Landracing Forum
East Coast Timing Association => ECTA Rules Questions => Topic started by: KZScott on November 23, 2008, 11:52:27 PM
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Hi, I have a question regarding a steering damper for a bike. some bikes come with one from the factory, my ZX12R doesnt. I have seen some very nice dampers, such as a hyperpro or scotts, but would this be an acceptable alternative? it is a much cheaper option
http://www.haysmachineworks.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=6&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=19&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=26&vmcchk=1&Itemid=26
it is a friction steering stabilizer not a hydraulic damper. is there much difference as far as safety?
thanks
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Yes there's a difference.
Yes its fully acceptable (as with anything, as long as it's installed and mounted in a workmanship like manner of course).
Todd
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I'd like to see a velocity-sensitive shock used in a damper, to permit "soft" (unrestricted) bar motion and still strong resistance to bump steer, tank slappers, etc.
Do any high-end dampers use this?
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Panic, as far as I remember -- many steering dampers do just that. The Scotts (Ohlins) has high-, medium-, and low-speed adjustability. The new electronic units incorporate vehicle velocity-proportional damping. Others might know about other brands, and maybe they'll chip in a couple of cents' worth.
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Thanks, that explain$$$ the price!
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I suppose a cheap progressive could be made from a pneumatic cylinder, with the degree of resistance slope ~ compressed volume รท piston area, but it'd be kinda big.
You could adjust the whole range (hard/soft) by pre-charging it with compressed air, but the slope change would need different stored volume, once it gets that complicated it's not practical.
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I have an 07 GSXR 1000 that came standard with an electronic speed sensitive damper. I thought it worked crappy. When you're really on it & floating the front & just barely skimming from 100 on up it had a nervous, twitchy feeling. Very, very noticable on less than perfect road or track surface. It never did any tankslappers, it was just a bad feeling from the front end that made it hard to trust it. Replaced it with an Ohlins & once adjusted I've never touched it & never had that odd twitching since. The Ohlins does have multiple speed variable valving & it's very nice. At low speeds it's pretty invisible & at high speed it works really well. Lot's of older sportbikes used to come with a straight friction tube control. It's better than nothing, but there's so much better available I wouldn't do it. It's good insurance to help prevent a high speed slammer.
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Just nut it up and get a Scott's! very tunable, and never even a hiccup...well worth the $, and available on the secondary market as well....Cheers! :cheers:
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Thank you for asking,
We have sold numerous of these LollyPop Steering Stabilizers and they have worked very well in all applications.
These stabilizers were developed to provide an economical alternative in the steering stabilizer market.
feel free to call me if you need more info on our products.
Thank You
Tim Hays
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Thank you for asking,
We have sold numerous of these LollyPop Steering Stabilizers and they have worked very well in all applications.
These stabilizers were developed to provide an economical alternative in the steering stabilizer market.
feel free to call me if you need more info on our products.
Thank You
Tim Hays
Tim,
How in heck ya been....
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Here's mail I sent Scott(KZ) after his original post.. just thought I'd share it with others here as as well since there's nothing wrong with a friction type damper as long as it's adjusted correctly and is not thought or used as being a bandaid for a bad handling bike. Is there better units, yes... are they more expensive, yes. At anyrate, the answer to the "will it pass tech" portion of the original question is - yes.
I keep one or two of these Hayes dampers on hand at the track in case someone has to have one to pass tech.
Todd
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Scott,
Here's a few pics I took of that damper you questioned about (I got a handful of them when Tim first made them). We run it on a few bikes here at the shop as well as this one on Deb's Hayabusa(in addition to the stocker), and on my GSXR.
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o244/narider/LSR/06%20Busa%20-%20LSR%201302/Steering%20Damper/100_4059.jpg)
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o244/narider/LSR/06%20Busa%20-%20LSR%201302/Steering%20Damper/100_4060.jpg)
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o244/narider/LSR/06%20Busa%20-%20LSR%201302/Steering%20Damper/100_4061.jpg)
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o244/narider/LSR/06%20Busa%20-%20LSR%201302/Steering%20Damper/100_4064.jpg)
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o244/narider/LSR/06%20Busa%20-%20LSR%201302/Steering%20Damper/100_4066.jpg)
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o244/narider/LSR/06%20Busa%20-%20LSR%201302/Steering%20Damper/100_4070.jpg)
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o244/narider/LSR/06%20Busa%20-%20LSR%201302/Steering%20Damper/100_4072.jpg)
Feel free to call me if you have any install questions as far as press fit of the thread insert, adjustment, etc.
540-657-8481 (ask for Todd and tell them it's land speed related)
Todd
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Crazy ZX-12 guys!!!!!
Just kidding ya!
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you da man Todd. Ill probly get one of these in the spring
crazy...haha look whos talking Gary. or should I say Mr 210mph on a 12 :D
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These are a lot like old time friction shock absorbers ... Joe