Steering damper

Sport bikes have a short wheelbase and an aggressive steering geometry to provide the ability to make very quick changes in direction.

This has the harmful side-effect of making the bike less stable, more prone to feedback from uneven road surfaces, and more difficult to control.

Steering dampers are factory installed on most sport motorcycles as well as contemporary racing bikes to counter these behaviors.

[2] 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.

In some jurisdictions, the installation and operation of a steering damper must be inspected by an expert or examiner and must be entered in the vehicle papers.