidence in parts that don't do what you think they do is dangerous.

[RAT900]

sorry if I came off hostile but having ridden a bike that was tuned and set for me specifically...

right down to the unsexy unblingy Nichols Bolts locking the chassis and motor in properly,,, I understand the value of a good set-up

I also know the hard way that road conditions and physics can transcend set-up..."perfect storms" do occur

My bike was dialed in as I said...and I had the damper shut off since I was driving in town in traffic and was not planning on going for an extended run which unfortunately is what I did after my errands,,,forgetting to up the setting from nil

I would like to think that the damper would have helped when I slammed into that crater...perhaps yes or perhaps not

The point is sure... folks will buy the right things for the wrong reasons...is it a work-around for a crap set-up?  no it is not

could it potentially offset the consequences of a crap set-up....might very well...I would not think that it would exacerbate it

my point is that there is no downside to a damper other than the cost of a "real one"....

under the best of conditions and under the worst it is still cheap insurance if you find yourself needing it

[ducpainter]

I don't think you need a damper.

[He Man]

The facination with getting one is mostly by those who have had tank slappers. its not fun.
Do I need one? I dont know. ive been bit twice by a tankslapper, one time sending me off the bike.

thats probably the only reason why i want one.  i have my fork setup with race tech springs and valves, and tuned. and i also have a proper spring on a showa 999 shock which is also tuned for me. so is it to help with headshake? no. Its so i dont land flat on my face again with my bike riding itself into the side of a dirt mound.

[RAT900]

Its so i dont land flat on my face again with my bike riding itself into the side of a dirt mound.

my kind of rider 

[DoWorkSon]

To me, a damper is like wearing riding pants or a jacket. You never use them until you need it.

So you spend hundreds if not thousands of dollars on safe riding pants and a good jacket to protect you when you fall. You might not have fallen yet, but you still wear them "just in case". There might come that one time when you do fall and they save your butt. .. Why wouldn't you get a damper to protect you from falling as well?

If a steering damper helps me control my bike that little bit more, saves me in a tank slapper, and provides me with that extra sense of security, then hell yes I want one... Just like I am going to wear a riding jacket, pants, boots, gloves, etc.

[He Man]

suck it nerds i just ordered a bitubo for my S2R1000 from BellissiMoto, now.... i just need to make sure my gas tank hasnt expanded so much that it wont fit at all.

If it doesnt, im going for a Scotts damper from oncycles.com

[muskrat]

How are you fitting the Scotts to a Monster?  Oh and if the Bitumo doesn't fit send it my way.  I sent you a  PM because Bellisimo has not returned my emails about one.

[kman0077]

+1000 on getting your suspension setup correctly. However, you can only get so far with theories and parts. When it comes down to it, you have to ride it and see how it feels to get it dialed in. Or let's say you're a racer and trying to go that little bit faster on the exit of a turn to pass someone. And when you're doing that, let's say the front end lifts at that one turn...you'll be glad you have that damper. Necessary no, you could be responsible and loosen your grip on the bars immediately, hoping the front end straightens out. But your natural instinct is going to be to tense up.

Now, I haven't really pushed my Monster to that limit yet because I bought it specifically to slow my ass down. But I can say on my old GSXR, that damper saved my rear many times. The damper is not a part to be overlooked. It won't make you faster, but it may save you from a crash.