I first became aware of Cane Creek’s ViscoSet steering damper from Rich Dillen’s Bad Idea Racing blog. Little did I know, this little wonder unit was designed to solve an E bike steering oscillation problem, mainly because Mr. Dillen failed to reveal or either overlooked that fact. Cane Creek’s website explained its intended function and makes no mention of mountain bikes nor trail riding use. Since I do not yet own a battery operated motor bicycle, the ViscoSet wouldn’t solve its prime directive for my intended uses. But it does provide an appealing alternative interpretation as a simple, elegant and incredibly easy way to improve steering stability when the trail gets lumpy.
To hare scramble motorcycle racers, a steering damper is practically requisite gear right alongside fresh knobs and tear off goggles. Motorcycles have inherently more steering stability than a mountain bike without any damper, so added performance improvement must surely be significant for the woods motorcyclist. A bicycle, with its much lighter, twitchier steering box seems a logical candidate for added control and safety provided by a damper.
To hare scramble motorcycle racers, a steering damper is practically requisite gear right alongside fresh knobs and tear off goggles. Motorcycles have inherently more steering stability than a mountain bike without any damper, so added performance improvement must surely be significant for the woods motorcyclist. A bicycle, with its much lighter, twitchier steering box seems a logical candidate for added control and safety provided by a damper.
The ViscoSet appears identical to any usual upper headset bit with just a tad more stack height and a smidge more weight. Installation is also the same as your current headset. Concealed within a sealed chamber are inter-leaved plates smeared with fluorocarbon gel which provide viscous damping friction, and in turn leavens wobbles and nasty oscillation. These plates can be re-stacked to increase or decrease damping, although I have yet to fumble about with that, choosing the factory setup since I installed the unit in April. I figured Cane Creek had that part well sorted by the time I came along.
Turning the bars while stopped, a damping resistance is felt, but does not bind unpleasantly like an overtight headset. Just smooth, yet slower turning. Out on the trail, no notice of any unpleasant steering restrictions, but the benefits are clearly apparent. Riding rock gardens and ruts, steering is steadier and a degree safer. Railing turns becomes a noticeable, more confident maneuver.
So for $80 and a more stable ride, is a Cane Creek a good investment for the trail rider looking for a degree of steering stability? I’m not taking mine off, even if it was designed for the battery motor bicycle I do not own. It works quite nicely on my trail bike, thank you.