Scotts Sub Mount Steering Damper Install

I just got back from my first ride with installed sub-mount damper installed. Rode some technical rocky sections, it really shines there! Also noticed it on some high speed fire road riding, the front end seems much more stable and planted. I was a little skeptical at first, but I am a convert now. i will update as i gain more experience dialing in this new toy.

As for the install, it had a few hiccups. Scotts provides a new upper triple clamp nut, but I found I still didn't have clearance between it and the damper control arm. So I fabricated a couple aluminum risers and placed them under the Scotts riser/damper mount. This was still not quite enough clearance so i placed washers between the Scotts damper mount and the damper itself. This finally gave me the room needed. I was still able to mount the handlebars in the 3 position, with just enough clearance between the damper and lower handle bar mount.
In order to install the bolt-on collar I had to remove the upper triple clamp, so I replaced the headrace bearings and greased everything up while I was in there. I found replacement bearings at a local auto parts store (Lordco) for $10 a piece.
Regards,
Aaron

Thanks for the nice writeup and photo. As to the steering head bearing, I found that they are identical to a trailer wheel bearing, available at any auto store for cheap.

Sorry to hear that you had drama installing the under bar mount set up on your bike.

I helped them do the beta work on that set up in that I found that the steering stem nut from my 2001 solved the problem. Which by the way is just an old Husky steering stem nut.

That nut was all that was needed for my installation, I have some pic's but have not got around to posting them. I helped Cheeseberger get his set up, but, he had to place some washers between the damper and the sub mount bracket as you did. However, he did not need the spacers that you did.

The main problem is that, as far as I know, this sub mount is designed for a KTM. The KTM steering head uses a female threaded stem and the nut is similar to the front axle nut on my 2004, so the profile is very low. Since they sell so few Husaberg sub mounts I don't think they are going to make a special part for them. However, I will talk with Steve at Scott's and let him know that the problem still exsits and perhaps their machinist can make it a bit taller. I don't imgaine it would be too hard with a CNC set up. Did you call them and let them know you had this problem? Either way I will bring it to their attention. They are a great bunch of guys over there, so I'm sure they will want to come up with a solution for the future.

I'm glad you are liking the steering stabilizer itself, they definitely work great. I have been running one since 96 or 97, the same one in fact. Just change the oil once and a great while.

I played around with the settings and here is what I found works for me in the so cal desert. First of all give the manual a good read so you understand all of the adjustments available to you. On High speed adjuster, I found that the stock or bench setting as delivered is the best. On the low speed adjuster, the one with the knob, I run 1 & 1/2 turns out for tighter sections and decrease that to 1 turn out for high speed valley crossings. Any more than that, and I have found I find that it slightly impedes me. Remember the less damping you have on the LOW speed adjuster, IE more turns OUT. The more effective the high speed circuit is.

In fact when I am riding in the forest, I usually leave the SLOW speed adjuster at 3 turns out which is maximum.

The best thing about the Scott's damper is that it only dampens from the center out, but does not dampen from full lock to center, and the range or degree of damping is adjustable as well. This is where the "other" dampers on the market are different, they dampen from center out and back again, which in my opinion is not desirable.

Good idea about talking to Scotts. I wasn't sure if my bike was just an anomoly or if they are still workin the bugs out of the Husaberg-specific sub-mount. Either way, a revised mounting bracket would solve my problem. About 8-10mm taller and it's a bolt on kit, instead of a figure-out-you-own-way kit.

I figured out why you had the problems that you did, and why I didn't. I have put a pic here of my set up, although it's not nearly as clear as yours, I think that you will be able to see that the steering head bearing adjuster on my bike has a ridge on it that sticks up a few millimeters. The end result is that with the top clamp nut that Scott's sent you, there would not be any threads showing above it.

I checked the part numbers between the 03 and 04 bikes for the steering heading bearing adjuster, and they are two different numbers in that, that is when the husaberg numbering system was changed over to the KTM style numbering system.

I also believe that this was done so that the old style nut could be done away with, as my top clamp nut was what I call a crown nut. It looks the same as the one on my rear axle, looks to be the same on the KTM's as well. The newer style steering head adjuster like mine has a shortl ridge or shoulder, that faces down and contacts the top steering head bearing and has an outside diameter just slightly smaller than the hole in the bearing dust cap so that the adjuster contacts the inner race of the top bearing while keeping the dust cap centered. While the top ridge or shoulder that I mentioned before is a bit taller to keep it from bottoming in the newer style top clamp nut.

It looks to me that what Scott's needs to do is include a few washers with the inside diameter just slightly bigger than the steering stem itself, to place between the top clamp and the bearing adjuster, so that the height of the top clamp could be adjusted so that once the top clamp nut is tightened the end of the steering stem would be just flush with the new top clamp nut that is supplied with the kit. Even then, it is a really close fit. Or I suppose, they could just include a few little blocks like you have put in to raise the sub mount enough to gain the clearance needed.

In light of this information, and in Scott's defense, as we all know things change from year to year on the HBG's, and their set up was based on my 2004. I will talk with them about it. Like I said in my previous post, it's a KTM top clamp, but the KTM's use a different bearing adjustment set up. Their top clamp bolt is used to adjust the bearing tension, and they use a pinch bolt on the top clamp to hold this bolt in place.

Interesting. I hope Scotts puts you on the payroll for your leg work. In the instuctions from Scotts, there is pictures of the steering shaft nut flush with the top of the threads as you described. I was concerned that mabey my steering shaft was damaged, so I pulled the bottom triple to check it out. It all looked good, so I went on with the install, just figured Scotts was using an old bike for the picture or something. Washers are a good idea, though I would prefer a milled mount that was just taller. Either way, great work DaleEO. I'm sure our discussion will be helpful for future installs.
Aaron.

The pics you saw in the instructions were of my bike. I had left it over there for a few days for them to use. I haven't seen the instructions you are talking about, but, I let them use my 01 501 for the original top mount too.

Thanks for the nice comments.

They take good care of me at Scott's, a great bunch of guys.

I got the brp kit. I was originally after the flex mount but they checked and confirmed that it wouldn't fit the 07, so the standard Berg kit was supplied and fitted fine.

http://www.husaberg.org/index.php?set_a ... _photo.php

The Scotts damper is the way to go, the high speed facility is the killer.

Steve

steve said:

I got the brp kit. I was originally after the flex mount but they checked and confirmed that it wouldn't fit the 07, so the standard Berg kit was supplied and fitted fine.

Steve

Click to expand...

Hi Steve, where did you get the BRP kit from ? I need to get one for my '07 asap so I can sub mount my Scotts also.

What do you mean by flex mount ?

Cheers

We just cut the top of the nut off.

Hi Gazza,

I got the BRP kit from BRP, http://www.brpit.com/ I meant to say flexible BAR mount, which they do for pre 07, but the new triple clamps are unsuitable for some reason.

I've also had good service from pro-tect, http://www.ptenduro.com/index.html Pete there was very efficient making a great billet mount based on my sketch for the 501 as nothing was available off the shelf and it was about AU$140 landed. Pics in my gallery.

Had no problems at all getting stuff from the US, all turned up in a week or so. On line cc with scotts, phone call with cc to brp.

Steve

Steve, is yours the 1" or 1.5" riser ?? did you have any problems clearing the steering head stem nut ?

Gazza,

I think its about 25mm, so 1". They supplied an alternate nut and there was about 1 mm clearance to the head stem. I found a rubber grommment lying around that I put in it to keep any crap out. It all bolted up without a problem. I also got a KTM bar riser kit from Ballards to experiment with and it all goes together fine, although with the higher reikon bars I ended up not using it.

Steve

dirtrider imports from tassie are selling these dampers for $660au complete kit you can also get the mounting kits seperatly .is this a good price for one of these units? cheers flatchat

Doesn't sound too bad, log on to Scotts and do the comparison. Terry Hay's Racetech is the official importer and they charge closer to $900, but I haven't priced one for a while.

Steve

flatchat said:

dirtrider imports from tassie are selling these dampers for $660au complete kit you can also get the mounting kits seperatly .is this a good price for one of these units? cheers flatchat

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Hi do you have a contact number for DirtRider ?? I cant find them on the web or in whitepages ? Thanks

Hi Gazza,
Great name, you must be a good bloke !!!
I have John Prior (Orangeberg) at Orange KTM/Husaberg getting me a Scotts sub mount kit after riding Steve's bike at Louee. I had a MSC damper on and the Scotts with it's separate high speed circuit is definitely the go. I think John is sussing out being an importer for them. $660au sounds around the money. Give him a call on 0263603800 and see what he can do for you, and ask him how long till mine turns up !!!!

Cheers
Garry.

hey gazza try www.dirtrider imports.com. cheers flatchat

Just installed a Scotts damper on my 08 550 and ran into the same problems. Ended up using 5mm spacers under the triple clamp mount and small washers between damper and clamp. Now the damper just clears the triple clamp nut.

The kit did not come with a new triple clamp nut, and the bracket around the steering stem is awfully hard to get tight, almost like it is for a different bike. It is way thinner than the one on DaleEO's picture, too, but looks similiar to the pictures on the Scotts instructions.

Any ideas how to get rid of the slight movement between steering stem and bracket?

flo_w said:

Just installed a Scotts damper on my 08 550 and ran into the same problems. Ended up using 5mm spacers under the triple clamp mount and small washers between damper and clamp. Now the damper just clears the triple clamp nut.

The kit did not come with a new triple clamp nut, and the bracket around the steering stem is awfully hard to get tight, almost like it is for a different bike. It is way thinner than the one on DaleEO's picture, too, but looks similiar to the pictures on the Scotts instructions.

Any ideas how to get rid of the slight movement between steering stem and bracket?

Click to expand...

Unless I am mistaken, your kit should have come with a new stem nut that is much lower in profile than the stocker.

Give them a call on Monday and I'm sure they will fix you up. You'll want to talk with Steve, or Eric. 818-248-bike