I highly recommend you read the manual that comes with the Scott's damper as far as making adjustments are concerned.
If you run the base valve too tight E.G. less than half a turn out, it can make the bike want to pivot around on the front end.
If you run the base valve at say 3 turns out, it makes the high speed circuit hyper sensitive.
I usually run mine at 1.5 turns out for tighter conditions, and 1 turn out for faster stuff like crossing valleys.
From another post I made about the Scott's damper:
Had a bit of a Eureka moment the other day with my 09...........
After I had got my suspension set up for my weight and riding conditions, I also installed a Scott's steering stabilizer at the same time.
As has been the case for my last 3 Husaberg's, I drop them off at Scott's and they make the frame bracket off of my bike-by the way the Husaberg frame bracket for the 09's forward is the highest selling bracket.
One thing I had noticed and mentioned in my earlier posts that with the suspension re do, and the stabilizer installation, the bike became super stable. So much so that I had lost some of the ultra flick ability of the bike. I was okay with this, as you don't get something for nothing, and with the suspension re do, the bike was no super stable and able to handle the conditions I ride in, which varies from high speed valley crossings and sand washes, to ultra technical rocky washes and single track.
Well, the other day I was in the garage, spending quality time with my bike and was flipping through my stabilizer owner’s manual, and began pondering the adjustable high speed circuit of the damper. The damper's high speed ckt had come set at 1 & 1/2 turns out, and the instruction manual cautioned not to mess with this until one has experience with the damper itself and since I've had it for 10 years now I felt qualified. The book says to try setting the High speed ckt at 2 turns out and then try going in 1/8th turn at a time.
It also needs mentioning here that, according to the book, that the less low speed damping you have dialed in, the more sensitive the high speed becomes.
So, with that in mind I turned the low speed knob 3 turns out-the maximum, then started playing with the high speed screw with the bike on a very stable scissor lift stand. First I tried moving the bars swiftly with the stock setting, and then opened it 1/2 turn to 2 turns out. The difference is very marked. At the same time that I would make a change to the high speed ckt, I would then try the slow speed, or base valve as it is called at different settings, from the suggested 1/2 to 1 turn out (4-8 clicks out), to my usual setting of 1 &1/2 turns out (12 clicks out). Then reset the slow speed back to 3 turns out, and then in 1/8th of a turn on the high speed, and repeat testing with the slow speed set at different settings.
If you have never tried this testing you are really missing out on the adjustability of the Scott's steering damper. The difference in feel by using the above mentioned testing is amazing.
I ended up setting my high speed ckt at 1 & 3/4 turns out, and now run the low speed at 1 to 1 & 1/2 turns out as I have always done.
The big pay off for this testing?? My bike is now like it was when it came stock, super flick able, yet the damper helps out with the no see ums.
As has been mentioned before by other folks, notably Fryguy, when talking about the difference in the bike when changing springs, small adjustments have great effect, and the steering damper is no different.
As a further note, I finally wore out a part on my 09 (other than tires) now that it has 94 hours on it. My lower shock heim joint had about 5-7mm of play in it after I finished the 6 hours of Glen Helen. So I replaced that the other day. I checked the swing arm bushings since it was off and they were all good, but, slathered some fresh grease in there any ways. CAUTION: The swing arm needle bearings are not caged, they will fall out with out the bushing in there so be careful when pulling the bushing out!!!! A good coat of grease will hold everything in place.
I'm also ending my long love affair with my beloved Pirrelli tires. The new compounds that are used in the SCMH's that replaced the MT 18's are different, and they become quite scary when they go off. I talked with Fritz, and am going to try his suggestion of Bridgestone 403 front and 404 rear. I'll let you know how that turns out.
Starting to get pumped about the Idaho City 100, hopefully going to make it both days this year and finish on bronze at least!!!
