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Edited Date/Time
6/8/2024 7:50pm
I'd like to make my steering as stiff as possible. I'd prefer to not run the traditional offroad dampers like Scott, Precision works etc.
I've read that the steering damper that sits behind the number plate does very little for the steering in a straight line but that they can be revalved. How much of a difference does that revalve make and how stiff can it go?
I had Factory Connection revalve the ones that Honda had stock for years. Made a big difference and worked like it should. They revalved it as stiff as they could. This was their standard setting. One of the best $100 mods I ever did.
I’m in the same boat. I have a Husky450 that I want to mount a Honda damper to if I can get the same effectiveness of one of those monster bar mount units. I’ve had a Scott damper in the past and loved the feel but psychologically made the bike feel heavy.
I have the WP as stiff as it will go and can’t really feel it at all. However it looks pretty sweet.
This is the setup I want but I've read that in stock form they are basically useless. You thought about getting it revalved?
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Yeah I was hoping someone who’s done it would share the results in this thread. Maybe I’ll have to.
If you're looking for steering resistance/damping in a straight line, you'll never get it with the WP or the Honda damper, no matter how stiff it's re-valved.
It's just a geometry thing, the damper doesn't move at all when the bars are straight. It starts to move as the bars turn and moves a lot at full lock. The more the bars are turned, the more it works. You'll get damping/resistance in the corners, which is what it was designed to do, but nothing at all for straight line stability.
If you're looking for added straight line stability, you'll need a more traditional damper setup (Precision, Scotts, etc.).
They talk about the Lawrences having very stiff steering. Any idea how they are achieving that? I know some say they do it by tightening down the steering stem bolt but I feel like they've got to be doing more?
Oil weight easy route
We traveled with the Lawrence family in 2019 hitting tracks around the country in-between races.
Jett and Hunter at the time were running a very tight head set (steering stem NUT). Jett's was tighter than Hunter's. The front end never moved while the bike was on the stand. You could lean the bike over (when on the stand) and the front end barely moved.
I never asked Daz about it but I can understand why.
Without knowing the context, yes, that's likely what they were talking about. A lot of guys just crank down the bearing preload to stiffen up the steering. It's mostly a personal preference thing.
I fitted a CRF damper to my RMZ450, I put 20wt hydraulic oil in it, works great.
Enzo and FC have revalved the showa stabilizer for me. It helps, but like Billy mentioned, it really only comes into action when the bars are moving. It won't be like the Scotts damper that holds it all the time.
I think a combination of the Showa damper and tight headset nut is a good combo. Be careful not to go crazy tight on the nut and ruin your bearings or races. Thick grease on headset bearings could also help with some resistance.
Thank you man, that was exactly the feedback I was looking for. It looks like I’ll be going with the handlebar mount damper setup
Post a reply to: Anyone had their steering damper revalved?