I don't usually disagree with you woody, but this time I do...why the Heck would every bike NEED a steering damper...please explain?

This is why I think every bike does not need a steering damper...because your average rider does not race and consistently accelerate hard enough to justify one...I know a lot of riders (new and old) hear people like you say this...maybe experience some head shake, think they got a tank slapper and then run out and buy one as a band-aid to fix poor riding abilities, because they read on a message board that a damper will fix a rider induced problem...

Under normal riding, I've never needed a steering damper, even the times I've been to the track I haven't needed one...although I would get one if I could get to the track more.

If you learn the basics of motorcycling and avoid riding like an *** you'll NEVER need a steering damper...I'd almost guarantee that that the Honda design team put a damper on the bike not for any performance reasons, but because they want to sell motorcycles and acknowledge that most knuckleheads who ride sportbikes think they need a damper to ride safer...they prey on people who believe that RR stands for "race ready."

My opinion:

STEERING DAMPERS ARE A BAND-AID TO COMPENSATE FOR PROBLEMS CAUSED BY POOR OR UNDER DEVELOPED RIDING TECHNIQUES.

 

Because the geometry is more extreme than previous years, making it a really sharp turner. the more extreme the geometry, the more change for head shake. The 07's reqire one because even with a well trained rider the chances that head shake will show it. it's been built into the design.

 

all the bikes at starbucks have steering dampers...mang...so it's even needed for that...

Blue Fox...are you asking why a 600 would need a steering damper or just that particular 600? because if you're asking the former...then obviously you do not attend as many track days (1-2/month) as you claim you do! if you did, you know that you would be sporting one...

fret...i love to disagree with you but i can not...hahahah...but i would also add that steering dampers are also band aids in hiding a jacked up, untuned POS suspension set up...

but sometimes at ultra high speeds or when the front comes up frequently while running hard...i damper is totally recommended...and when running hard at the track ALL the time...it is even needed.

 

What the heck guys whats the big beef about? So what if a 600 needs no steering damper or not? Whats wrong with a bike having more stuff on it stock from the factory? I don't see what the big deal is whether or not it has a slipper clutch or damper or any of that kind of stuff. There is nothing wrong with getting a bike with sweet things right from the box that may or may not help a regular rider or even a racer. As long as riding the bike is still fun as HE** who cares what the 600 has when it doesn't need it? I say the bike is freaking awesome!

 

I agree the '07 RR is freakin' awesome, but the problem comes when people start crying when the fancy parts aren't put on...I got no problem with it coming stock with track oriented parts; however, I'll never need or be able to justify them for the street and it seems these performance parts are added just to enhance the sales numbers of the bike...they're added, but they don't work as well as aftermarket parts! I've heard so many complaints about the HESD being crap on the 1000rr it's rediculous (riders removing them and adding aftermarket) and as far as this big slipper clutch the R6 has...every one is saying you can't even notice it (people who race)...so it all amounts to a big ole' nothing but bike sales!

 

I'm talking about the damper on the 600RR specifically. I've never had a problem with my 600RR misbehaving to the point where I thought "gee, maybe I need a steering damper". If the bike misbehaves, I lap a couple more times to see why I gets that way. When I find out what's causing it, I adapt to correct it. That's what I learned to do when I attended the California Superbike School. You find out what YOUR doing wrong, and adapt to correct it. 9 times out of 10, it's the rider causing the fault, not the bike.

But then again, this is my daily driver, so track days for me aren't as aggressive as they would be if I owned a bike specifically for the track. That could be a factor.

 

okie dokes mang...
makes good sense...but when you start going mad and crazy cause you have another ride...then you'll come over to the bling bling starbucks all mods ARE NECESSARY side!
and even if not...good incase****...

 

sorry, shoulda clarified
the fact that its a 600 does not mean it needs a steering damper less than a 1000, both are prone to headshake and the physics of a sportbike imply that both are as likely to develope a tank slapper especially since the 600s are getting so fast now

I guess the point is that every bike should have one but not every rider will need one
kinda like airbags in a car, for a lot of people it'll save their *** one day but some will never see its benefit at all

that doesn't mean thats where ya wanna skimp when ya buy a new car now does it
same should go with a sportbike and steering damper imho

obviously the HESD isn't as great of a system as intended and on a race bike, I wouldn't even consider NOT swapping it for an aftermarket but its still better than nothing on the street

and bluefox about the trackday comments, if your really going fast its not always going to be the riders or bikes fault you get a bad headshake or tankslapper type situation some corners are just like that

one that comes to mind is at Barber T4 (or T3 if your going by speed channels track map), its a steep uphill climb at full acceleration and at the top of the hill it turns to the right, so your at near maximum lean at full acceleration while cresting a hill
if you go fast there you pretty much have to have a steering damper, just the way it is with that corner

not all tracks have corners like that so maybe it won't be quite as important some places but there is still a reason why every racer uses one

 

Hey there guys I have another thing to say to this subject- The guy I bought my first bike off of had some comments about his hesd on his 2004 1000rr. He liked the hesd on it and found that in some situations it helped out when he was riding. A question I have is have any of you guys ridden on MICHIGAN ROADS? He brought up a good point in the fact that going on some of the curves on the roads we have here in michigan that it takes nothing for these bikes to do some fun stuff-whether riding hazardously or not. I could really care less about the hesd but hey if I do decide to buy this bike its just an added bonus. I would be buying this bike just because I love honda, I love the quality, I love the looks, I love the the bike, I love the bike, and I love the bike (as long as they find something to fix that stupid taillight!)

 

I ride on michigan rodes all the time I live in MI. Yes you are very right. But on this taillight thing.. can anyone post a picture I have yet to see this thing.