Is the OE steering damper serviceable

[Kendo]

Hi All,

Have searched a bunch of threads and found lots on aftermarket dampers but couldn't find an answer to this.

Is the OE steering damper (Gen 1) serviceable past a fluid change.
Pulled mine out to inspect, and it felt like pulling the damper shaft through a bunch of rocks, as well as the resistance being very inconsistent.
Pumped the old fluid out, flushed it and refilled with 10wt fork oil. No air in there now but still feels very rough in the stroke.

Is it time to ditch it and go aftermarket or can it be rebuilt?

Thanks
Kendo

[Madmax]

I don't think the factory properly fills the original item. Every unit, and I've done maybe 6 or 7, have had similar stories to your's. Not filled properly, lots of asir bubbles etc.
I have refilled them all with a slightly heavier light oil and made sure we got rid of all the air bubbles. Takes some time and a lot of patience but is do-able.
Then the standar unit operates as it's supposed to d.
IU'm sure you could spend anything from 400 to $$LOTS, but just making sure your original is properly filled with oil will make a huge diff.


Just my 2 cents worth.


Max

[Kendo]

Thanks Max, handy to know others have been the same. None of my other bikes have had steering dampers so first one I've serviced. Might have still left some air in there then. I'll keep filling and bleeding and see if it gets better.

Kendo

[Greeny_SA]

Yeah , what Max said . Did mine Yrs ago with 80w( I think) oil & made sure to get ALL the air out . Worked great since . Saved my Arse 1 tathra trip .Sorry just found the bottle 20w50 .

[Skidmarx]

i did mine, using 40w mower oil, feels great since

[Kendo]

Thanks for the advice guys.
Job done. You were right Max, certainly took some time and patience to get all the air out. Feels nice and smooth from one end of the stroke to the other now. No inconsistencies. Will see how it feels on the road in the morning.

[Kendo]

Result:
Bike feels completely different in slow speed commuting maneuvers. Gone is the inconsistent resistance of the damper making me feel like a drunkard whilst wiggling through peak hour traffic. At a quicker pace, on less than perfect roads, the bike feels a lot more planted when hitting big ruts or cambers in the road. No more muscling it back on line.
In short, like I expected a Busa to ride.
The way the damper was I reckon the bike would have felt better without it.
Now I agree, nothing wrong with the OEM damper if it's working right.
Can't rule out the possibility of some bling factor down the track though.
Thanks again guys for the feedback.

[Greeny_SA]

Glad your as happy as the rest of us who have done it,worth the effort, I reckon .

[Fester]

Hi

For my steering damper of the gene II I have the oil swap to w20 fork oil
it is a pity that I did not w30 w40 or fork oil can find for testing.

I must say after the change of original oil to w20 is much better.
But yes that is everyone's taste huh.

Greetings Fester

[Madmax]

Glad it worked for you fella.


Max

[Tony Nitrous]

Mine's been on the shelf in the shed for 4 years.

I find Moto-X bars make it redundant !