The damping of the steering...
With the bike on it's original 2V engine I had it set up the way I like it for steering but this meant the front end got a bit flighty when hard on the gas. It got a bit slappy when the front end was light and there were bumps in the road or the front wheel wasn't perfectly straight. With nigh on double the power I felt some form of steering damper was going to be essential if I didn't want to be flung off the bike.
There were a limited number of Ducati Performance branded steering damper kits sold for the original 1000DS 'strada. But I discounted using one of these, even if I could find one as they were long out of production, as it uses the handle bar clamps to mount the damper - 916 style across the front of the tank - and, unlike the 1000DS's solid mounted bars, the 1100S uses rubber mounted bars.
I had a look at trying to mount a more conventionally operated side mounted damper but there just wasn't the space available, particularly with my new huge radiator fitted. A rotary damper, like a Scotts or Ohlins, was also considered but would have needed a new top yoke with wider spaced bar clamps and I couldn't see how to create the mounting on the frame for the actuating arm.
However, I was up at Cornerspeed and whilst idly browsing the variety of machines in for work I noticed a very nice Monster 1200 that had a steering damper fitted in exactly the same manner as 1000DS kit AND it had rubber mounted bars. A quick chat with Nelly confirmed it was an official Ducati fitment so the Ducati Performance 1000DS damper was an option.
I posted on Multistrada.net, asking if anyone had one for sale or could point me in the right direction of one. Fuck me! You'd thought I'd have asked for directions to the granny's house as I wanted to rape her!
Got called every name under the sun, told I must have a problem with the bike/tyres/tyre pressure, was doing everything in my life wrong, was an abject failure etc. as the 'strada doesn't, no way no how, no sireee, not ever, need a steering damper. I tried to point out that I did know what I was doing and it was for a bike that was far from standard, to no avail. Apart from one member who said he had one, unused and never fitted, that he'd sell me.
Money duly changed hand and it arrived. The damper needed a service as it was full of air. The damper itself is made for Ducati by an Italian company called FG Gubellini (no, I'd never heard of them either...). I tried all the usual suspects in the UK, MCT/Ktech/Kais/100% etc., and none of them worked on them so I resigned myself to having to try and deal with FG Gubellini direct. Well, that was a pleasant surprise. Prompt reply to email enquiry, posted to Italy, email acknowledging arrival, email update on workshop investigation, invoice, receipt, despatch note and back 3 weeks later.
Because the 1100S has the previously mentioned rubber mounted bar clamps the bars are higher, in relation to the frame, so the damper is also when fitted...
...which pushes the whole set up backwards and it fouls the front of the petrol tank....
So it's a good job I'm hand making a custom aluminium tank that can be modified at the front to clear the steering damper isn't it?
Well, that's what I tell myself as I lie in bed at night, sobbing and unable to sleep, as I think about what the fuel tank has cost me in time, money and sanity....
