Steering dampening opinions

[lankydoug]

Due to old age and old injuries to my wrist and also that rocks hidden by leaves give me the willies, I'm looking to buy a steering dampener set up for my 09 WR250. After a 3 hour ride in the roots and rocks I had to take a 3 day break from riding to let my wrist recover so I'm serious about buying one soon. I've narrowed it down to the Scotts sub mount and the Motorsportz. I've read that the Motorsportz will dampen both directions but I've also read that some Scott models will do that too. Is this a big advantage? I would like opinions by those who have used both kinds and since I've never ridden a bike with a dampener all opinions are welcomed.

 

[HuskyT]

I use a top mount / large dial Scotts Dampener on my TC450 .... I prefer the top mount/large dial as it allows easy open access on the fly during a race/ride. When racing a GP MX where you may go from Hard pack to fast rock sections to sand to whooped out sand washes etc. ( read : a variety of changing conditions) the large dial top mount allows the flexibility to easily adjust on the fly with your left hand while at full speed. ...

For this personal preference /reason alone, I do not understand why anyone would want a sub mount?

As far as the hidden rocks... a damper ( any brand ) will work wonders for you.

On a nice clean track I ride with my Scotts Damper about four clicks in.

In Sand and especially hi-speed sand/desert washes and or rock sections I'm in about 8 to 12 clicks... out of a total of 24.....

It does help with arm and hand fatigue.

I have no personal experience with the Motosportz dampener but from all accounts in here over the years it works equally well to the Scotts.

T

 

[lankydoug]

I use a top mount / large dial Scotts Dampener on my TC450 .... I prefer the top mount/large dial as it allows easy open access on the fly during a race/ride. When racing a GP MX where you may go from Hard pack to fast rock sections to sand to whooped out sand washes etc. ( read : a variety of changing conditions) the large dial top mount allows the flexibility to easily adjust on the fly with your left hand while at full speed. ...

For this personal preference /reason alone, I do not understand why anyone would want a sub mount?

As far as the hidden rocks... a damper ( any brand ) will work wonders for you.

On a nice clean track I ride with my Scotts Damper about four clicks in.

In Sand and especially hi-speed sand/desert washes and or rock sections I'm in about 8 to 12 clicks... out of a total of 24.....

It does help with arm and hand fatigue.

I have no personal experience with the Motosportz dampener but from all accounts in here over the years it works equally well to the Scotts.

T

Good point, I didn't consider adjustability on the fly, I was thinking that a sub mount would be protected from crashes and since I'm so tall it would also raise my bars up a bit.

 

[robertaccio]

Ive used WER (low front fender mount, nice and out of the way), Scotts(standard top mount over bars) and GPR (under bar mount, my current TXC450 config) all are good products and perform as advertised, one of our crew bought a Kato with the Motosportz damper on it and he praises that unit as well, it feels fine and is thin and unobtrusive with easy to adjust lever.
My opinion from experience is that all are very good products and your choice will be a win win with any of the brands, the choice is yours who to but from and all come with great OEM support just a phone call away. I just sent my GPR in for service and had back in a couple days with alot of parts replaced with no charge.
Also consider the Flexxbars as a wrist helper, I know a few guys using them that swear by them and you can set the flex level to your desire with different hardness damper bushings. I have ridden 2 bikes with them, one was a little too much movement for me, but the smoothness was amazing the other was more stiff but still really killed the shock hits from sharp edged rocks as well, the system works well. But it is a little heavy and bulky as an assembly. R

 

[Xcuvator]

I have the Scotts on my TE 450 and WR250 and a Motorsportz on the 610. They are both great. Once you get one you will wonder why you waited so long.
And I have to second robertaccio's coments on the Flexbars. My wrists have alot of hard miles on them and after riding with Flexbars I won't ride without them. They did more to take wrist pain away than the dampers. They are on all three bikes.

 

[HuskyT]

Good point, I didn't consider adjustability on the fly, I was thinking that a sub mount would be protected from crashes and since I'm so tall it would also raise my bars up a bit.

I'm using a 40 mm Scotts (Made by BRP top mount ) and am using Windham Protapers... a little bit higher than a CR HI Bend. I beleive this is the highest bar you can get or darn close to it...

T

 

[LawnDartMike]

I have a sub mount GPR and ProTaper Pastrana FMX bend bars. Between the two I have almost a 2.5 inch rise over the stock bar setup. The FMX bend is also 25mm narrower then the standard bars and the tallest that ProTaper makes..

 

[TROFFER88]

I really like the looks of the fastway, I assume it works like the Scotts. I have the Motosportz and the Scotts and like the Motosportz a little better.

 

[rajobigguy]

Being a more mature rider I can attest to the benefits of a damper when it comes to reduceing fatique. I currently have a motosportz damper on my 610 and it was one of the best investments I've made in the bike. I personally think that the motosportz damper has more going for it than most others but any brand is helpful.

 

[Robert Gulden]

HuskyT- Do your Windhams make standing up any more comfortable than stock bars? I'm pretty tall and standing is often preferred for me, but not at all comfortable.

 

[shawbagga]

Good point, I didn't consider adjustability on the fly, I was thinking that a sub mount would be protected from crashes and since I'm so tall it would also raise my bars up a bit.

just to throw in an aussie flavour-MSC make a good damper(titan & now a smaller unit-forget what its called). may be a little expensive for you fellas over there but work sweet. they have 3 settings & 8 adjustments(why anyone would ever need number 8 is beyond me you can hardly turn the bars!) M-motocross, D-desert, C-cross country. all change the way it damp(en)s from full away full back(D), full away half back(C) & full away nothing back(M) i believe. i only ever run C at about 3-6 generally depending if its sandy/rocky/roots-higher more damping or faster steering clear trails-lower less damping. they really are a safety device, the amount of times that thing has saved my arse from a big digger is unreal. i wouldnt ride without one again, high speed so stable, no nasty deflections off rocks/roots & awesome in the sand/beach riding. once you use one youll wonder why you didnt get one earlier. finds some rocks or sand ride it without then with & tell me you dont reckon theyre worth their weight in gold. i run underbar mount being 6'4" cause lifts bars higher which i like/need & top bar mount bit dangerous if you hit it without chestplate but agree easier to adjust but all you gotta do is cut bar pad a little. massive advantage & one of first things i put on a new bike. most blokes i ride with have em. mate has berg 300 with flexx bars, not my cup of tea make cockpit to cluttered. get one!