Stabilizer/Damper Recommendations for an S?

[Rhino1]

I want to run a steering damper on my S--what do you guys run/ recommend? Pics? I have DM Fatbar adapters and fatbars... Thanks!

 

[twoguns]

DONT... just set your suspension correctly and you will have a balanced and agile bike. damper is only for excessive high speed and track. not a buell. unless you just want it to be pretty. [confused]

 

[1badtitan90]

I wrecked mine because I had no damper. Get one

see mine in pic

 

[twoguns]

sorry to hear you wrecked, but honestly that is not the reason.!

you may have wrecked cause something happened to cause a tank slap, if thats what you are saying.

then what happened? and then more importantly how did you react to a tank slap? thats what probably caused you to wreck.


i and many very experienced riders, saw my missus have such a violent tank slap that caused a small dint on teh tank of her cagiva, and it was twice in 300m on a very poor section of road (note: the cagiva had no adequate suspension set up option)... yet she survived.
(now the reason why she owns a xb9sxcg. awesome handling. agile. and fully adjustable suspension that can be set for her)

HOW?
she knew from listening to experienced riders, reading keith codes book on riding, and thinking clearly about what to do, and when it happened she relaxed/ didnt grip the bars, and allowed the wheel to shake only to find traction again. if she had gripped tensed and fought it, the wobble would have travelled up the suspension and then back down, usually resulting in a crash.

after hte fact. and how was your bike set before the slap and what were you doing?

a poorly set up bike or one that doesnt allow a good set up will react poorly to road condition or throttle input etc. set a bike up well and you minimise that risk greatly.

its always interesting to hear what people think caused them to crash. usually though most dont understand that more often than not it was the reaction of hte rider to the moment that caused the crash.

i will give an example.

a rider says 'i crashed cause i went into the corner too hot'. but when you enquire more, its the fact the rider perceived they went in too hot, then either hit the front brake (makes you standup run wide and crash), or froze and started looking where they were going rather than where they needed to go (you crash), and instead just needed to stay relaxed than commiting harder and turning in more, and finding that other than the brown stain in your pants the rider makes the turn.

sorry, but unless you are seriously doing huge speeds (which buells dont do) the damper is just a numbing effect on the response and handling of a buell.

 

[twoguns]

 

[1badtitan90]

Caused by a tank slapper. Yes... boot hit shifter causing a woble.

 

[Lesley]

DONT... just set your suspension correctly and you will have a balanced and agile bike. damper is only for excessive high speed and track. not a buell. unless you just want it to be pretty.

100% agree [up]

 

[twoguns]

Caused by a tank slapper. Yes... boot hit shifter causing a woble.

so no offence... but caused by how you reacted to that scenario.

100% agree

cheers Lesley.

 

[firefighter1c57]

some where you guys missed the part where he said "I want" not I need, not I have to have, not my bike wont run without one, but "I want to run a stabilizer" It's his bike get over yourselves.

That said, I think the fat bars make a GPR out, either LSL, Ohlins, or Hyperpro.
Hyperpro
LSL
Ohlins

 

[1badtitan90]

My boot hit the shifter.. it down shifted.. rear wheel locked up and front went into a wobble.. I was on my head before I new the bike was shaking... nothing I could do...

 

[twoguns]

i didnt miss that fact... its why i said

"unless you just want it to be pretty"

just suggesting that other than for that reason alone, then it is pointless. would rather spend that money on learning the technique to not have one.

but you are right... each their own, and its no different to spending 6 dollars for a 'baby on board sticker' hoping it protects your precious cargo rather than being responsible and learning driving techniques to be safer instead.

these are not like add on accessories. they change the reaction of hte bike.

 

[twoguns]

so its wasnt a slapper then... it was a lock up and before you could pull the clutch to stop that you were gone. perhaps. there ya go. hope you healed and learnt in case of next time. cheers.

 

[netty2424]

GPR LINK

We're trying to get 5 people in on a group buy, we need a couple more.

Gets you a brand new GPR stabilizer at reduced cost. GPR sells them at $479 plus shipping.

Group buy gets you GPR for $376, free shipping.

If you're in, click on the link and PayPal your money to the link on the thread. Puzzled is a forum member who facilitates several group buy deals.

 

[firefighter1c57]

Netty, he has DM fatbar adapters and Fatbars. The S GPR mounts to the top bar clamp. It wont work on the Fatbars as I mentioned above. The arm ends up to far above the Airbox cover to mount properly. A spacer could possible be fashioned to fill the gap, and a longer bolt used, but then you are applying a lot of torque to a long 1/4 20 bolt...

come to think of it, I don't think the Ohlins will mount either.

 

[Lesley]

It's his bike get over yourselves.

This quote from OP's original post

what do you guys run/ recommend?

 

[firefighter1c57]

I'd hardly call it pointless.

I'm 6'4" I weight 280# and have a 38" inseam. I set far back on the seat of my R, and yes, even under moderate acceleration, my front end unloads and sometimes wobbles. On 412 East out of Tulsa, the road surface was planed down with groves parallel to travel. Each lane done in three cuts, and the center of each lane higher. With my weight back due to my long ass legs, if I touch the higher center with my tire, it wobbles bad, every time. (since you obviously read, think Edge Trap)
I have a 04XB12R. 1125R 46mm front forks, Buell race rear spring on stock 12 rear shock. Preload maxed, compression damping maxed rebound damping maxed, loaded sag 35mm rear, 40mm front.

I suppose I could sell my Buell and get a ZX14 so I had something to fit me.

 

[cincybolt12]

I'm gonna strongly dissagree on there is no need cause I thought yea no need, I never had one on any of my bikes. I have had plenty of trackdays and saved it on multiple occasions from tank slappers. Just cause you got lucky a couple times doesnt mean they aren't needed. I dropped my bolt because of tank slappers and there was no way for me to save it. Period. As I was riding to school(uti) a truck was riding our ass bad so just as we sped up and switched lanes a new lane was starting. Where the new lane started there was what appeared to be a vertical crack,cool who cares I looked back to see the dick honking at me, finger, turn around, I'm out. Wait,that crack is now alot bigger, just big enough to fit both tires in at 70? Exactly, tank slappers, dislocated shoulder, so I accept I'm going down as my ass is fishtailing to match the bars so I laid it on the left and rode it like a sled for about 50-60 feet then kicked it away when it started trying to shit wip. From the chug hole to final slide it was almost 200 yards. It slapped so hard it bent my bars forward on both sides. I was lucky it didn't dent my frame. So you cannot control every situation, sometimes it happens so fast and violent. You can't. Its those moments when you NEED one of these. You wouldn't tell someone not to wear gear just cause you took a fall and think it wouldn't have helped. Eor

 

[Lesley]

Seriously ask yourselves this:
If EB designed these bikes and most think he is like a 2 wheel racer God then why did he not install these from factory? I mean he is an ex racer correct?

So is EB wrong or are you guys? [confused]

 

[firefighter1c57]

Cost. Same reason they don't have titanium valves, and overhead cams, and multipoint injection... Cost.

 

[Loki]

You have to remember that EB was controlled by HD and HD probably wouldnt let him put one on anyways. Harley probably thinks that steering damps shouldnt exist so all the sport bike riders die from head shakes, since according to them there are no such thing as sport bikes.

twoguns, why you on the attack today? Someone tell you that your shirt is ugly? Lol ive never seen you just up and say stuff like that. Im gonna assume you arent having the best day. I however am going to go get my new CR today and very soon buy the GPR damp cause it looks cool and the front end gets so light on the CRs i think its needed.