Damn, has anyone noticed how ineffective the stock OEM Ohlins steering damper is?
Obviously Kawasaki finally have,
I would love to fit this to mine when it is released but with it's own ecu this may not be so easy?
Has anyone else changed their stock Damper? And what for?
taken from online report:
2013 Kawasaki ZX-10R Key Features
• NEW Öhlins-Kawasaki electronic steering damper reacts to current speed as well as rate of acceleration and deceleration to help provide the ideal amount of damping force across a wide range of riding scenarios
New Öhlins-Kawasaki Electronic Steering Damper
• Specially tuned for the 2013 ZX-10R, this new electronic damper helps provide the ideal amount of damping force across a wide range of riding scenarios
• Maintains a high level of rider feedback by allowing lower damping forces under less taxing conditions, but quickly adapts to increase damping and enhance high-speed stability when required
• Reacts to current speed as well as rate of acceleration or deceleration to help provide light steering feel at low speed, as well as superior damping at higher speeds or during extreme acceleration/deceleration
• Uses Öhlins’ patented twin-tube design to help ensure stable damping performance and superior kickback absorption
Kawasaki has developed a new electronic steering damper for the 2013 ZX-10R sportbike, in joint cooperation with Öhlins. Controlled by a dedicated ECU located under the gas tank cover, this new damper reacts to the rate of acceleration or deceleration, as well as rear wheel speed, to help provide the ideal level of damping force across a wide range of riding scenarios. The variable damping provides optimum rider feedback by enabling the use of lower damping forces during normal operation, without sacrificing the firm damping needed for high-speed stability. The result is a light and nimble steering feel at low speed, as well as superior damping at higher speeds or during extreme acceleration/deceleration. The anodized damper unit incorporates Öhlins’ patented twin-tube design to help ensure stable damping performance and superior kickback absorption. It is mounted horizontally at the front of the fuel tank and requires very few additional components and ads almost no weight compared to last year’s steering damper