WHAT IS A RALLE-MOTO STEERING DAMPER ?
Control wheel movement and you control the motorcycle. It's a simple concept we can all agree upon. Right? A good set of forks and shocks smooths out the terrain and makes the bike rideable. The up-and-down movement of the wheel is controlled, the energy is absorbed, and the bike moves easily over the trail.
When it comes to controlling a motorcycle there's a second factor to be considered: side-to-side movement of the front wheel (and the handlebars). If the front wheel is deflected by a rock, a groove, a rut, or other obstacles the motorcycle is difficult (if not impossible) to handle. A steering damper brings that side-to-side movement under control and restores a feeling of confidence to the rider when the going gets rough.
One Customer wrote, "I purchased a BMW F800GS damper from BestRest couple of months ago and I'm very pleased with the performance. I found that a setting of 5 or 6 in the "D" (desert) mode works great for the loose gravel and powder roads I ride. It really lessens the tendency for the bike to weave or feel "vague". In my opinion this was an EXCELLENT purchase, and doesn't qualify as a "farkle"... anymore than a set of TKC80 tires are considered "farkles". - Jerry Chaney"
A Ralle-Moto steering damper is a hydraulic unit that controls the speed at which the front wheel (and your handlebar) can move from side to side. This effect is similar to the way your shock absorbers control your suspension by limiting the speed that the wheels can move up and down. No one can argue the benefits of a good set of forks and shocks. Right?
Ralle-Moto manufactures high precision, rotary vane steering dampers that are fully adjustable. You select the settings to meet your riding style, and the road or trail conditions.
Unlike piston or friction style dampers, the Ralle-Moto damper vane design is virtually unaffected by thermal conditions. It provides consistent damping regardless of atmospheric conditions or how hard you're riding. In other words, the Ralle-Moto unit doesn't fade or wimp out because it's 100 degrees, or because you're riding hard miles on tough trails.
Don't confuse Ralle-Moto with dampers made by others. Ralle-Moto is considered the Rolls-Royce of steering stabilizer dampers. It has features the others don't, it performs like the others won't. And it costs more. But there's a reason for the higher price - performance. You get what you pay for. 
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HOW IS A RALLE-MOTO DAMPER MADE?
Ralle-Moto dampers are manufactured under a special contract by MSC Products (who have been in the damper business for years). Billets of 6061-T6 aircraft aluminum are machined in a precision vertical CNC mill. After 20 tungsten carbide milling cutters, drills, taps & other specialized cutting tools have done their work the finished components are measured, tested, and checked for perfect fit and function, then they're anodized for appearance and corrosion resistance.
A rotary vane steering damper relies on mechanical sealing of an internal vane to produce the high pressures required for effective damping. For this reason Ralle-Moto makes their internal vane integral within the damper assembly, and the vane is machined from one solid steel billet which allows MSC to hold the required tolerances in the production processes. That means the owner will receive an extremely strong & reliable unit that will provide years of untroubled service.
THE RALLE-MOTO 8 ADJUSTER SYSTEM
As steering stabilizers are used in all sorts of conditions & terrain, it is imperative that the damper employ an easy to use, effective adjuster system. The Ralle-Moto stabilizer uses a unique rotary disc valve to control the flow of hydraulic fluid within the stabilizer unit. Ralle-Moto Products are are only able to use this valve design because of precision manufacturing of the internal components.
Ralle-Moto stabilizers are fitted with an 8-position primary damping adjuster. The adjuster provides the rider with 8 levels of damping force: they range from position 1 where the stabilizer is still functioning although with a very light damping effect, to position 8 where the damping effect is very noticeable at the handlebars. Unlike needle valves, which require the rider to count the clicks to be able to find a particular setting, the MSC system enables the rider to go precisely between settings giving very accurate repeatability.
The 3-way mode switch controls a separate return-to-center porting system. The Ralle-Moto system is unique in that it enables the rider to select 3 completely different damping profiles at the flick of a switch.
For an easy to understand visual graphic showing the function of the M-D-C mode, click here: The Ralle-Moto return to center M-D-C mode
“M” for Motocross- when this mode is selected the stabilizer will damp movement (per the main adjuster setting) as the bars are turned from center to a 30 degree angle. After 30 degrees the damping effect will fade to zero as the bars reach the steering stops. On the return to center, the stabilizer has zero damping effect. This profile is ideal where the motorcycle bike is being ridden over jumps typically found on motocross tracks, as it makes it easier to straighten the steering in the air, while still drastically reducing headshake & absorbing wheel deflections while on the ground.
“D” for Desert- when this mode is selected the stabilizer will damp movement (per the main adjuster setting) as the bars are turned from center to a 30 degree angle. After 30 degrees the damping effect will fade to zero as the bars reach the steering stops. On the return to center the stabilizer maintains 50% of its damping effect. This profile is ideal when the motorcycle is being ridden at high speed, typically using higher than position 6 on the main adjuster. This setting allows the rider to use the harder damper settings to eliminate high speed headshake while still finding the bike easy to control in the sand whoops commonly found in desert country.
“C” for cross-country -when this mode is selected the stabilizer will damp movement (per the main adjuster setting) as the bars are turned from center to a 30 degree angle. After 30 degrees the damping fades to zero as the bars reach the steering stops. On the return to center the stabilizer performs the same functions, but in reverse (from the steering stop the effect is zero, then it increases to 100% damping at the 30-degree angle per the main setting). This profile is ideal when the motorcycle is being ridden in rocky, rutted terrain where obstacles are trying to deflect the front wheel/wheels & the handlebars from the rider’s hands, typically found when riding cross-country.
Note: If you have a GPS mount or other gadget that mounts to the top of your stock OEM handlebar clamps... you may need to come up with an alternative method of attaching those devices. The Damper clamps and bolt spacing may be different than the stock clamps. Check the details for your bike's damper on the ordering page.
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The Ralle-Moto FAQ (frequently asked question)
