Steering Dampers

[Quarkz]

Hey fellas. My bike is going to be all fixed up within the next few days. I am still yet to get a final price on the plastic welding and the repaint (They are having a hard time matching the colour up, my worst nightmare!) Apparently there is 6 coats to the paint scheme using different coloured tints. I am also yet to find an OEM Mirror, I missed out on a REALLY cheap one of ebay UK because farkin Auction Sentry had a kaffufel and didn't place a bid for me. The same guy I got my fairing stay from (http://www.zman.com.au) quoted me $165 for a new one so I said well screw that. I think Im just gonna get the glass replaced on the rashed up mirror case.

Rear Seat Cowl: $80
Sportech V-Flow Chrome Screen: $115
Fairing Stay Bracket: $165

Anyways, I am looking around to get a steering damper as I have had 2 headshakes on the ZX6R already and they were bad enough to nearly make me shit my pants and say a very loud "whoa" in the confines of my helmet. I have 3 options: Matris ($789), Hyperpro ($669) or Scotts ($810). I am kind of leaning towards the Hyperpro as it is the cheapest and comes in a pretty blue colour that will match my bike and you know how I like to make things pretty. I'm just thinking that the lower price means lower quality. Just want your opinions on any of these brands, whats your experience with them?

I have been told by other bike riders that a steering damper is not really needed for street riding but seriously if you have ridden a 03/04 ZX6R even slighty hard you will realise you do need one on this particular bike, the front end sucks. You guys all know how crappy the roads are around here and I have found that if I hit even a slighty rough spot the bike gets nervous and so do I. The hard ass suspension doesn't help either . I'm gonna wait until I have paid for all these reapirs before I jump in and buy one but I wanted to know what your opinions on steering dampers are?

[Felix]

I've read that the suspension on those things is pretty hard, and not really suitable for the type of roads we have on the coast, especially the rear - what say you Quarkz?

I am wondering if your diminutive dimensions and mass (well mass really) may have something to do with your problem??

[Quarkz]

Im going to get the suspension set for my weight. The rear has been wound down the lowest it can go because of my height issues but it is on the softest setting, I get thrown into the air while hittings bumps and my helmet usually falls down heaps and annoys me because of the impact.

Because of the bumpy roads the front end gets very flighty though and that worries me as I don't have much weight to keep the beast on the ground!

[Felix]

You reckon that the suspension is too soft or too hard? Most reviews I read reckon rear far too hard for street use...hard suspension normally not a good thing for crappy roads on a light vehicle. Tends to bounce and skate it...

[Quarkz]

Too hard! WAY too hard! My delicate little bum!

[Felix]

So they're right then!

To be honest, that really puts me off the idea of getting one. Pity, 'cause they're a sexy damn bike...and I really liked your blue one..(can you have impure thoughts about a bike?)...until you decided to play panel beater

[greenmeanie]

Another brand to look at for steering dampners is WP. A mate had one on his R6 and found it good. Also there is one on Midtowns ZX10 racebike so can't be all that bad.
Haven't ridden a zx6 but from the reviews they are more of a track-focused bike hence you really feel it on bumpy roads. I guess this is why they rate so well at tests like MasterBike(track biased).




Regards
Glenn(zx7r).

[Nanna10r]

Kylie i'd get the front end sorted by someone REAL clever with suspension. I backed the spring off on the ole Fzr6 for the same reason for Janelle and its such a different bike to ride now. Its not gonna headhsake cause it has 1/3 the hp of your baby but i wouldnt rush out & spend coin that you may not have too.
As a second thought i know Sean on his zx10r was thinking dampner till he but Pirelli's on it & then said it didnt need one. But he'd be much more able to give advice than I.
Cheers Brett

[Flakey]

I was going to put a steering dampner on my nine, but after taking it to a mech who knew about suspension setup, he was able to remove a lot of it.

The dampener would have removed a lot of it, but it would've been hiding the problem, rather than fixing it.

Now my bike handles better than new. If only it would stop raining on w/ends...

[matchan]

Hiya Quarkz, I've an '03 636 (in green of course ) and its given me my fair share of headshakes. Nearly go tank slapped off into oblivion on the way out to Oberon in the Blue mountains back when it was new !

I'd probably be about 90kg with the riding gear on and the rear spring is way too hard for most roads I ride on. I've changed the settings front a rear a fair bit and while its better now it's still too firm for me.

I would suggest (as others have) that you have a go at the suspension setup before investing in a steering damper. I've got a performance bikes mag with setup suggestions for the '03, if you'd like a copy let me know, they are a good base to start from.

Regards
Matt

[KLR]

I know this sounds mean and am not trying to be nasty but have you considered that the ol ZX6 might not be the bike for you considering your height and weight?

I only say this as one day the ol girl might turn around and bite you really hard because you could not control it properly due to your height and weight limitations.

Anyway I only say this as would hate to see anybody get hurt on a bike.

If not I am of the same opinion that try and sort ur suspension first before shelling out to much swondoolies for a dampner.

I would be alright on a ZX6 as my weight would keep her planted firmly on the ground

[Nanna10r]

In a really old Voice.....
In my Day if it "head shaked" you Shit yourself of course then went through the full range of suspension adjustments (which was decrease front trye pressure by 2psi, increase back by 1psi), if it did it again you Shit yourself then changed tyre brands if it did it again you shitted yourself then swapped fork oil, if it did it again you shit yourself then swapped rear springs if it did it again you shit yourself and ruined your last pair of Undies so swapped to rubber pants. If it still did it again You were very bloody lucky to be talking about it.
Get it sorted an ride it like it has a Rego plate on it.
These things are weapons people they are'nt designed for general road use at thier limits.
Good luck Kylie.
Cheers Brett

[Quarkz]

Yeah Mica, both me and my mum had these same thoughts when I went to buy the bike, funny but the salesman didn't even say a peep, they all gave me some very funny and sideways looks though. The height is the only thing that scares me about this bike as they are only as fast as you pull the throttle. I am getting in some lowering links which should make me a little more confident with the height aspect and I am going to get the suspension set to me. Hopefully that will solve a few problems, thanks for all your advice guys, it has made me change my mind about buying a steering damper "for now".

Now I am going to go spend my money on a set of leathers which I suppose I should have thought about getting before the damper. I have found a guy that can get me any design and colour I want custom fitted to me for $500. I say thats a damn bargin so I'm snapping it up and there is a design I really like. Now the big question, blue or black? Here's a pic of the design:

[Rossi]

Mate
if your gonna spend money........do it wisely
Get some one who knows suspension to set it up for you, a couple of things that I picked up from your comments are that you have wound it down to the lowest setting you can because of your height......effectively unless you have dropped the forks thru the triple clamps by the same amount you have altered the steering geometry, leading to your headshake problem.
2ndly buy a helmet that FITS

[Quarkz]

The forks have been dropped through, Midtown did all the lowering before they delivered the bike. My helmet used to fit, when I bought it, and it's the smallest size you can get in adults. Its just I wear my hear up in a bun which after 18 months has killed the padding around my head. If I don't wear my hair up then the helmet doesn't fit as good.