Stock Steering-Damper on 2012 USELESS, even with 10 clicks upgrade

[1000RR]

Originally Posted by TexRR

Im thinking of getting a GPR, what number is yours currently on?

The 12 o'clock position on the GPR represents the setting, so it would appear Triple is sitting on about 3.

I am running the GPR on my race bike and run it on 5... Always better to be on the lighter side.

[the_gooch]

Stock on my '12 has been great. Plenty of track days and no head shake.

[JG1]

I run my damper stiff as well. Is just like the feel of it.

[Triple Threat]

Originally Posted by TexRR

Im thinking of getting a GPR, what number is yours currently on?

I keep it at 5 or 6.

Triple

[Willis]

As usrodeo mentioned as well, Im in the same boat I think the stock 2012 unit is pretty good for daily use even hard twisty riding. For a track bike I would get one like 1000rr and triple. Doesn Scotts even make them any more or is the GPR pretty much the same thing? Im probably going to pick one up after the bike gets some boost.

[James]

Originally Posted by 1000RR

That's a bit tight to be running a steering damper!! Typically you should be around 1/4 of the total capacity and maybe a hair less (base starting place). If you are getting that much head shake at high speed, you might try loosening your grip and if that doesn't help, you may have a geometry and/or suspension issue going on.

The issue when you tighten it up so much is that if you now get a bad headshake, the 'shake' will be transferred back into the frame now... and you wanna eat shitt quick... that's a good way to do it!

Thank you, but i need it on that setting coz the small city that i live in in this second world country has terrible roads.
Pot holes, sand, diesel, reckless drivers, cracked asphalt...
The hot women make up for it though...

[wattsy_rules]

Originally Posted by usrodeo4

I guess I don't see the issues that others do with the steering damper...I consider myself pretty fast (former AMA experts license way way back in the 70's when I was a puppy) but have found the damping to be more than adequate...I mean a bit of a baby wobble here or there on a high speed turn doesn't bother me as long as it isn't dangerous or hindering the speed...maybe it's just me....I am tempted to get an ohlins just to see the difference though. Fyi, my damper and suspension is on the stock setting and I weigh 140 lbs.

usrodeo...you rode in the AMA when 'men were men, and sheep were nervous'

I must confess that I'm a bit old school like you, although my racing was in motocross and clearly never at your level. I saw a thing on TV the other night where Troy Corsa said the HP4 would have won WSBK races 5 years ago. Based on that, the 2012 stock S1RR probably would have won 8-10 years ago. Seems like a long time ago but think about how much the WSBK teams were spending on their bikes at that time.

I'm a fat old bast*rd (210lbs) but the stock damper seems fine to me.

[1000RR]

Originally Posted by James

Thank you, but i need it on that setting coz the small city that i live in in this second world country has terrible roads.
Pot holes, sand, diesel, reckless drivers, cracked asphalt...
The hot women make up for it though...

The way a steering damper works (good ones anyway) is that it will have a high speed valve... so when it senses a sharp/fast movement of the front wheel one way or another, the valve slows down the fluid and hence dampens the sudden movement. You do NOT need to have it on a stiff setting for the high speed valving to work properly... it still works at lower settings, just not as dramatic. I cannot speak for the one that came on your bike... but this is how Ohlins, GPR, PitBull, Scotts, etc. make them.