All about steering dampers

Öhlins
Knowledge Centre

Öhlins Steering Dampers

An Öhlins steering damper adds extra control to the front-end of a motorcycle, preventing undesirable and uncontrolled movements or oscillations of a motorcycle’s steering system. Sometimes referred to as a “wobble” or “tank-slapper”, these unwanted movements can cause a rider to lose control. Fitting a steering damper considerably reduces that risk, while increasing the rider’s confidence.

Öhlins Steering Damper Styles

Typical Öhlins racing style.

Blackline Öhlins custom style.

Öhlins Steering Damper Range

Öhlins provide steering dampers with a range of strokes to suit most models and an even wider range of adjustability to suit all riding styles.

Fitment Methods

How to Adjust

The adjustment knob has up to 18 different positions and counts in number of clicks from maximum hard to maximum soft position.

Set the damper to maximum hard by turning the knob clockwise until it stops.

Set the damper to 10* clicks counter clockwise towards maximum soft position.

Go for a test ride.

If your motorcycle feels unstable, turn the adjustment knob clockwise two steps at a time, until you have the performance you desire.

In urban areas it is recommended to set the steering damper to maximum soft.

How it Works

The Öhlins Steering Damper has a piston (A) that is fixed on the shaft (B) and pushes the fluid through a separate parallel passage (C) in the cylinder (D). An adjustment knob (E) located at one end of the cylinder is connected to a valve in the passage to provide a broad range of adjustment. Changes in fluid volume caused by temperature change is controlled by a pressurised reservoir (F) located at the end of the steering damper. The fluid is pressurised either by a compressed closed cell rubber foam (Fig 1), or by a spring preloaded dividing piston (Fig 2).

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