Canyon K.I.S. self-centring steering doohicky

So basically a MTB version of a steering damper… wow…

So basically a MTB version of a steering damper… wow…

That was my first thought, but it doesn’t seem to be, just for centering the steering rather than preventing tank-slappers . No damper, other than the opposing spring. What a bizarre product.

I can ride no handed better on my gravel and road bike than on my MTB. I asume this is for people who have the same issue?…

Gut reaction is that this is a solution to a problem that doesnt exist, but willing to be proven wrong, would like a go on one to see what its like.

Looks like an integrated deflopilator to me!

Yuba Accessories: Deflopilator

I would hope that it adds the stability (and confidence) of a slacker head angle without the long wheelbase and wheel flop that come with it conventionally?

Maybe. I don’t understand 2 wheeled dynamics enough to be sure, I struggle enough with trail.

I’m not convinced, riding a bike no-handed isn’t down to the front wheel staying pointing ahead, it’s because when the bike starts to fall over, the steering geometry self corrects. It leans left, the wheel turns left harder, centripetal force pushes the bike back upright and probably over center, and the process repeats to the right.

Real world example most people will have tried at some point, riding on skinny woodwork, it’s hard because you can only balance by adjusting your COG manually side to side which is really unnatural.

So this makes sense,

Even the brief first try reviews seem to be confused – requires a complete rethink on how you ride your bike etc.

It’s not making you more stable, it’s stopping the bars from turning, and it’s the bars turning which usually provides stability.

Ive never ever been on my bike and wished the steering would do anything other than what my weight or hands told it to.

I have a lot of respect for Liteville/Syntace (certainly more than Canyon) so I will be interested to see how this goes.

I love the fact that they called it KIS.
Keep It Simple Stupid – don’t add unnecessary complexity to anything! That includes springs that are trying to straighten out your steering.
Has anyone had a go at seeing it would feel like by attaching a bungees to your seatpost and putting one to each side of your handlebars?

Has anyone had a go at seeing it would feel like by attaching a bungees to your seatpost and putting one to each side of your handlebars?

No, but as a kid I had a go at seeing what it would feel like if I swapped my hands over on the handlebars. That ended quickly, and not well…

I just want to acknowledge the amazing name Deflopilator! never heard that before and it’s a brilliant word!

@Horatio. Does that work on us guys? Asking for a friend…..

I just want to quote most of the replies so far and write this beneath them.

Ive never ever been on my bike and wished the steering would do anything other than what my weight or hands told it to.

I was going to type this. No idea what the thing is actually for.

A mate had a Hopey steering damper BITD.
It was very difficult to ride no handed with it.

I’ve had a few hours to think about this… I imagine that in terms of ride it will feel at most times like a bike with more trail, that is a bike with a shorter offset fork, but without the wheel flop issues.
This will not be true when riding not hands.

What happens if I change forks on a bike with integrated deflopilator equipped bike?

I’m guessing it’s built into a headset component somehow, like a steerer spacer that extends through the bearing? So dropping the forks out would be relatively simple?

A mate had a Hopey steering damper BITD.
It was very difficult to ride no handed with it.

I still think it’s not a damper. but the problem trying to ride no handed would be the same.

A damper holds the wheel straight when you get pinged by a rock at speed which might be enough to knacker your wrist in a 4×4. Or to dampen oscillations on motorbike, all bikes oscillate, it’s mostly how they stay upright, but a 200kg motorbike is harder to control them than a 10kg MTB if they build up rather than dampen down.

I imagine that in terms of ride it will feel at most times like a bike with more trail, that is a bike with a shorter offset fork, but without the wheel flop issues.

That’s what I was thinking. In my mind it’s not a problem that needs solving, but it could be the innovation that allows something else (either zero offset forks, or massive offset I couldn’t quite decide). This + more inherent ‘flop’ probably allows some other part of the geometry to be changed for the better which would be the real reason to do it.

I’m guessing it’s built into a headset component somehow, like a steerer spacer that extends through the bearing?

Clamp-on section on the steerer, under the upper bearing?

Deflopilators (great name) and the like usually are just a spring that connects a bolt in the fork crown where a guard bracket would go, and an anchor point under the down tube. If you have a bike with a crudcatchcher boss on the DT and a trad type of fork crown you could fit one, or make something similar.
This one has a band-on fitting

No riding impressions from the mag seems to indicate STW were not invited out to the press launch? Weird? Or maybe they are still writing up an article…

Anyway, a fairly decent write up on NSMB.com (invited out from BC to France for the press launch!) but they are reporting this as a €400 option. Ouch!

I’m not in the market for a new bike currently but I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be splurging €400 extra on any bike just for this (and certainly not without a proper back-to-back test ride).

Canyon/Liteville have a one year exclusivity deal but it can be licensed by other manufacturers after that deal expires, so expect more bikes to have in future (unless it flops*, of course)

*Boom boom