Ralle-Moto Damper FAQ

Steering Dampers

My bike doesn’t headshake. Why would I need a steering damper?

Isn't a steering damper just more expensive "farkle" for riders with too much money?

What damper settings do you recommend?

I 've put the damper on my bike and I'm not sure whether it makes any difference.

Do I need time to get used to the damper before I go on a long ride or race?

Do I need a dealer or mechanic to install this unit?

Where is it made?

My bike doesn’t headshake? Why would I need a steering damper?

That’s great that your bike doesn't headshake (also called a tank slapper). But controlling headshake is only a secondary aspect of what the steering damper does. Yes, it fixes any headshake issues you might have, but the main benefit is that it dramatically reduces that unsettling feeling of weaving when you hit a stretch of sand, loose gravel, or mud.

Weaving usually happens when the bike is loaded with gear. The rider unexpectedly gets into a section that's rough, or soft, or rutted. The bike becomes unstable because traction is limited and because the front tire is "hunting" or tracking on a different line than the rear tire. The bike starts to weave and becomes unstable. Many riders describe the sensation as though there was a hinge in the middle of the frame. When this weaving occurs, the rider's natural reaction is to slow down, which only makes the problem worse because the tires sink in and a tumble usually results. The best way to get out of that dangerous condition is to go a bit faster and get on top of the unstable surface, using a slight application of throttle. But those faster speeds require more upper body strength because the front wheel requires more physical effort to keep it going in a straight line. The rider quickly becomes fatigued. 

Enter the steering damper... it excels at keeping the wheel pointed where you want it. A steering damper is like having an extra set of arms that never get tired. You'll get the bike through the difficult section, at a high enough speed to keep the bike stable, while still maintaining control. 

Steering dampers are a great tool for eliminating front wheel deflection because they prevent unexpected side-to-side movement. Every road and trail has unseen potholes, ruts, etc. Good riders are always watching for those hidden obstacles, avoiding them whenever possible. The damper will help keep your bike tracking straight ahead even if your tire hits something your eyes couldn’t see!

Isn't a steering damper just more expensive "farkle" for riders with too much money?

NO! It's easy to make fun of riders who spend large sums of money on "farkles", in an effort to compensate for their lack of riding skill. But no one would question a rider's decision to invest in a quality set of aftermarket shocks, even when their OEM shocks are brand new.  The merits of aftermarket shocks are unquestioned; they always out-perform the manufacturer's shocks.    

One rider wrote this, "A Ralle-Moto damper doesn't qualify as a "farkle", anymore than a set of TKC80 tires are considered "farkles".  Well said. We concur.

Steering dampers have been around for years. Road racers use them, motocrossers use them, desert racers use them. Nobody questions the benefits of steering dampers for those applications.  But until Ralle-Moto came along, nobody made a damper for large-bore dual-purpose motorcycles.  Sure, there's a bit of resistance to any new idea, and a steering damper on a big GS is definitely a new idea.  But it's an idea whose time has come.

Unnecessary bling? useless farkel?  Nope.  Advancing technology, yes. 

What damper settings do we recommend?

There is no specific or universally recommended setting. Dampers are designed to give you a choice about the setting you prefer, based on your bike, your riding style, the terrain, etc.  What may be a perfect setup one day, can be improved with another setting the next day. 

The Ralle-Moto damper has two adjustment knobs: 

1.) Main Adjuster controls the amount of front wheel deflection from a straight ahead position

When the Ralle-Moto steering damper was being developed they gave prototypes to a range of riders for beta testing, including Australian champions, clubman riders, weekend warriors, and adventure distance riders. The riders covered a variety of terrains and their feedback was consistent: most used the Main Adjuster setting between #2 - #6 for general riding, and #6 and higher for high speed sandy desert type riding.

These settings are only a loose guideline because of the variables in bikes, terrain and rider skill levels. We encourage you to experiment with settings that suit you as an individual. (On a personal note, Mr. BestRest usually sets his F800GS damper at C-5).

I've put the damper on my bike and I’m not sure whether it makes any difference.

The best way to test and see if the damper is making any difference, is to turn the damper "off".  You can do this by setting the Main Adjuster to 1, and the R-T-C to M.  Then take the bike out and ride over the same terrain again. When this has been tried, 100% of the time the rider's feedback has been positive. The rider exclaims how well it works and says something like, “I'll never ride without one again”.  Once you've gotten used to having a damper, it's really difficult to ride a bike without one. You get spoiled.

The secret to using the steering damper effectively is to have it setup so you hardly notice it when it's working. But you can be confident that when you hit an unexpected obstacle with the front wheel, the damper will kick in and "save your bacon".  Bring a frying pan, you'll be doing a lot of cooking.

Do I need time time to get used to the Damper, before I go on a long ride or race?

No you don’t. If you have time to play with the Damper and sort out the best settings before you go on your ride, great.  But if you don't then set the Main Knob on 4, and the RTC on D.  As you ride, adjust the unit for higher or lower damping strength.

The only thing you'll really need to get used to is how well the Damper works and how happy you'll be with your investment.

Do I need a dealer or mechanic to install this unit?

Maybe, Maybe Not. We've had customers describe the installation process as quick and easy, others had more difficulty, but they still finished the project. We've also had customers who tried to install the damper and found it beyond their abilities, so they took it to the shop. A lot depends on your mechanical comfort level, your tools, and your buddies.  A friend always makes a project go quicker and easier.

The F800GS is pretty easy to install; it took Mr. BestRest an hour and 10 minutes in his garage. On the R1200GS-A Heavy Duty version there's technical step involving the pressing of bushings; that kit took one customer 5 hours. Another customer took the same kit to a BMW dealer; their technician took even longer.  Each kit is different, each mechanic is different. But as a general statement, all kits can be installed in your own garage.

BestRest will provide phone or email assistance if needed.  When the installation process goes beyond our comfort level, we'll arrange for you to receive email or phone assistance directly from Ralle-Moto Australia. 

Where is it made?

Ralle-Moto dampers are in Australia. That's Downunder, Mate. The products were designed and developed by Mark and Vaughan Cumming. Ralle-Moto doesn't send their manufacturing to cheaper offshore suppliers, which is why their pricing reflects the Australian workplace and lifestyle.  No worries, you'll get your money's worth.. and then some.

We'll provide more FAQs as they're released.