I want to get an ohlins steering damper but I don't like the look of the top mount or the rotory type. Can I mount it underneath or do I have to go with another brand? I've seen other bikes with the damper farther down on the forks but I dont' know what brand they were.

 

Come on guys this is a legitimate question help a brutha out.

 

yo mang...looks or performance?

 

OKAY I HAVE A OKLINS ON MINE AND I LOVE IT . IT'S EASILY ADJUSTABLE BUT IT'S ALSO THE MOST EXPENSIVE. IT DOES LOOK KIND OF WEIRD JUST A SHOCK SITTING ON TOP OF THE TANK AND I GET A LOT OF COMMENTS ABOUT IT. A LESS EXPENSIVE ALTERNATIVE WOULD BE A G.P.R STEERING DAMPER AND I HEAR THEY'RE PRETTY GOOD BUT THEY ALSO SIT ON TOP THE LOOKS ARE JUST A LITTLE COOLER. THE BOTTOM MOUNT ONES YOU SAW WERE PROBABLY ON STOCK GIXXERS SUZUKI PROVIDES THE BIKE WITH ONE FROM THE SHOP. BUT MOST PEOPLE ADD ANOTHER BECAUSE THE FIRST ONE IS NOT ADJUSTABLE. (EXCEPT THE OIL WEIGHT)

 

I will probably go with the ohlins. I was just looking to put it out of sight.

 

Hey guys can some one fill me in on what a steering damper is used for? It sort of makes sense like it dmapens your steering, but how...

 

basically, it uses gas or oil pressure to dampen sudden 'jerks' and changes in steering...so takes away little wobbles, decreases the speed of bigger ones, etc.
it's like those cheesy gym machines that use gas cartridges so like the harder you push or pull, the harder it is to move it you know?

 

FordFrenzy97,

I know a couple of guys with steering dampers. One has his on top to put it on display, the other doesn't really care about the looks and has it below the top triple clamp. The only problem I know of with mounting it that low is that my bud had some trouble getting the steering to go from full lock to lock because the damper either hit something else on the bike when the bars were full right, or bottomed out when the bars were full left. In the end, he got it set up so that he was happy with it, but it took some experimentation. Good luck!

 

yea sparky has a good point...these things are just like steering stabilizers on 4x4s with oversized tires. as long as you mount it in the proper places, they should work fine...it's the clearance that's tricky then.