Scotts Steering Stabilizer

Barkbusters here, no noticeable weave. Same results with both Strada and Terra front wheels. I know I should see some weave, but I'm really not seeing anything. Perhaps I just have the bike dialed in right? Or maybe my scale is off considering the only remotely modern bikes I own are hacks, and my next newest is a 1968 Triumph?

I have a BIL ( brother in law ) who rides a new Ducuti Multistrata ..pretty tame rider until he hits slab then he likes to "go fast" so if I'm with him I ride a bit faster I reckon than I would otherwise. So any shortcomings the TR had was surely to be found out. The Touratech hand guards were 2 parts...so that only made things worse. The upper piece was not required. Wish I'd tried it without. Still may later on in the winter. That may change things...who knows.

If I remove all the add ons she may not weave at all. Pretty darn solid except for the afore mentioned weave at speed.youd think being a 650 the top speed/cruising speed would be similar to say...a KLR but that would be wroNG! The tr likes to cruise @ 80ish & if you can stand the blast of wind will do it all day pending fuel stops. The KLR might do it ....but the three I've had sure didn't like it

Trapper,
do you notice the weave more when there are other vehicles around, or if it's windy? My strada seems very susceptible to turbulence from other vehicles, or if there's a stiff wind. On a calm, clear road, it's rock solid all the way up to 85

--Chris

Interesting. I have the Touratech handguards and have noticed no weave at all. Do you have the little top-fairings installed on the handguards? I got the fairings with mine, but I won't install them until the weather gets cold (December).

This actually makes sense to me. In dirty air a rider with a solid grip contributes to the weave as the rider's upper body is tossed around, even slightly. If I take the Strada on the freeway in heavy traffic and give it the grip of death the weave is considerable. If, under those same conditions, I remove my left hand it get's better, and if I remove my left hand and hold the throttle with two fingers it is no longer noticeable.

Grip puppies provide a bit of give, in a sense relaxing your grip for you.

For me, on my Strada, it's purely a dirty air thing. In clean air rock solid to the mid 80's. I have not had my Terra on the freeway yet, and haven't had it much over 60. Rock solid in clean air at 60, but it's not a fair comparison until I go play dodge the semi's at 70.

Aero stuff is usually a wierd periodic. ie. it will get worse then smooth then at furthur increase get bad again the smooth . Each increase in speed will get closer between bad bits rather than a simple harmonic ( if that makes sense).
Handprotectors are at THE worst place they could be for an aero effect. Max leverage on steering...

Mine has done the weave with the guards in all conditions. I had both pieces. Its much much better without the guards.
Don't seem to tell much difference in or out of traffic. Unless its one of those multi car car haulers..(16 wheels or so) those things make my dodge turbo diesel weave...lol I have it where it's very manageable now...but always looking for it to turn in better. I will need a rear tire before too much longer...so far don't know if I'll change from oem....great performance dry and wet on black top.

Just rereading this and had a thought. The TR may suffer more than most modern bikes from aero problems because of the two "cavities" inside the "horns" as they are angled so the air is forced into them then up. That would increase the wind speed above the top of them ( the handlebars) and the direction would be upwards ( ish) . that could increase the effect when you put a wind "bolb" around the air exit like barkbusters. Just a thought.
Also the aero effect could be reduced by angleing them up or down a bit. I'd try down first then up. You might find a spot where they no longer vortex shed. Also drilling some small holes near the edges OR in the front may also stop it. Think parachute holes, they are there exactly to stop that effect.

Just had a look at the touratech guards on the net. Think I know a way to stop the air flow problem. I am surprised they shed because it looks like they put some effort into the design however the "horn" problem could have spoilt ( no pun intended) their efforts.
The spoiler could help damp the effects by moving it to the FRONT of the grip and spacing it a small amount so there was a slot between it and the man protector. One hole would not line up then unfortunately and you would have to redrill on of them, but if it works, that's better than not useing it. That just might stop vortex shedding. There might even be an added benefit of smoothing the side flow past your body a bit.
Worth an experiment. If anybody tries it let us know the results either way.

Im here In Ca and with the freeway grooves , ruts ,potholes ,etc i get the shakes around 71/75 and one handed /two handed loose or tight it shimies the front end pretty annoyingly!

So I checked into this myself. The response I got from Scotts is they have no plans to make one for the Terra/Strada. This was about two weeks ago.

Can it be done?

So what was the final verdict from Scott's? I got a 20% off a stabilizer coupon from them at Rick's Rendezvous this past weekend. In a drunken haze, I got all sorts of excited about using it on my TR650, but then realized when sober that GPR was making the stabilizer, not Scotts. Can a universal be fit?

You need the stabilizer post to fit properly. Scotts doesn't make one. The GPR is around $450 USD

You're right of course. I just kinda read between the lines. My concern with welding on this bike is that the filler and bypass tubes are very close to where it would have to be mounted. If heat warps either of those then you could be looking at big problems.