Steering Damper Question - Ducati.ms

slowerthan · Jan 26th, 2012, 8:39 pm

Many of the mods I have done have really improved the handling of my bike. First and foremost was installing the fully adjustable GP Suspension cartridges in the forks. Then having the rear shock re-valved, and having the front and rear set up properly for my weight, really transformed the bike. Switching to the Alpinas helped too, especially with the true tubeless set up, and the much more grippy Pirelli Diablo Rosso tires.

The bike feels extremely stable. Holding a turn at speed feels like the bike is on rails, and hitting bumps at speed hardly unsettles the bike at all. But I do feel the bike does not flick back and forth as quickly and as easily as I would have expected. Could never figure out why. Then it finally dawned on me....

It's probably the steering damper. I have the Storz-Ceriani damper, an early generation for our bikes, and I remember people finding them unacceptably stiff. I keep mine one click above minimum, and found it not very noticeable even at very slow speeds. But perhaps that is why the bike isn't as flickable too. Would you think the steering damper is the reason why?

debby · Jan 26th, 2012, 8:42 pm

Try a test ride without the damper and see what you think. I have the Storz damper also and don't like it on the street - too much damping, even at the lightest setting. Would probably be great at the track.

SM70 · Jan 26th, 2012, 9:11 pm

I also have a storz on one of mine and ohlins on another. The storz was too stiff on the lightest setting (for the road). I sent it back and Storz kindly lessened the damping.
Cheers,
SM

SteveV · Jan 26th, 2012, 9:16 pm

Definetly the steering dampner. It is a trade off between setups however, quick steering in tight short corners or stability in long fast sweepers. I've only recently had a Wasp TMSD on my GT and I noticed the difference immediately, but for the better. I have chosen the smoothness and predictability of the dampner as head shakes, vagueness and oscilation was my life before the dampner. Definetely not as quick to steer as before and have lost some of the manouverability in the carpark, but a small price to pay, particularly when hitting uneven road surface mid corner at speed!

reh · Jan 26th, 2012, 9:58 pm

I have an adjustable Ohlins unit on my bike, and I think as my riding has improved I have been feeling more and more that the bike felt "dead".

I recently wound the steering damper back a couple of clicks, and the bike definitely feels more alive!!!

**JCPakBikes** · Jan 27th, 2012, 12:45 am

I have found the flickability is really more attributed to the suspension
If you raise the back up a tad or lower the front a tad either by the springs ride height or using the Compression and dampening (for those that have it)
it will turn faster.
also he dampening should only be as tight as minimally as possible.
If you hit harder uneven surfaces you can crank it up a bit, hence the "adjustable" damper. Around town I keep it a tad stiffer
on high speed jaunts I back it off.

Also where the damper is mounted is important
The more centered the better.
If I could use the scotts damper on my PS I would but it is not possible for the Sport or the S
I never personally like the side mounts as the feedback was not as even as the center mount on most bikes I have ridden with dampers installed

Quote:

Originally Posted by slowerthan

Many of the mods I have done have really improved the handling of my bike. First and foremost was installing the fully adjustable GP Suspension cartridges in the forks. Then having the rear shock re-valved, and having the front and rear set up properly for my weight, really transformed the bike. Switching to the Alpinas helped too, especially with the true tubeless set up, and the much more grippy Pirelli Diablo Rosso tires.

The bike feels extremely stable. Holding a turn at speed feels like the bike is on rails, and hitting bumps at speed hardly unsettles the bike at all. But I do feel the bike does not flick back and forth as quickly and as easily as I would have expected. Could never figure out why. Then it finally dawned on me....

It's probably the steering damper. I have the Storz-Ceriani damper, an early generation for our bikes, and I remember people finding them unacceptably stiff. I keep mine one click above minimum, and found it not very noticeable even at very slow speeds. But perhaps that is why the bike isn't as flickable too. Would you think the steering damper is the reason why?

SteveV · Jan 27th, 2012, 4:40 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCPakBikes

I have found the flickability is really more attributed to the suspension
If you raise the back up a tad or lower the front a tad either by the springs ride height or using the Compression and dampening (for those that have it)
it will turn faster.
also he dampening should only be as tight as minimally as possible.
If you hit harder uneven surfaces you can crank it up a bit, hence the "adjustable" damper. Around town I keep it a tad stiffer
on high speed jaunts I back it off.

Also where the damper is mounted is important
The more centered the better.
If I could use the scotts damper on my PS I would but it is not possible for the Sport or the S
I never personally like the side mounts as the feedback was not as even as the center mount on most bikes I have ridden with dampers installed

JC is spot on particularly if the stock suspension is your only option. Lifting the rear is a quick and easy solution for quicker turn in and I always had my stock rear suspension set to maximum preload for that reason. Easily reversed also when not in the hills.

DGJ · Jan 27th, 2012, 2:10 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCPakBikes

I have found the flickability is really more attributed to the suspension
If you raise the back up a tad or lower the front a tad either by the springs ride height or using the Compression and dampening (for those that have it)
it will turn faster.
also he dampening should only be as tight as minimally as possible.
If you hit harder uneven surfaces you can crank it up a bit, hence the "adjustable" damper. Around town I keep it a tad stiffer
on high speed jaunts I back it off.

Also where the damper is mounted is important
The more centered the better.
If I could use the scotts damper on my PS I would but it is not possible for the Sport or the S
I never personally like the side mounts as the feedback was not as even as the center mount on most bikes I have ridden with dampers installed

+1 on the above. I have dual ohlins rear and adjustable showas up front (and ohlins wasp TMSD, set up at about 12 clicks), and I lowered the front end my 1/2 and inch, it flicks like a switch.