What does a steering damper do?

[spanner]

so .... in an effort to NOT do my uni assignments    I was scrolling through ebay and came across something called steering dampers...... Not that I am going to get any because the cost is huge .....  but my question is ... what are they used for?

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Honda-ST-1300-ABS-Pan-European-2002-2016-Hyperpro-RSC-Steering-Damper-Kit/223029388579?hash=item33ed966523:g:u5kAAOSwwYparPWA

And I guess do any of you have them?

[ruSTynutz]

Here you go, spanner...Wiki can probably explain it better than I could: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steering_damper

[spanner]

hmmmmm ..... interesting ....  Thanks Rusty.

So if my old girl keeps pulling to the right on a straight road .... even with new tyres etc .....  would this help to maintain a straighter course on a straight road?

My girl pulls to the right irrespective of camber, tyre condition or tyre pressure or load location in the panniers. On my old ST1100 I was able to take my hands off the bars and she would track dead straight..... not so with my newer ST1300.

oh well .... enough procrastination .... must get some words typed into the word document for my assignment.

[ruSTynutz]

From my understanding I don't think it would help as a damper is basically just applying resistance to steering input.
Your issue sounds more like a problem with alignment... 

This article may help: https://motorcyclehabit.com/why-does-my-motorcycle-pull-to-one-side/

Good luck with both your assignment & the pulling issue... 

[Brock]

The steering damper, is like a shock absorber, it takes any force that is suddenly applied by the road and slows its feed to the handle bars. For example :- If you were to hit a large rock with the left side of the wheel, instead of snapping the bars to the left (or right) it will soak up the force and only allow a slow movement. In this way, the transition to a tank slapper is removed, and also wrist breakage.

A steering damper will no correct for a bikes desire to pull one way or another.

[Gadget]

hmmmmm ..... interesting ....  Thanks Rusty.

So if my old girl keeps pulling to the right on a straight road .... even with new tyres etc .....  would this help to maintain a straighter course on a straight road?

My girl pulls to the right irrespective of camber, tyre condition or tyre pressure or load location in the panniers. On my old ST1100 I was able to take my hands off the bars and she would track dead straight..... not so with my newer ST1300.

oh well .... enough procrastination .... must get some words typed into the word document for my assignment.

Sounds like a wheel alignment problem.

[johnnyYTED]

 
So it doesn't make the steering feel all wet and moiST.. not that damp eh.

[Brock]

Johnny,

Since you must be suffering from lack of forum exposure, I will give you a warning.

Next time it will be a severe smiting for you..   

[johnnyYTED]

 
mmmm I hope you have a big STick, then for next time.. 

[Biggles]

From my experience, ST1300s tend to drift to the right regardless of year model or tyres.  I wonder if it's built in for those who travel on the RH side of the road to permit a safer outcome if a rider is inattentive or nods off.

[ruSTynutz]

Hmmm, that's not something I've noticed myself...

Are you sure you just don't weigh more on the right side of your body, Bill??? 

[West Aussie Glen]

In the early 70s I set off on a road trip from Sydney south to go past the Wombeyan Caves and home via Oberon and the Blue Mountains.
When I hit the dirt road between Taralga and Oberon there had been a lot of of rain. My T250 Suzuki Hustler was OK on dry dirt but initially an absolute nightmare on very wet dirt. It had an adjustable steering damper built in to the triple tree. I wound it up reducing the almost uncontrollable fish tailing to an almost controllable level and I was able to maintain something that looked like a straight line until I got off the dirt. A memorable day trip.
The back knob in the centre of the handle bars in the last photo in this article is the steering damper.
https://www.motorcycleclassics.com/classic-japanese-motorcycles/1972-suzuki-t250-hustler

[STroppy]

Hmmm, that's not something I've noticed myself...

Are you sure you just don't weigh more on the right side of your body, Bill??? 

You mean Bill dresses to the right? . . . Heads for the norty corner . . .

[STroppy]

In the early 70s I set off on a road trip from Sydney south to go past the Wombeyan Caves and home via Oberon and the Blue Mountains.
When I hit the dirt road between Taralga and Oberon there had been a lot of of rain. My T250 Suzuki Hustler was OK on dry dirt but initially an absolute nightmare on very wet dirt. It had an adjustable steering damper built in to the triple tree. I wound it up reducing the almost uncontrollable fish tailing to an almost controllable level and I was able to maintain something that looked like a straight line until I got off the dirt. A memorable day trip.
The back knob in the centre of the handle bars in the last photo in this article is the steering damper.
https://www.motorcycleclassics.com/classic-japanese-motorcycles/1972-suzuki-t250-hustler

I remember that road well, used it as a more interesting route when visiting my Uncle in Winmalee in the 70’s . . . It was a road that demanded constant attention in a car, you did well on the bike, WAG!

[West Aussie Glen]

It passes through some nice country but I wasn't able to appreciate the scenery.