steering stabilizer

[roadracekid]

i was wondering everyones opioion on how well do these things work and do they help head shake alot? thanks

[tstruyk]

use a GPR on my R6... out of 8 or 10 or whatever I set it at one higher than the lowest setting... no issues.

Mark and Kyles RoadRacePrep.com  SV didnt have one... never an issue

[Fast4fun]

I will NEVER ride without one again. My first tank slapper tossed me at 60-70mph. My next bike came with a stock damper and it wasn't up to the task of racing and tossed me off the track at Gingerman. I've been running a GPR ever since, or two full seasons, without a single hint of trouble. But my experience may be unique. I'd be interested to hear what others think.

Now what can be done for highsides!? Or even lowsides, since we're on the subject!?

[tug296]

Don't leave home without one.

[RoyHefner]

It depends on the bike and it's steering geometry.  I raced an SV650 last season.  I had a damper on it, but kept it at a low setting.  I also raced someone else's SV that had no steering damper, and had no problems.  I've also raced a Ducati Monster that had no damper on it, and again had no problems.

My Triumph Daytona 675 (same as Fast4fun), on the other hand, is a different story. As he mentioned, even with the stock damper, which was mostly ineffectual, that bike is prone to tank slappers.  I've been in several lock-to-lock tank slappers on mine, and although I was always able to hold on (although not necessarily staying on track), they're not a lot of fun!  After fitting a much better quality aftermarket damper, though, I haven't had another one.  Not to say that it's not possible even with the best damper, but it's certainly less of an issue.

Overall, I'd say you can't go wrong by having a good quality steering damper on your bike.  Some bikes will be rideable without one, but if your bike has an aggressive steering geometry (steep rake, little trail), then I'd say a damper is practically a necessity for racing.

[Super Dave]

Some bikes will be rideable without one, but if your bike has an aggressive steering geometry (steep rake, little trail), then I'd say a damper is practically a necessity for racing.

Well, I did fine on my Buell without one.  Need to go faster though.  But the Buell has radical geometry up front. 

Really, it goes back to set up.  If the chassis is jacked, it's gonna suck.  A steering damper/stabilizer/whatever is there to cover some of the rider inputs and the bike outputs.  A jacked up chassis from crappy geometry or poor spring selection isn't going to slide very predictibly, and so a damper is going to be more necessary on a bike like that to "clean up" the work that wasn't done in the first place. 

Do I recommend a damper?  Yeah, they are nice.  What's the best?  Well, you can still get the old NHK black seven position dampers cheap, and they work really, really well.  From there, you go up.  You might get more adjustments for the money, different mounting locations, etc.  Most of the new stuff is speed sensative on the steering input.  So, when you're turning the bars slowly there isn't a lot of dampening going on, but if the bike really snaps, it will dampen that.  Hyperpro had good dampers for that.  Lots of top mount stuff like Pit Bull and Scotts too. 

[erock768]

You don't mention what bike you are riding, but in general, I've found that on most street based race bikes (R6s, CBRs, SVs, ect) with halfway decent geomerty need very little in the way of a damper. However, in the case of very steep rake angle or poor jacked up geometry like super dave mentioned you will most likely need a damper to cover up something. I know on my 250 GP bike, a damper is absolutely critical. It is essentially unridable with out the damper turned way up because of the steep rake angle......I mean the bike is a scaple and handles unlike any street based bike can or will.....its just the nature of the beast. Without the damper turned up it shakes all over the place, every time you open the throttle the thing is trying to throw you off (not that'd I know from experience ;) ) but, with the damper turned up it handles like its on rails.    just my .02

[racer52]

I ran my first season without one on an SV, the year after that I picked up speed, and had to get one, I have a scotts on my SV and a storz on the other one I am happy with both.  I would recommend one, you may not need one at a certain speed but the faster you go the more it changes everything.

[EX_#76]

i was wondering everyones opioion on how well do these things work and do they help head shake alot? thanks

I would recommend one even on an SV.  By the time you discover the need for one, you might already be on the ground (TZRacer please add your comments).   A tank slapper can be started by a bump, maybe a tuck that you are trying to save, maybe a crazy line you were forced to take, maybe you have just picked up some new speed in the turns (like Kerry stated), any multitude of things.  They can and will begin at the worst possible time, and are never pleasent.  You do not have to spend a great deal on money on one to get the job done.  It is cheaper than replacing the parts broken during a crash.  Remember to turn the setting down in the rain if you have a lot of damping dialed in.

[backMARKr]

Mark and Kyles RoadRacePrep.com  SV didnt have one...

this will not be the case in '09...

[roadracekid]

im riding a 96 cbr 600 f3 and im gettin head shake on the road. and im just wondering if its worth the money 4 the road thanks

[Fast4fun]

im riding a 96 cbr 600 f3 and im gettin head shake on the road. and im just wondering if its worth the money 4 the road thanks

My first tankslapper was on the road. While merging onto highway traffic, the front end got light and when it hit an uneven transition in the pavement... I was on my head at 65-75mph on the highway. Fortunately I was dressed for the mishap and walked away with scraped knees and a total loss on the bike.

Normally tankslappers are associated with aggressive riding but that wasn't my experience. Take the advice for what you deem it's worth.