steering damper/stabilizers-Question

I need your opinions and knowledge on steering damper/stabilizers. Do you use them? Before I spend $500-$600 on a kit (for a 09 TC510), I would like some information from people with experience. I'm looking into the "SUB" mount style.

Thanks

I have a Scotts with BRP sub-mount on my 09 TE510, and absolutely love it. In fact I've had a Scotts on every dirt bike I've owned since 2004. With a good damper, you wont necessarily know it's there until you ride without it, at which point you'll notice your bike deflecting and not tracking straight in terrain that it normally would with the damper installed.

after riding with one, you won't ride without one. i took my scotts off my kx500 and had it on my te510....it has been sooooo long since i've ridden without one, that when i took my kx out, it was like night and day. i would do it again in a heart beat.

Is there any different between the Motosportz and Scotts damper?

The best argument I've heard for a stabilizer is that it cost about the same as your deductible for an ER visit. It can definitely prevent a high speed tank slapper. I like my Scotts.

Both are good but I prefer the scotts because of the fact that it's free to center, has both high and low speed adjustable damping circuits and it's just as easy to adjust on the fly as anything.

A steering damper will help all of the above but not cure all or you would never crash.. lol

They will also be harder on a rider if not adjusted to the terrain...

Just like your front and rear suspension.. And if you don't do a yearly service and a fluid change atleast every 6 months it is only working 1/2 as good as you would think.

Chow, Carl

+1 for Carls write in,
I have used them since 98 but always set at very light settings (my preference). Have used WER, Scotts and my current is GPR, all are good products. they are a good solid mod.

For what its worth... I'm a slow B fast C vet rider. If you are just tooling around the trails in 2-3rd gear at Stony, Middlecreek, Cow etc.... you dont really need one. I actually crank mine all the way down (little to no resitance) when riding tight trails with buddies. They are however life savers (literally) at speed in places like Baja, SoCal etc. There were trails in baja that I couldnt ride without one unless I crept along at a snails pace this past fall. I use the Scotts/Ohlins unit with a BRP sub mount.

I just bought a sub-mount from Motosportz. It really calmed my bike down. Affordable, easy to install, easy to use and great customer service.

WR Bob

Where are you guys getting the Scotts dampner at? What kind of price should I be looking for a sub mount Scotts?

http://www.scottsperformance.com/dampacc-form.php?Type=dirt

Thanks for all the information. I like your set up HuskyT, but I may just get the Sub setup and raise my bars some (I'm 6'2). What people are telling me is, once you get one and use it. You wonder how you rode without it. I also get folks saying, "just dial your suspension in and you dont need one." and "just tighten you triple clamp." That would be a poor boy stablizer.

I have the motosportz damper,and like it a lot. I am also 6'2, and the submounted damper and my stock spacers together put the bars JUST RIGHT. The damper works great, are priced cheaper than the other two, and work just as well.

I like the high speed/low speed separate adjusters on the scotts, but GPR says you can't separate high and low speed circuits without affecting the opposite... I dunno. The motosportz is very well built, and I trust the design. Plus Kelly is a member here and responds quickly to questions.

I need to send mine in for an oil change, but haven't gotten around to it. Far as I know, he's going to do it for free.

Thats my experience anyway.

I'm 6'3" and have the Scotts sub mount. I like it. But, I like it with low bars (since it's already taller). I like the KTM stock bars. But, I will say I've noticed that taller pro riders generally do not raise their bars up and I believe that is because they like being able to put more weight on the front wheel. I specifically noticed this on David Knight's bike at two races . I believe he's 6'3".

HuskyT , nice clean look,,

There is some truth to tightening up on the steering head bearings ... Also if you diconnect the damper and center the forks it should stay they a second and they drift to either side.. If it just flops to either side then the damper is also trying to help your steering head bearings do their job..lmao

Chow, Carl