[SCNinja636]

Thankfully you don't care about this subject and I'm arguing your point so you can either move on or start your own thread on the subject and bore everyone to death.

Tanks slappers don't cause high sides? Once again you are making incorrect statements and focusing on high sides is missing the point and veering off course. It may not be the primary cause but anything is possible once the steering becomes unstable which is why steering dampers exist. I already told you I high sided after a hitting an object which caused the steering to become unstable and another member also posted his experience but don't let that stop you from constantly making incorrect statements on the subject and contradicting video and first hand accounts.

Anything that causes the steering to become unstable can result in a crash so what difference does it make if it's high or low side? I guess I'm arguing your point again right?

 

[Ocastro91]

6 month update:

The FXCNC damper is working great with no issues at all. If installed correctly and checked regularly this unit will perform great.

View attachment 109690

On the filter did you get the racing one or regular?

 

[SCNinja636]

Regular K&N air filter should be used for street use.

 

[MrWolf]

Late to the party, but I'm in both camps.
We are about same age, started riding motorcycles at the age of 10 in 1970.
Never have I experienced a tank slapper on road or track. I guess lucky, but I have always maintained and adjusted suspension settings. I follow Dave Moss now and it has improved my set ups even more.
I have the Ohlin OEM, so did have to buy it.
I like the look and the "mental" safety it might provide. I won't buy Chinese, unless I have no choice. I don't mind paying for the name that did the R&D and uses high quality materials. You can tell by the look and feel of the parts when comparing these 2 dampers, which one is of an inferior quality. Does it mean it won't perform? Not at all, unless wrongly installed.
So, to each his own. This is like which oil or tires are best. LOL
Hope no one crashes and we all enjoy riding.

 

[SteveAustin]

Holy thread resurrection, Batman!

Hey, I've just bought - and will install this weekend - this damper. It may be Chinese, but if so, it probably did steal some contract-production design that was built in probably the same factory. This product probably doesn't need extreme material properties, and I will check it on arrival for good manufacturing tolerance and construction (i.e. disassemble it and clean out the gunk).

I intend to race with it. The reason I bought it is the race conversion I'm doing on my '17 636 (if you look at my post history, yeah, I'm finally getting to it).

I'm not planning on using China-made rotors or brakepads. I think with careful inspection, low-stress parts like the damper will be fine.

For the 'properly set up and maintained suspension' crowd - yes, I agree. The geometry should help fix egregious issues. However, every racing org I've ever been a licensed member of requires a damper - because racers have Shit Happen. It could be worn bearings (steering head, front wheel), swingarm bushings, or inconsistent fork damping, and tankslappers can happen because racing incidents loft the front wheel (not just throttle, but debris from a crash you're surrounded by as it's happening, for example).

I'll offer an informed opinion after the first trackday/practice session later this month. Right now the bike has Michelin street tires on it, and I'll swap to Pirelli race rubber during the setup track time, so I can offer opinion with both tire profiles/construction. FWIW, I'm a believer in Ohlins quality - I've got a TTX shock, but the 30mm fork carts are on backorder until Aug. This means a Gold Valve kit and respringing - this is my sixth racebike (last one had AK-Gas carts), and tenth fork/shock upgrade, and I've been racing for 25 years (Old Guys Rule, and I'm pretty old). Point is, I am as qualified as anyone to judge the FX damper. Hope you'll accept that and not make me come over there to prove it

Lastly, I don't know about the guy in this thread who started the political crap about China and 'F Joe Biden' - after a year of Ukraine and Xi publicly warning the US to not sanction China 'or else' while intimating war by 2027 over Taiwan... what's your thought now? (actually, best to move that to some other part of the forum allowing politics).

 

[SCNinja636]

I've been using the FXCNC for nearly 10k miles and it has worked without any issues. I do recommend that you check the end caps and center bolt on a regular bases and carry the tools needed to check the unit while out riding. The Chinese damper does not come with install instructions and if you install a washer in the center pivot bolt location the bolt will come loose. I made a post about the correct way to install the FXCNC so it doesn't fail.

I high sided in the late 80's on a GPZ 550 after hitting some road debris so I think a steering damper is great safety feature, especially on SS class motorcycles. Bouncing off the pavement a few times after flying over the handlebars will change your tune, believe me.

Also, steering damper threads are not on the same level as oil threads because dampers can save your life and who the fuck cares about which oil you are using.

And if geometry was the answer to every scenario why are steering dampers required at some tracks and offered as OEM equipment on some motorcycles? The answer is, geometry is not the answer.

 

[Scumbag]

6 month update:

The FXCNC damper is working great with no issues at all. If installed correctly and checked regularly this unit will perform great.

View attachment 109690

Curious. You say “check often”. Are you finding anything loose or not in spec on these checks or is just a peace of mind type check. And if anything is loose or changed anything you think you can do to remedy it or is it just going to be the way it is? For sure can’t beat the price if it’s functioning. My issue is I don’t think I’d want to constantly have it in my mind to check it often enough.

 

[MrWolf]

Marketing works wonders. People see track bike has wings, dampers, upside down forks, etc. then it must be added to a street bike, because it's better.
And not to restart the war of a damper needed or not. It's an opinion like oils, brake pads and tires. Like I said, never had a tank slapper, but I like the "mental" safety of having a damper.
The requirement on SOME tracks and some brands putting them on some models is no proof that they are needed.
So who's to say that the tracks that don't require them and the brands that don't put them on the bike are wrong to do so? Maybe their engineers at R&D say they are not needed.
Dave Moss a suspension guru and world known, does not use a steering damper on any of his race bikes. I don't know your line of work or background, but I doubt you work on suspension or have more experience/miles on road or track than him.
See below.

I'm out of this now, I won't engagepast this.
Peace

 

[Scumbag]

Marketing works wonders. People see track bike has wings, dampers, upside down forks, etc. then it must be added to a street bike, because it's better.
And not to restart the war of a damper needed or not. It's an opinion like oils, brake pads and tires. Like I said, never had a tank slapper, but I like the "mental" safety of having a damper.
The requirement on SOME tracks and some brands putting them on some models is no proof that they are needed.
So who's to say that the tracks that don't require them and the brands that don't put them on the bike are wrong to do so? Maybe their engineers at R&D say they are not needed.
Dave Moss a suspension guru and world known, does not use a steering damper on any of his race bikes. I don't know your line of work or background, but I doubt you work on suspension or have more experience/miles on road or track than him.
See below.

I'm out of this now, I won't engagepast this.
Peace

but technically it’s not an opinion lol. I think it’s pretty well proven that you don’t have to have a damper. Way more miles put on bikes safely without dampeners than with.
I have rode some sort of bike since I was 8. Never had a tank slapper on the road aside from one small one on a stunt bike where I was wheeling and way to low air pressure on a clapped out bike. Those where issues I was to be blamed for

Off road I did Baja on a 450 adventure bike. 110 through the sand you would get slight bar wobbles and you could just power out of them. The only time I have ever seen them used on bikes are road bikes. I’d think if they were a “needed” thing every bike manufacturer would install them as standard equipment. Manufacturers get a bad name when they start killing people and a dampener would be an easy simple thing to just have as standard equipment. I’m in the mind set there more of a baindaid type solution to over come bad suspension, bearings, tires, riding skills ext But that’s just my opinion. Doesn’t matter I share the same opinion with 90% of the motorcycle community lol. We could all be wrong.
But I still can’t see how they could save a rider from a high side tho. Scninja guy swears he has the experience to support the theory I just can’t personally understand how that could help. The video provided as “proof” just looks like a common head shake to me. I experience those quiet often and they leave as fast as they come. But he obviously had a traumatic wreck back in the day and if having a cheap China dampener on his bike now makes him feel safe, comfortable, confident and keeps him riding. Then I say it’s money well spent.

hell I have a small pink elastic band this little girl from Saint Jude’s gave me 10 years ago to “keep me safe” and I swear I feel off if I don’t stick that on each new bike I buy to ride as my regular lol.
some guys swear by demon bells. If this China junk makes dude feel safer and better I say go for it 👍

 

[SCNinja636]

but technically it’s not an opinion lol. I think it’s pretty well proven that you don’t have to have a damper. Way more miles put on bikes safely without dampeners than with.
I have rode some sort of bike since I was 8. Never had a tank slapper on the road aside from one small one on a stunt bike where I was wheeling and way to low air pressure on a clapped out bike. Those where issues I was to be blamed for

Off road I did Baja on a 450 adventure bike. 110 through the sand you would get slight bar wobbles and you could just power out of them. The only time I have ever seen them used on bikes are road bikes. I’d think if they were a “needed” thing every bike manufacturer would install them as standard equipment. Manufacturers get a bad name when they start killing people and a dampener would be an easy simple thing to just have as standard equipment. I’m in the mind set there more of a baindaid type solution to over come bad suspension, bearings, tires, riding skills ext But that’s just my opinion. Doesn’t matter I share the same opinion with 90% of the motorcycle community lol. We could all be wrong.
But I still can’t see how they could save a rider from a high side tho. Scninja guy swears he has the experience to support the theory I just can’t personally understand how that could help. The video provided as “proof” just looks like a common head shake to me. I experience those quiet often and they leave as fast as they come. But he obviously had a traumatic wreck back in the day and if having a cheap China dampener on his bike now makes him feel safe, comfortable, confident and keeps him riding. Then I say it’s money well spent.

hell I have a small pink elastic band this little girl from Saint Jude’s gave me 10 years ago to “keep me safe” and I swear I feel off if I don’t stick that on each new bike I buy to ride as my regular lol.
some guys swear by demon bells. If this China junk makes dude feel safer and better I say go for it 👍

That is a beautiful story Scumbag, and it brought tears of laughter to my eyes. First, your experience and stories mean jack shit. People put way more miles safely, blah. blah, blah. A Steering damper can save a life, period. That is why they are required at some tracks and manufacturers offer them as OEM on some models. Also, some of us have actual experience in how a violent steering event without a damper can cause a crash. I even posted a video of a guy who experiences a violent steering event and says that the damper saved his ass. So regardless of how you feel about it, your opinion on the subject and stories have no value.

The video shows a head shake? Jesus H. Christ, The guy in the video, the guy steering the bike, clearly states that the damper saved his ass but here we have another arm chair critic with the "nothing but a little head shake" garbage. Well, since you are not the guy who was riding your opinion on the matter has no real value other than making you feel better about your opinion and getting another post under your belt.

Now comes the Chinese damper is junk, blah. blah, blah. Well, almost 10k miles and it still working great and since I am actually using it and your not your opinion on the subject doesn't really amount to much.

If you don't have experience on a topic, maybe you should just move on to another topic you know something about instead of clogging up the forum with troll spam.

Here is the vid, notice how his hands violently jerk? Without a damper to slow down the steering this could have caused a horrible crash, but we will never know because the damper stabilized the steering. Now in my event I didn't have a steering damper so over the top I went. Also, there have been others on the thread who posted their experience but let's disregard all of that testimony because you personally don't feel steering dampers have any value.

I started riding at the age of 5 and 35+ years of street and have never experienced a tank slapper either, and yet I experienced a crash as the result of a violent steering event caused by road debris. What you fail to understand or appreciate is that a tank slapper is not the only event that can cause a crash. Any disruption to the steering can set off a chain of events that can cause a crash.

A steering damper can save a life, your opinion and stories will not.

 

[RJ2112]

......

 

[RJ2112]

the dude crosses over a cattle guard, and THAT'S the basis for saying his steering damper saved his life?

 

[SCNinja636]

the dude crosses over a cattle guard, and THAT'S the basis for saying his steering damper saved his life?

No, I am just going by what the dude who is actually riding the bike says and my own experience. The video clearly shows the hands of the dude who is actually holding onto the grips jerk violently back and forth and the front tire appears to come off the ground.. The reason why it doesn't look that bad is because the steering damper worked. What is hilarious is the argument that it doesn't look that bad and it was just a little headshake, well no shit, the reason it doesn't look bad is because the steering damper worked.

Without a damper he may have crashed, we will never know since he didn't crash and credits the damper. Without a damper the steering would have moved much further and more violently, and he could have panicked and hit the front brake, veered to far to the right or left and ran off the road, or if a car was coming the other way he could have went head on because the steering was destabilized. There are many different scenarios that could have occurred, but the only outcome was continuing along his journey safely and that is the most important take away from using a steering damper, staying alive and out of a wheel chair. So it is shocking to hear some people with years of riding experience continue attacking the use of steering dampers as useless eye candy.

From my own experience I know how some similar event can cause a crash to occur. This is called first hand knowledge of a subject. I am not some arm chair critic who feels the need to post my opinion on a subject I know nothing about.

I am passionate about safety and will continue to defend and promote steering dampers because a steering damper can save a life, and your opinion will not. In 35+ years of riding some of the most dangerous roads in America, commuting to NYC, and riding Appalachian mountain roads all year round, I have only a single crash under my belt, a high side caused by a violent steering event after hitting road debris. I am convinced a steering damper would have stopped that crash from occurring which is why I use them now.

 

[RJ2112]

I've been over cattle guards. Wet train tracks (worse), wet manhole covers, potholes deeper than my ankle, I have quite literally hit a rail road tie dropped on the freeway 90° to my line of travel........ all of those, more violent than what is in that video, without incident other than to clean my shorts afterwards.

I've spent a little time looking at that video, all ~20 seconds of it, and you actually cannot see the dude's hands when he hits the cattle guard. The camera surely bounces around, and he's quite emotional about the 'near death' experience he seems to think he had.........

Hit that thing vertical, with the steering centered, and romp on the gas right before you get to it and you will float over it like it is the mole hill I view that as.

I am not aiming this statement at anyone in particular..... this is a COMMON road hazard/threat which any street rider will eventually face in this or a similar form. If you are not comfortable negotiating something like this, I strongly suggest formal training in a controlled environment to learn how.

As we have circled this subject repeatedly, I will not comment further. We should ALL be able to respect the differences of opinion which exist here. Okay to attack an idea, NOT okay to attack a person.

Use a damper, don't use a damper..... sorry, for me it's so close to equal to an oil thread as to not be worth the time to respond to.

Hopefully we can all take a reasoned approach on this.

 

[SCNinja636]

You keep coming back here and stating that you have been over cattle grates blah, blah, blah. No one cares about your experience with cattle grates. You keep saying that you are watching the video and don't see anything that would cause a crash, but you are not the guy in the video so your opinion on what is happening in the video doesn't matter.

Your experience does not translate into everyone else's life experience. We all experience different things in our lives and some of us have ACTUAL experience in the subject we are talking about.

Your advise is ridiculous,

"Hit that thing vertical, with the steering centered, and romp on the gas right before you get to it and you will float over it like it is the mole hill I view that as."

as if every event is carefully planned and you have enough time to make a decision. I'm sure you are a great guy and I am not trying to be mean, but your views are strange and obtuse. As a admin of a SuperSport forum you should be promoting the use of steering dampers as a precautionary measure instead of continually arguing the opposite.

 

[Scumbag]

I’m just glad we can all agree that dampeners are not necessary China makes junk and electing joe biden was a horrible idea.

 

[SteveAustin]

I’m just glad we can all agree that dampeners are not necessary China makes junk and electing joe biden was a horrible idea.

I dunno, man, ask Zelenskyy - or Putin - about Biden. I'm kinda happier with him than the alternative.

 

[Scumbag]

I dunno, man, ask Zelenskyy - or Putin - about Biden. I'm kinda happier with him than the alternative.

Well Zelenskyy owns a 3 mill dollar house in Florida and a billion in over seas accounts yet biden sending him billions more. I’d imagine he don’t exactly hate him. And I’m sure Putin just assumes he is a babbling moron like everyone else.
What’s the alternative? Cheaper everything, no wars? And not being a laughing stock of the whole planet? I don’t care what the alternative is but at this point I’d prefer it. Especially if it’s someone who can actually speak coherently

 

[RJ2112]

You keep coming back here and stating that you have been over cattle grates blah, blah, blah. No one cares about your experience with cattle grates. You keep saying that you are watching the video and don't see anything that would cause a crash, but you are not the guy in the video so your opinion on what is happening in the video doesn't matter.

Your experience does not translate into everyone else's life experience. We all experience different things in our lives and some of us have ACTUAL experience in the subject we are talking about.

Your advise is ridiculous,

"Hit that thing vertical, with the steering centered, and romp on the gas right before you get to it and you will float over it like it is the mole hill I view that as."

as if every event is carefully planned and you have enough time to make a decision. I'm sure you are a great guy and I am not trying to be mean, but your views are strange and obtuse. As a admin of a SuperSport forum you should be promoting the use of steering dampers as a precautionary measure instead of continually arguing the opposite.

Everything that you just said, demonstrates that you are a self taught rider. Good luck.

 

[SteveAustin]

[

verything that you just said, demonstrates that you are a self taught rider. Good luck.

@SCNinja636, he's not wrong you know. I was self-taught on the street for ~20 years before I started racing. I gotta say, as weird as Keith Code is/was, the Cal Superbike School taught me a lot - with a bike and racetrack right there. If you can swing it, I'd highly recommend a track-based riding school - Penguin, Cal Superbike, Yamaha Riders, not sure about RideSmart. You might be surprised at how much you learn - and how quickly you ditch bad habits.