BladeBoy wrote:.... as for the 06 'blade the steep angle demands it, that's why Honda was smart enough to engineer one as standard.
and so one of the greatest urban myths and old wives tales continues to be peddled to unsuspecting punters.......
Steep steering head angles *Do Not* require a steering damper simply as result of their *steepness*. If this were true, then steering dampers would be needed on every motorcycle ever made, with the size of the damper increasing as the steering head angle gets forever steeper...
If you spent some quality time, reading "Motorcycle Chassis Design: The Theory & Practice", by Tony Foale and Vic Willoughby, you would have seen that Tony Foale designed and built and adjustable front end for a flat-twin BMW , he could set this to obtain a Zero deg rake......thats right, a vertical steering head.........and he could ride this bike *with both hands tied behind his back* !!!! it was just as stable at higher speeds as it was at low speed......this book is worth a read if you have any interest in how a motorcycle really works......
ISBN 0-85045-560-X
quote..."...
With the 15 deg rake, the bike had full road equipment, so that it could be ridden under everyday conditions. Five riders covered over 2,000 miles between them, including wet and dry going, bumpy country lanes, London traffic and high-speed motorway trips. Throughout this period no steering damper was fitted........."
This experiment totally blew the old hoagy theory about steep head angles needing dampers.........
Steering dampers are used to cover design faults in motorcyle chassis & suspension. Thats it. If your bike has its wheels *exactly* in line, and the appropriate spring/damping rates at either end, then you *will not* require a steering damper under normal conditions of riding.
The reason that steering dampers sell like hot cakes these days is a combination of (a) inexperienced riders on (b) very fast & powerful motorcycles that are also (c) very light, but they are all still riding on (d) shitty roads from last century.
In all my years of riding, I have encountered exactly 3 occasions where a steering damper may have controlled a tank-slapper. 2 of these were on the 12, so its not all old memories
I really think they are just a nice bit of bling that is in full view of the world............and they mask underlying alignment & suspension issues on your chosen scooter.
