Bitubo steering damper question

[Slavomir Musilek (R.I.P.)]

This may be the best alternative I've seen so far, Slavomir! Do you (or anyone here) have personal experience from it? Or know anyone that has?

 

 

well, I have tried this damper around 100km more or less. Quite nice as far as I can tell. But you know, I am sorta of "wannaberacing" kind.

[GuzziMoto]

Scary thing, dredging up old threads!

 

At around 67,000 miles my Bitubo has spit up its oil. With a properly set-up suspension (springs, sag, Ohlins rear, and such) I decided to just take the oil out. It still actually 'damps' when cranked way up, but at the least settings, there is no resistance and low speed parking turns are completely unrestricted. I'm really not sure if that's a good thing . . .

 

Yet, I hear there have been plenty of early Red Frames stripped of their dampers entirely.

 

Anyone lived to tell about it?

There are a few people who have completely removed their steering dampers. I have yet to hear of anyone having a problem due to this course of action. My wifes V11 (a red frame) has spent the majority of it's 40k+ mile life without one and that includes racing it. Guzzis have pretty relaxed steering geometry, even the red frame ones, and the steering damper is more for show and possibly feel (it will make your Guzzi feel more stable at the expense of steering effort/speed)

The one thing I would not do is run a damper that is not right (i.e. no oil). My fear would be that if the damper locks up or develops binding that could cause a problem. I would either replace it or take it off.

[docc]

While there is another thread on the beastly nature of RedFrames and their possible possession by Vampirettes waiting to feast upon your inattention, I've decided not to run the Bitubo with no oil. Thanks for the reasoned replies and links.

While the final fitment is pending, I've hung the Shindy. It is nicely made and works quite well (not that I would know if it didn't! ).

The body measures 4 mm shorter while the rod is 3 mm longer. The result is that the steering travels all the way from lock to lock without bottoming the damper. The Bitubo requires careful centering of the body to avoid a limited travel one way or the other.

[GuzziMoto]

I had a Shindy a long time ago. They may not be made the same now, but mine was okay for what it cost. The extra travel was why I picked it as well. Do you keep your bike inside (garage, shed)? That was one negative I remember was that it rusted a little on the shaft. Of course that was a long time ago and may not be an issue anymore.

I am a firm believer in testing how the damper feels as you stroke it thru its travel. I used to compare dampers that I was considering buying by their action. It needs to be smooth and should not bind. When it begins to move it must not require extra effort to start it moving then less effort to keep it moving. I know this may sound obvious, but I have seen plenty of dampers that did not pass this test.

[docc]

I do keep the Sport in the garage. Unless I'm riding it. And then, anything goes and that damper in out in the wind, so to speak. I'll keep after its finish. Thanks for the heads up!

I've done the final fitment and must say, this thing is much tighter than the Bitubo which always rattled about on its Heim joints. Clearance is tight, but the proper application of washers and spacers makes me confident of the installation.

[Guest ratchethack]

Nicely done, Docc.

[dlaing]

Nicely done, Docc.

[Tom M]

I've done the final fitment and must say, this thing is much tighter than the Bitubo which always rattled about on its Heim joints. Clearance is tight, but the proper application of washers and spacers makes me confident of the installation.

 

I've had the same damper on my bike since the Spring and I have no problems with it. I think you will find that the Shindy doesn't provide as much damping as the Bitubo did at the stiffest setting. That's not an issue for me, but it might be for someone who uses a lot of damping.

[docc]

I'm running the Shindy 2 clicks (of 6 total) in from soft. I had always left the Bitubo all the way out unless the front tire needed changing (then 3 clicks of 19 total)

 

Perhaps the original had more adaptability. Though "6 clicks" makes a lot more sense to me than nineteen !

[luhbo]

Docc,

 

do you remember for what bike your stabiliser was meant? I'm thinking of buying one, but measuring it over the net is a bit problematic They can't be as bad as what they're cheap.

 

My Bitubo gave up after 90.000 km, so I cannot say the Bitubo is a shity thing, btw.

 

Hubert

[docc]

Docc,

 

do you remember for what bike your stabiliser was meant? I'm thinking of buying one, but measuring it over the net is a bit problematic They can't be as bad as what they're cheap.

 

My Bitubo gave up after 90.000 km, so I cannot say the Bitubo is a shity thing, btw.

 

Hubert

 

The Shindy is aftermarket, I believe) it came from Greg at Moto International, part number PUD17-001.

 

Be sure to say you have a RedFrame as the fitment may be specialized.

[Tom M]

Docc,

 

do you remember for what bike your stabiliser was meant? I'm thinking of buying one, but measuring it over the net is a bit problematic They can't be as bad as what they're cheap.

 

My Bitubo gave up after 90.000 km, so I cannot say the Bitubo is a shity thing, btw.

 

Hubert

 

Measurements for the Bitubo and the Shindy are in this thread:

http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.php?...5&hl=Shindy

[luhbo]

THX for your quick input.

 

I was explicitely asking for the type of it because most retailers sell them only described as "Honda VFR" or whatever Jap bike people want to pimp. No hint about the stroke in these cases. In the meantime I've found a shop that's selling LSLs for 135,- Euros, so my question from above has become a bit pointless. Sorry.

 

I measured my Bitubo and found the necessary stroke being something around 65 mm.

Before I tried to refill it, with no real success alas. It's not too difficult to open, the tricky thing is to find the correct amount of oil to be put in. A drop to much and it becomes sticky, one too less and it's burpy again. In my eyes it really makes no sense to do this if you don't have the possibility to refill the nitro cushion. As soon as this unit is anything less but perfectly smooth your cornering is spoiled. That's my experience. In this case you better go without these 400gr of now silly balast only.

 

THX, Hubert

[raz]

Who sells the LSLs at that price? What LSL model fits our bikes?

[luhbo]

Who sells the LSLs at that price? What LSL model fits our bikes?

 

SD. I took the 70mm version, because my bike needs only 65mm. The next length they sell is 120. Check their shop using "Lenkungsdämpfer". This shop is piss, by the way, "LSL" for instance will give you 0 results.

 

 

The distance at the blue arrow is longer, so you might have to modifiy the lever length at the orange arrow.

 

Hubert