Motorcycle steering dampers

A steering damper is a small hydraulic damper linking the frame to the yoke or the fork, and it slows down sudden movements of the bars. At low steering speeds you barely notice it, but when the front wheel goes light for a moment and lands out of line, it stops that kick from turning into an uncontrolled movement. It is common on superbikes and powerful nakeds, and there are now dampers for mid-size bikes such as the CFMOTO 675 or the Zontes 703T.

Tank slappers and wobbles: what it deals with

A tank slapper happens when the front wheel comes down after a wheelie or leaves a bump with the throttle open: the bars swing from lock to lock in a fraction of a second. A wobble is a gentler, rhythmic oscillation of the front wheel that tends to appear as you roll off the throttle at moderate speed. A damper calms both, which is why it is welcome on track and on fast roads with broken tarmac.

Rule out other causes first

Many of these movements start somewhere else: low pressure or uneven wear on the front tyre, play in the steering head bearings, a badly balanced wheel or too much weight at the back, such as a loaded top box. A fork with tired oil or worn seals plays its part too, and the fix for that is among our forks and cartridges. If the steering still moves with all that in order, a damper is the logical next step.

Model-specific or universal

Model-specific dampers bolt onto mounting points designed for one bike and are the simplest option. Universal ones, the linear model included, need their own brackets for each bike: if yours has no specific damper, check first that those brackets exist for it. Every part number, with its click adjustment, is on the Öhlins steering dampers page, and the rest of the suspension, front and rear, is under motorcycle suspension.