Steering Dampnr

[POHAKU]

I ride a 02 KDX200 in Hawaii lots of Rocks, roots,
ruts and tight trees
that rip the steering out of your hand.
What are your thoughts on a "STEERING DAMPENER"
Are they worth it? If so what is best for the money?
Are they hard to install? Are they all the same or do you
have to order special for KDX200?

Thanks for your help
Aloha, Todd

 

[dirt bike dave]

I am a huge fan of steering dampers for trail and woods riding. After getting your suspension dialed in, it's one of the best things you can do to a dirtibke, IMO. Besides helping you ride with more confidence, it will save you from crashes, so it is almost like safety gear. When I ride a bike now without a damper, it is VERY noticeable. Besides the cost, there is no downside at all.

I have owned Scotts and WER - both work great. I give a slight preference to the Scotts for the adjust on the fly, but the WER is also a winner and is less expensive. Install can be a little bit of a PITA, but it is worth the trouble. The WER can be had with a 'bolt on' mount, though you may prefer to weld a tab to your frame. For most dampers, you will need to specify what bike you are mounting it on, so that you get the right mounting equipment. The dampers themselves can usually be transferred to a new bike, though if you change bike brands you may need to buy some parts.

 

[canyncarvr]

Plusses and minuses to both.

The 'on the fly' aspect of the scotts is nice. From what I've read of scotts users, after the new wears off they don't spend much time fiddling with it.

The scotts will most likely not mount on your bike without new bars. Scotts sells renthals with a bowed crossbar to allow space for the scotts.

Scotts has a problem (stated by them) with isolated bars as the kdx has. If the bushings get tweaked the damper/post alignment can get out of whack to the extent the damper may be damaged. BTW, I've tried the scotts high durometer bushings for kdx bars. They don't fit worth diddle as far as I'm concerned.

The WER lowers the front fender about 1/2". Unlikely to cause a suspension problem, but if your bike as the forks way up in the clamps for some reason, it may be a problem.

I've adjusted my WER more'n once 'on the fly' without any trouble. No, not while doing anything but going straight and flat..but still, it's not so bad.

As dbd sez, the WER is considerably cheaper...to the tune of a couple hundred bucks anyway.

The scotts has two damping circuits, high and lo speed. The WER has one. I've had only limited experience with the scotts (someone else's bike), but it was impressive. Of course.....that could have been a matter of it being an orange bike. ;)

The bolt on type of WER works better than the bolt on scotts, imo. The post on a scotts is some 4" long perpendicular to its anchor. It flexes pretty good. The anchor on the WER is 'off' perpendicularly only the distance of the attaching bolts. No flex going on there.

There 'ya go! Now all you have is more questions, right?