Steering dampers as they relate to unusual circumstances

Hi!

Having read all there is to read here on this mod, I have come to understand that the fork angle & wheelbase on our beloved makes it highly stable even under very agressive riding on track or track-like conditions.

However....

I have seen a number of severe tankslappers induced by factors such as less than perfect riding techniques or judgement & hitting an unexpected rock or pot-hole. Even though I was merely a spectator in the riding group, I needed to get off my bike and compose myself. In spite of never having seen a VFR tankslap, I'm terrified of this happening to me.

While they may be expensive, their cost seems trival IF they will eliminate personal injury to myself and damage to my baby.

I say "IF" because I do not have many years riding experience.

Could you pls comment how much safer a damper will be if someone such as myself with little experience was to encounter a dangerous road condition?

Thanks!

 

there gonna say you dont need one

i would say the vfr is a very stable bike.but you never know whats gonna happen.from my own personal experance the first mod im gonna do to mine is a scots damper.on my last bike i was almost ran over by a corvette.to avoid getting hit went into a stoppie when i put the bike down it was highly unstable and i couldnt recover it.it was alot shorter than the vfr.but still any thing that could have given me a chance at recovery would have been a blessing.would it have saved me i dont know.but for me i want one.:yield:

 

phycocircus:

I feel you may be right. Albiet a stable bike....but you never know whats around the corner....or what state of mind your going to be in when the unexpected presents itself!

I speak without the experience of a pro rider, but if its a mere $450 (Cdn) to save my bacon and spare my baby from kissing the ground....its all good!

Forum: what is your opinion???

 

Lot's of things can cause a tank slapper and on a track you know what/where they are (mostly) and can set up for them. The street hides a lot. The better units won't do anything until needed, which on the street is good, so low speed manuevers (parking lots, u-turns and such) are unaffected. If you tend to ride a bit faster, it's a good investment. Plus, it adds bling points! If you have the dough burning a hole in your pocket, spend it on something that may save you more $$ later on.