I don't have a steering damper and I was hoping not having to install one.
I've gotten used to the zone around 40km/hr where the front end wants to come to life and wobble.
A little steadier and tighter grip keep this easily under control.
I always have both hands on the handlebars but now I realize there's a problem...
I can't give a proper wave at passing bikers!
I just resort to a nod or a partial lift of the clutch hand.
It's so subtle, that I don't think it's noticed from a distance.
I hope solo riders understand my misfortune and don't take it for snobbery.
I'm sure fellow hackers understand.
That's probably the strongest reason I have so far to mount a steering damper.
Do you wave?
Just take your hands off the bars an dlet the front end 'wave' for you.
Not sure this will work on your bike but I have a friend with a Harley and he does not have a steering dampener. What we did is tighten up the neck bearing preload a lot. Worked well and he has been running it like this for at least 50K miles. Makes it hard to drive as a solo but the only time he takes the sidecar off is when we have to put it on the lift to work on it.
I have the same problem. Originally i never noticed but it's definitely there up to 60 km/hr. I wonder if getting the trees done will fix that or make it worse?
I never had a bad shake problem to start with, but putting raked trees on eliminated the shake all together.
I only wave when it's safe - never when I'm in a turn (even though I have a damper).
You should definitely get raked triple tree. And certainly a steering damper. I invested in my front-end and I feel it really paid off. Before my sidecar arrived I got a 5 degree rake triple tree, steering damper, fork brace, heavy fork oil and racing brake pads. At some point I'm sure I'll get one of those Unit leading link front ends. But for a telescopic fork set up this is good enough. I tried a small test ride without the steering damper and the shake was pretty bad at low speeds. With the damper I can feel it wanting to shake but it barely moves. http://www.youtube.com/user/hawaiisidecar
Check out a video of my test ride. Just installed the sidecar Sunday.
Thanks all.
I've surrendered to the fact that I can only safety wave at any speed other than 35-60 km/hr.
A generous nod will have to do in the "danger" zone. 🙂
It's my affordable solution for now.
It's an issue best fixed by simply not going that speed. A hydraulic steering damper will help but it's only an assist and still isn't going to fix the headshake. Based on conversations with Bill Becker of Becker Motoworks there is no real solution to the issue other than not going at that speed.
I've given up driving my sidecar because the shame, guilt, and ignominy of not waving has left me emotionally crippled. I was hoping going to church would help, but so far...
It does help a little knowing I'm not so alone, though.
Thnaks for posting!
Hell,
I wave at everyone. Harleys, Metrics, Choppers, Hardcore 3 patchers, Scooters, Mopeds, Old ladies, Kids and some Animals.
I just keep the other hand on the bars. Toughest time is in a hard left turn while shifting gears.
Lonnie
Hack'n - 5/3/2010 11:22 AM
Hell,
I wave at everyone. Harleys, Metrics, Choppers, Hardcore 3 patchers, Scooters, Mopeds, Old ladies, Kids and some Animals.
I just keep the other hand on the bars. Toughest time is in a hard left turn while shifting gears.Lonnie
I wave to every one as well. I am sure once I get my sidecar on it will be a while before I go back to waving as I do not think I will take my hands off the bars for a while. LOL
I wave but don't check to see if anyone waves back. Last year, while looking at bikes waving I almost went up a guys tail pipe ahead of me.
That reminds of something that happen to me in 2002. I was coming home from visiting a friend of mine in upper West Virgin (was only a 750 mile day LOL). My very first wreck on a motorcycle was in 1971 from failing to close so I give plenty of distance from the vehicle in front of me since. I was coming in to Athens, GA and there were about 5 cars in front of me. I waved to a motorcycle going the other way looked and then looked in front of me and all the cars had there brakes locked up. I hit the last car. All of the cars all most hit each other and came with in inches of doing so I MEAN INCHES. As we know a motorcycle do not stop as fast as a 4 wheeler. Come to find out some idiot with out any rear lights or turn signals made a turn into the Bull Dog Motel. Do you think he got a ticket? HELL NO but I sure did as well as $9,000 damage to my motorcycle. The car I hit got a small dent in the trunk from my handlebars.
I don't wave to be honost but that's 'cause no one is ever going the other way (that would be bad on a racetrack) and I'm usually too busy going as fast as I can get the rig going to bother waving at the flaggers. OK, I actually do wave on the cooldown lap after the checkered, but very very briefly. Hard to steer onehanded on a rig with 20x7.5x13" tires.
