Steering damper

A steering damper, steering stabiliser or sprint damper is a damping device designed to inhibit an undesirable, uncontrolled movement or oscillation of a motorcycle steering mechanism (a phenomenon known in the motorcycling community as 'wobble', or in extreme cases, a 'tank-slapper'). Modern bikes are unlikely to exhibit this behaviour in daily use thanks in part to better dampers and due to their very stiff front ends and other general improvements in design and tyre technology.

Device usage

Sport bikes have a short wheel base and an aggressive steering geometry to provide the ability to make very quick changes in direction. This has the generally undesirable side-effect of making the bike less stable, more prone to feedback from uneven road surfaces, and more difficult to control. [ [http://world.honda.com/motorcycle-technology/hesd/p1.html Honda Electronic Steering Damper] ] In addition, their light weight and powerful engine can cause frequent wheelies. If the front wheel significantly deviates from the direction of travel when it touches down, it may cause an unwanted wobble. Steering dampers are installed on some high-end sport motorcycles and most contemporary racing bikes to counter these behaviours. [ [http://www.superstreetbike.com/stunt_howto/030_0312_how_wheelie_trick_street_bike/index.html Super Street Bike: How to do Wheelies on a Motorcycle] ]

Steering dampers are also mounted to off-road motorcycles such as motocross bikes [ [http://www.tmxnews.co.uk/content_database/two_of_the_best_from_honda/index.html Two of the best from Honda] ] . A damper helps keep the bike tracking straight over difficult terrain such as ruts, rocks, and sand, and also smooths out jolts through the handlebars at the end of jumps. They also reduce arm fatigue on longer rides by reducing the amount of effort needed to control the handlebars.On motorcycles, one end of the damper mechanism is mounted to the steering yoke, the other to the frame. Steering dampers are available in two forms. Linear dampers resemble a telescoping shock absorber and operate in a similar manner. They can be aligned either longitudinally and to one side of the steering, or transversely across the bike. Rotary dampers resemble small boxes and operate via a rotating pivot. They are mounted coaxially with the steering axis and are typically located on top of the steering head.

ee also

* Shock absorber

References