Steering dampers are factory installed on some high-end sport motorcycles and fitted to most contemporary racing bikes to counter these behaviours. … A damper helps keep the bike tracking straight over difficult terrain such as ruts, rocks, and sand, and also smooths out jolts through the handlebars at the end of jumps.

Is a steering damper necessary motorcycle?

Not everyone needs a steering damper. There are many situations that can be improved by adding one to your motorcycle. Riding rough terrain, whether asphalt or off road, can be helped with a stabilizer. Allowing the damper device to absorb those constant bar movements reduces rider fatigue and increases safety.

What happens when a steering damper goes bad?

When the steering stabilizer stop is broken, the suspension will be looser than usual which typically causes a shaking motion in the steering wheel. However, this problem can also cause the steering to feel choppy or bumpy when you’re driving.