Mass Damper Curious? Da Bomb Adds Dampers for MTB & Gravel to Your Steerer

Mass dampers aren’t essentially new. Properly, on this planet of mountain biking, sure, extra so. However mass dampers have been utilized in buildings, bridges, and even automobiles and bikes for fairly some time.

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So, what’s a mass damper doing? I’m definitely not an engineer, however the easiest rationalization is that they assist with vibration damping. My apologies for utilizing part of the title within the definition. Primarily, a weight is suspended between two springs, and this sprung mass (actually) absorbs vibrations.

As you may think about, this implies much less vibration transferred to the rider.

What’s the rub? Properly, we have already got fairly a couple of issues serving to to soak up vibrations. First, and sure the obvious, is suspension, however there are additionally different gadgets we don’t consider, such because the deformation of our tires. Even parts just like the wheels, handlebars, and body assist damp vibrations.

So, numerous dampers on our mountain bikes. And, for good purpose, as these assist present traction and luxury over tough terrain.

So why not add extra? Try Da Bomb’s video of their damper in motion on their Fb web page.

Da Bomb has two mass dampers to select from, all of which match trendy 1 ⅛” steerer tubes. They’ve the choice of a barely smaller, lighter damper for gravel, XC, and path using, in addition to a damper for enduro and DH.

Da Bomb enduro dh damper — Enduro/DH damper (left) & Gravel/XC/Path damper (proper). Photograph cred: Da Bomb

Da Bomb gravel xc trail damper — Enduro/DH damper (left) & Gravel/XC/Path damper (proper). Photograph cred: Da Bomb

The enduro/DH damper is 20mm taller and 25g heavier.

Not like different mass dampers, equivalent to Rimpact’s, which lives contained in the steerer tube, Da Bomb’s mount externally. Da Bomb has a few bracket choices, together with one for a dual-crown fork and a gravel seatpost. Each dampers ship with Da Bomb’s V1 bracket for single-crown forks.

Whereas they don’t listing the value on their web site, I’ve seen the value of $120 bouncing round for Da Bomb’s dampers. In addition they have fairly a couple of different parts, and even frames, on the market.

So, do we’d like mass dampers? Properly, they definitely add weight, albeit lower than a pound. The enduro/DH damper weighs 303g, whereas the gravel/XC/path damper is 278g. Not an excessive amount of of a problem, however will they make you go quicker?

Truthfully, we don’t know. Possibly we’ll need to get one in for some timed laps…preserve a watch out for a future put up.