I'm just wondering how many people put a steering damper on the VTR.

I ride the bike hard in all kinds of situations and found that it handles just about anything perfectly.

I have never had any kind of head shake from the VTR.

And trus me, I've wheelied this bike at some pretty damn fast speeds.
I've even landed it with the bars not perfectly straight, with stutter bumps in the road.
Never, never have I ever had a reason to even think the VTR needed a damper.

 

Yeah, it's not a "mandatory" kind of mod. Folks have used many brands over they years. I, too, never felt the need.

 

I installed one (a Shindy/Daytona) as I experienced headshake once when hitting a bump while leaned over (our fine Quebec roads) and I found it quite cheap (used for $75) so I figured what the heck.... LIkely not essential (as others have noted) but it certainly doesn't hurt either.

 

Actually now that we're talking about it. I did have a head shake one time.

But the bike recovered fine.

 

I was reading a review that addressed this particular issue somewhere over the net before I even bought my hawk... at any rate, one of the saving graces of the s.h. is that it is very forgiving... no tank slappers, while on the other hand the TL1000 was apparently notorious for this issue, and was highly recommended to have a steering dampener installed.

KG

 

Yes, I had a TLS before I bought the VTR.
The TL needed a damper. The steering angle was too radical.
It was a death trap with out one.
I took mine off to do some work on it, but lost time and got called away to do something for my wife. The next day I had no choice but to ride it to work without the damper.
What a mistake.

However, the VTR is rock solid no matter what I throw at it.

I just wish it had the TL motor.

 

Milkstr...How do you like the Shindy damper? Mine should be arriving on Monday. Any install issues?

 

No problems with installation (no bodywork removal or anything of the sort) or the damper itself. I am happy with it. Best part is that it is very easily adjustable to 7 different settings on the fly.