Steering damper?

[mr5ev3n]

This weekend I got into a tank-slapper at somewhere between 40-60mph and lost the battle.
As I was skidding along the ashphalt, I recalled thinking, aim for the right shoulder. In this scenario, that was both because A, there are no cars there and B, awesome padded protection. That was a success on both accounts.

This was a "perfect storm" of enthusuastic shifting, potholes and speed bumps (Michigan roads). I wouldn't consider myself by any means an "expert" rider but I have a handful of years under my belt. The slapper came from nowhere and I was chucked in the blink of an eye.

All the gear, all the time? Yes. Or as my motorcycle tech teacher used to say, prepare for the crash, not for the ride.

But this is all getting sidetracked. I've been looking into dampers too, hoping to gain some insight from users. What brands are good, better, bad?
What should I look for?
Should I consider the slap event a fluke and not order one?
And to the people that say modify suspension first, where and how? I love my 796 and would prefer to make it MY monster. I am relatively unexperienced in sport bikes, and am not sure what to ask who as far as suspension tuning.

Rob, congrats on the purchase.  Even after being tossed, I'm excited for replacements to come in so I can get back to riding.

[Stormtrooper]

This guys story has me seriously considering a damper as well...

http://www.ducatimonster.org/forums/general-monster-forum/224217-my-first-lay-down.html

[Skybarney]

I would love to add a dampener as I had one on a couple of other bikes and it helped.  I have not added one to the Duc yet as I have yet to find one that is not bulky, in the way or flat out goofy.  I had one on my Z1000 (Scott) that was behind the lower triple clamp.  The Scott dampener for the monster sits on top the triple tree, it's yucky looking lol.

Bitubo dampner  http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.bellissimoto.com/images/DSCN0127.JPG&imgrefurl=http://www.ducati.ms/forums/138-streetfighter/100271-bitubo-steering-dampers.html&h=1704&w=2272&sz=767&tbnid=rLHaIxZpyRGo6M:&tbnh=93&tbnw=124&zoom=1&usg=__rgKAuY9MUSpQxw_k9PKkEMgUy7w=&docid=JGy0GxKCiuYJEM&sa=X&ei=2aubUaXeJsTQiwLDpoGYAg&ved=0CIMBEPUBMAQ&dur=2996

Scott Dampener  http://www.motovationusa.com/mvstore/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=1225

Ohlins Dampener #1  http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.shop.kyleusa.com/images/1222704259588-1323350818.jpeg&imgrefurl=http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic%3D50767.0&h=685&w=1024&sz=223&tbnid=ZnnQVwW29Z5HBM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=135&zoom=1&usg=__nhxwGD9EV8TR3e5PAarU3u2mD94=&docid=DGJaKhe2hdPFLM&sa=X&ei=haybUbmUCsjmigLLsoCoCg&ved=0CHYQ9QEwBQ&dur=499

Ohlins dampener #2  http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.ducati.ms/forums/attachments/streetfighter/84845d1297704129-does-749-999-ohlins-steering-damper-fit-sf-999sf.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.ducati.ms/forums/138-streetfighter/104984-does-749-999-ohlins-steering-damper-fit-sf.html&h=480&w=640&sz=59&tbnid=pCfsPh5ULH57MM:&tbnh=92&tbnw=123&zoom=1&usg=__VFcklVkNniysYgbt8n3ht4sfjY4=&docid=oMhaEw2cDKr67M&sa=X&ei=haybUbmUCsjmigLLsoCoCg&ved=0CHAQ9QEwAw&dur=381

[El-Twin]

This guys story has me seriously considering a damper as well...

http://www.ducatimonster.org/forums/general-monster-forum/224217-my-first-lay-down.html

Yikes!

I've never seen any bike shake like that at low speed and wobble like that at high speed.

Anyone else?

[Dirty Duc]

I would hazard a guess that those characteristics have little to do with modern suspension design... and hence the need to get your suspension set up.  

Springs and shock/fork valving are the problem, hence why the guy at the "right" weight didn't have the weave.  It is my opinion that too stiff in the rear for too soft in the front will cause that issue.

Wobble... I say tires (in conjunction with the spring imbalance).  Some do and some don't, but all the tires in that video are from 30+ years ago... and who knows what the runout on those spokes was... or whether they were balanced.