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Re: Dry Lake Racers Australia Speedweek 2018

Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2018 10:55 pm
by South_Oz
Hey Smoker, steering damper is compolsory on all bikes and is checked in scrutineering. Most riders turn them down to minimum setting me included. Also most limit the steering lock to around 7 deg. eather side of straight​ ahead, a total of 14 deg. lock to lock.
The bussa has had 3 slappers all above 150 mph and corrects itself as you slow down so I'm happy to keep riding it to find the cause and rectify it. If you hang on it's not life threatening. Well that's my theory.
Dave.

Re: Dry Lake Racers Australia Speedweek 2018

Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2018 3:04 am
by hondaror
I'd be turning up the damper.

Re: Dry Lake Racers Australia Speedweek 2018

Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2018 8:09 am
by JonW
Plenty of supermotos have flappy bars as you hit faster speeds, Once you get to know the bike its ok, you just feel like youre paddling a canoe for a bit.

Re: Dry Lake Racers Australia Speedweek 2018

Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2018 8:17 am
by South_Oz
All the really fast guys say to run dampener on minimum, they have been going fast longer than me and lived to tell me how to do it. I trust their judgement.

Some things you just have to believe. If I tightened it up I might not be here to tell the tale.

Dave.

Re: Dry Lake Racers Australia Speedweek 2018

Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2018 4:38 pm
by Smoker
Got it.

I didn't see a steering damper in the pics.

If the steering damper is for preventing tank slappers, and there is a steering damper on the bike, something is wrong.

I would agree on turning up the tension on the damper. Otherwise, it's just dead weight. I would guess the guys that are keeping the damper tension at a minimum are not having tank-slapper issues.

Can only imagine the rush it must be at full speed. Truly what life is all about.

Re: Dry Lake Racers Australia Speedweek 2018

Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2018 7:48 pm
by South_Oz
Hey Smoker, I would rather fix the problem the bike has than try and mask it with more steering damper. I think there is a weight distribution problem. The ballast was put on the swing arm thinking that it would have traction problems once approaching 200 mph but first we need to get there and in control.
The problem starts with a very slow weave. First time it happened to me I rolled off the throttle and that induced the tank slap. Self preservation kicked in and I was just a passenger, I tried a few things like give it another hand full of throttle and holding the bars as tight as I could but nothing worked. After a few checks and changes for this year I had a plan of attack. None of that worked either although it was better, maybe because I was kind of expecting it. This year it was a very deliberate very slow roll off the throttle but that still resulted it a hell of a ride.
And yep it is a real blast to ride. Adrenalin is addictive.
Ill see if I can hurry them up with the video and post it up. It is unbelievable from the bike prospective.

Dave

Re: Dry Lake Racers Australia Speedweek 2018

Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2018 11:38 pm
by Smoker
South_Oz wrote:All the really fast guys say to run dampener on minimum, they have been going fast longer than me and lived to tell me how to do it. I trust their judgement.

Some things you just have to believe. If I tightened it up I might not be here to tell the tale.
I have trouble believing this.

What is the reason or philosophy behind this?

I read that a steering damper for land speed should be tighter than for road racing, but loose enough to make a left turn after run #1. Not saying it's true, just what I read.

I know a rookie building a land speed bike, so it would be cool to know what this is about.

Re: Dry Lake Racers Australia Speedweek 2018

Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2018 4:37 am
by South_Oz
Ive asked these people the question, there responses were all the same. 3 have world records, 3 regularly ride on the salt over 200 mph. Im not going to try something they dont recommend.

Im not sure of the science behind it but will look into it. I know these people personally and trust their opinions. Check their profiles.

Me: Hey Grant how do you run your steering damper?
Grant: Turn it right down. https://www.dlra.org.au/profiles/371.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Me: Hey Greg how do you run your steering damper?
Greg: Turn it right down. http://www.dlra.org.au/profiles/379.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Me: Hey Kym how do you run your steering damper?
Kym: Turn it right down. http://www.dlra.org.au/profiles/495.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Me: Hey Stuart how do you run your steering damper?
Stuart: Turn it right down. http://www.dlra.org.au/profiles/732.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Dave

Re: Dry Lake Racers Australia Speedweek 2018

Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2018 11:07 am
by hondaror
Dave, everyone says back it off. What is the result of turning it up? I've only road raced, so I have no experience running WFO on salt.

Re: Dry Lake Racers Australia Speedweek 2018

Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2018 3:58 am
by South_Oz
Hey Rory, Im not sure that I want to find out. This thing is a hand full as it is. If it made it worse I might not be here to tell the story. Sometimes you just need to take someones word as what is best.

Dave

Re: Dry Lake Racers Australia Speedweek 2018

Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2018 9:17 pm
by Smoker
I do anesthesia for a living. I can't take anyone's word for anything without knowing why.

It's a matter of life or death, every day. Not sure how this is different.

If I knew how to contact these fast dudes, I'm happy to ask what's up with the damper. I find that most people are happy to satisfy my genuine interest. And I appreciate it.

Re: Dry Lake Racers Australia Speedweek 2018

Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2018 3:43 am
by hondaror
I also have a hard time with no real explanation. Why even put one on if it does not work?
I don't use one on the street. The RZ is so stable compared to the LC. My TZs all had them.

Re: Dry Lake Racers Australia Speedweek 2018

Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2018 3:54 am
by South_Oz
If some one I know and trust says not to do something I generally dont do it. If lots of people that I know and trust say not to do something :smt017

The rules say that a steering damper must be fitted, they dont say it has to be operational.

7.B.17
Steering Damper:
Required in all classes

7.B.19
Chassis and Steering:
All
motorcycle entries shall use handlebars for steering control. All moving parts of the steering system
shall operate freely without excessive play. It is recommended that all steering system components be
visually inspected on a frequent basis.
Fork stops shall stop fork travel before the hands touch the tank or fairing. If a hydraulic steering
damper is used, the rod shaft (or piston) may not be used for the fork stops. In all classes other than
Production and Modified Production, fork stops shall limit for
k travel to 15 deg. right and left (30 deg. total).
A functional shock absorber is required for each sprung wheel.

Dave

Re: Dry Lake Racers Australia Speedweek 2018

Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2018 5:30 am
by South_Oz
OK video's up. https://youtu.be/wZHu0SIxliM" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Dave

Re: Dry Lake Racers Australia Speedweek 2018

Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2018 8:08 am
by JonW
Eeek that looks really nasty, even sat at my desk watching that i was glad it started to even out. :/