You guys are like sensitive little kids...I never said I was better than anyone and if you think I've never experienced a full fledged tank slapper, think again...I had a real slapper happen probably in a similar situation as your friend RedFire, and I did what I've been repeating...I stayed on the gas, was loose on the bars and rode it out...it went clip to clip about three times after I hit a Michigan pot hole going around 90 mph on a sweeping freeway turnthen straightened it's self out and that wasn't' the first tank slapper either...I've been riding nearly 25 years without a steering damper...how did I do this without spontaneously crashing...it must be luck or a miracle?

How do we know your friend didn't chop the throttle, jab the brakes or fight the slapper in a panic despite his knowledge, but to insinuate that I think I'm better than everyone for believing that a damper isn't necessary for 90% of the riders on the road is asinine...I just think it's better to arm yourself with experience and knowledge, than band aids...

 

I have an Ohlins on the 636...Works great. I hear people on not getting one...About half the people I see do not have one. The ones such as myself who use their bikes on a daily basis to commute, weekend twisties, and track have them. However, it depends on your riding and as I stated the CBR is pretty tame compared to the 636 which I and publication reviews expressed needed a damper in a big way.

What dampers are people here using on their CBRs?

 

You just described me (except for the twisties cause Michigan don't have any) and I don't have damper... [&:]

 

A bike high sided on me in a parking lot a few years back. I was traveling about 10 mph goofing on the bike. Bit me good. Had a tank slapper going around 15 mph. My limited experience has shown that you don't have to be going like a bat out of hell to have some bad things happen. I might not be as good of a rider as the rest of you. But, after my experiences anything that can be added to help me not to bite the road is worth the cost. It is hard to fathom someone that has ridden for some length of time recommending against?

 

Your limited experience should also tell you that a motorcycle (any motorcycle) is the most unstable at slow speeds...That's where your throttle becomes your friend...not a damper...........next...

 

And when actaully was the last time you were on a track Fret....Huh [sm=chairshot.gif] J.K.

But I agree with Fret for the most part [:@] The 600RR is bar none one of the most stable bikes I've ever ridden and raced. Hell I even raced it WITHOUT a dampner. I'd say that unless you are doing something stupid, or riding above your ability you don't need one on the street.

 

Where's Havoc, I need your dead horse smiley now.
It seems like there's no end to this. It's the people that have crashed without and then got one or those that have heard horror stories about people crashing so they got one. It's funny when I use to work for the stealer and test ride the bikes I worked on. Theriders with the Scotts are notorious for riding with them on the softest settings. Like why is this even on here if their not going to use it. And then you have the guys that turn it full lock to the hardest settings so you can't move the bars and pull a u-turn.
We should make a "damper" thread and a "I want a bike that's too big for me" thread once a month. I think it's fun toread what's on peoples minds and read some of the bull **** they write.

 

Hey...he didn't specify how frequently...LOL Man I got to stop getting my wife pregnant!

 

I just had to join and voice my opinion. This thread is quite amusing. Tracks require dampers and yet have nice smooth roads. The roads on the street are completely f-ed up and if you ride halfway aggressive sometimes, you are in danger of getting in a bad situation. I like where the one guy asked if the other guy knew what a 'headshake and a tank slapper where' lmao, a headshake is one hair away from a tank slapper and is just the initial stage of it. Depending on conditions it can go from bad to worse in a blink of an eye depending on how bad the road you are in. Just remember this, high speed steering doesn't need much, a inch or two max the most extreme cases, so WTF would you need full travel for? A steering damper, basically maximizes the steering and theoretically speaking takes out the excessive amount of steering sweep that the motorcycle actually needs when traveling at speed. A damper is not a band-aid, its a technological improvement and I've spoken to a champion rider whos opinion on the subject is its a necessity. Why "hope" that your "experience" can get you out of a tank slapper when a damper will make sure that your "hopes" don't fall flat as well as when if get slammed on the pavement. Don't think you can control your bike, plenty of championship racers have been owned by theirs by unplanned events. End.

 

So far you guys have been pretty good about keeping the argument civil---avoid the pot-shots at each other so this thread can stay open...one of the better debate threads we've had in a long time, so lets not screw it up, K? Thanks for your time!

-Adam