Thread: Scotts Steering Damper Question

Originally Posted by slickwill

The one bit of bling that I am convinced I have to have on my motard is a Scotts Damper. The bike already has the mount kit which is about half of the cost.

My question is do I go with an off-road or on-road model? They are identical outward but on the inside the on-road models supposedly have more damping near the center line while the off-road model allows for a little more give near the center. I know this might be a stupid question since the bike will mostly be used on road but it will see some gravel and fire road type riding. I would just go with the on-road model and be done but the off-road models seem to be a little cheaper and more available. Can they really have that much of a difference? I've never had a damper before but riding this bike off-road has already really make me wish that there was one on the bike.

If the off road one is cheaper I'd go with that. The off road one has more play but the front end is lighter and more controllable with the MX bike. You have different leverage with a MX bike then road. I've spent many years racing AMA motocross and I have to say I wouldn't want a damper on my dirt bike at all. If you are riding on loose gravel the ground would give, not pitch you. I think maybe it’s just a different style you aren't use to? On the flip side I had the scotts (road) damper on my 98' and really liked it. I think the rake angle is more against you with a road bike, and you are typically going faster when it would come into play. Not sure your experience on dirt but I'll throw this at you...keep your elbows up as if you were going to compress the forks while riding. That is your steering damper.

Originally Posted by slickwill

I grew up riding dirt and have gone through a lot of dirt bikes but never felt at home on them compared to my street bike. A lot of it is the different feel from what I am used to on the street bike but it needs something. Mainly it is from the fact that there is a lot more weight on the front tire of a sport bike than there is on the front of the 'tard so the front end feels more twitchy. I just want something up there for when the front end comes back down on the 'tard...cuz it seems to come up A LOT...wonder how that happens...I'm blaming the torque.

See and I'm the opposite. I feel a lot more comfortable on dirt, and am having to relearn everything for pavement. I like the "twitchiness"...it’s like feedback. Pavement is all or nothing when it comes to grip. I'd feel like the stabilizer would get in the way because there are so many split second movements, but for what you are doing you are talking more riding on pavement and relatively flat ground. All this Mx bikes on pavement are all new over the last few years. For me riding a mx bike on pavement was just what you did when you were bored at home and staring at your bike in the garage I'd definitely go with the scotts. I wish my 08 didn't have the factory stabilizer. I'd have put the scotts on it in a heartbeat.