I keep going back and forth on whether or not I should put a steering dampener on my 696.  I have not had a situation where I felt I needed one, but I have seen some guys who should have had one and didn't!     I don't want to end up in their boat. 

I do take my 696 to the track.  I'm fairly slow, but I'm very new to track riding and am always working to get faster and smoother. 

$500-$700 is sort of a lot to spend on something that may not help me, but at the same time, it's very cheap insurance if it ends up saving me from tank slapping. 

Just looking for some input from the massive experience here.  thanks!

Well, how about spending the money on your suspension if you're not hot on the need for a damper? Having properly tuned suspension can lower the instance when one might need a damper and it's an all around benefit.

I agree and that's also on the list.  My hold up with suspension is the front.  I'm pretty sure I'd do the Ohlins rear shock, but I don't know what I'd do, or even can do, on the front of the 696.  ...and I assume I'd really need to do both the front and the rear at the same time. 

For max benefit yes, both. But if you got the better shock and had both set up you'd still reap benefits.

There's a few options for the forks - but it seems the most cost effective seems to be sourcing some used forks from an 1100 model

here's a thread discussing fork upgrades for a 696

http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=50832.0

I have a 620 racebike, I've had one and didn't.  no you don't need one.  set the suspension up, save money for track time.

I happily use a steering damper on my M695.  My suspension is also upgraded and setup.  Just the other day I passed a minivan on a mountain road in a lowish gear.  I guess I lifted the front wheel a bit and when it came down I got a very nasty, although very brief, headshake.  I suspect it could have been worse without the damper and at that particular moment I was extremely grateful to have one!  I think it's worthwhile for that rare freakish stuff.

BK

......and I think these guys had good suspension set-ups...and the guy who survived the Isle of Man wipe-out, Paul Orritt,  lived to talk about it

I am all for dampers having been in a few slappers over the years (one with my damper dialed to nil)...however they are not proper substitutes to a proper suspension set-up

they may not save you but they might just lower the number of times your ass needs saving...get one


TANKSLAPPER! MAM 6/28/10


Terrible Bike Crash

http://metrohog.com/images/20020215_NYTimes_Motorcycles.pdf

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If you go to the track, it's a really good idea.  Need?  That's a hard question.  Cuz you don't need one until you need one.   I've seen bikes pretty blow apart from a tank slapper at the track.  I've had dampers on every track bike I ever had, but didn't have one on my EX250 racebike.  I woulda put one on, but pretty much no one ever used them on 250s (and they weren't really available). I went with peer pressure .

So, if I went with a damper, which one?  GPR? Scotts? 

Had a GPR on a R6 and was verry impressed.  great customer care, product, and service on the product

What's your preference, linear or radial? Do you have a cost constraint? Do you care about fit & finish? They're a couple of good ones out there, from very expensive to less...I've heard linear is more responsive.

Do you have clip-ons? That limits your options with the linear versions, so GPR or Scotts would be the best way to go. Scotts are made with Ohlins internals, so there's quality there.

I've got a custom Ohlins linear bracket being made as we speak for my 1100s, will post when it's complete -- still some work to do on the last mounts.

Good luck!

i feel like the guy in that first video doomed himself. he should have felt that instability and slowed down a good while before the actual tankslapper happened... you could see the headshake coming but he just kept powering through it... seems like the ONE situation where rolling off was probably more appropriate...

My Ohlins bracket is finally complete, check it out and tell me what you think!

http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=50767.msg941846#msg941846