steering stabilizer/damper

[drew416ex]

Just wondering who has what steering stabilizer and what do you think about it? Ive heard some of them only work one way so two are required. is this true? Let me know brand, price, quality, etc. Thanks!

[REPOMAN]

i have thought about geting one ut havent yet. my buddy put a scotts on and loves it. bunch of settings and has saved him many times on our long desert rides. he is in his 40's and says he needs it. i am 29 and think i have enough upper body strength to not need it yet. before that he had one of the cylinder types and it was good for a couple of months and he had to rebuild it over and over

[08400EX]

I am interested in this also. From what I have experianced and researched there are 2 types. The $100-150 stick dampers which basically just slow down your steering the more you turn them up, and the $450-600 Real Deal Stabilizers like Scotts, Precision and Elka. Those typically have high and low speed dampening, self centering, adjustable angles of dampening etc. These are the ones you sort of never know are there, which is how it is supposed to be.

There doesn't seem to be anything "in-between" and I think there is a big market for a "real" stabilizer in the $250-300 range. One that offers real features and adjustabilty, at a minimum a high and low speed circuit adjustability ....instead of just a one way adjustable "shock absorber".

I am hoping someone here may know of such a mythical beast.

[REPOMAN]

08 i would venture to say this "mythical beast" is just that. i really dont think there is a middle ground where these are concerned unfortunatly.

[hornetgod13]

I own a Gibson rebuildable 7 way adjustable steering stabilizer. It cost me $150.00 and it dampens steering movement in BOTH directions and has 7 different settings. I'm happy with it and feel that it's worth every penny for MX and heavy trail riding. My arms don't take the beating they used to. I can ride faster and longer now.

[NacsMXer]

Originally posted by drew416ex
Just wondering who has what steering stabilizer and what do you think about it? Ive heard some of them only work one way so two are required. is this true? Let me know brand, price, quality, etc. Thanks!

I had a Denton stick-type stabilizer on my quad for a few years. Recently I took it off b/c when I bought it the rebuildable units weren't even out yet. Once the oil starts to break down you lose your stabilizing effect. It worked great, riding with and without was like night and day on the MX track, but once the oil broke down it was pretty much shot. Really made the no hander-landers a lot more confidence inspiring as well lol :devil:

http://www.dentonracing.com/products/images/steering/steeringpic.jpg

http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/2784/n20303115308482198221xb2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/3249/oldbyron15kf6.png (http://imageshack.us)
http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/6369/oldbyron26fg5.png (http://imageshack.us)

The way that most stick-type stabilizers work are like a velocity-sensitive shock absorber. With normal riding as you turn the bars the oil in the stabilizer flows through the orifices at a neutral rate (your steering feels normal, like the stabilizer isn't there). But when you hit something that suddenly jerks the bars the oil inside the stabilizer is forced through the orifices at a high velocity, which in turn slows the motion of the bars a great deal. (Think about shooting oil through a small hole very slowly vs. shooting it very suddenly; suddenly will produce a lot more resistance due to the oil's viscosity)

And yes, they do work in both directions. It flows oil one direction and back just the same. Some people choose to run two for an added effect of the combined dampers. I didn't really find it necessary but yes, having one stabilizer really helped to reduce overall fatigue and improve control. The stabilizer takes up a lot of the forces that you would normally be counteracting with your arms alone.

I'm sure those new puck-style dampers are worlds better, but I personally can't justify the cost even with all the gadgets and do dads they now offer. I'm going to pick up a simple rebuildable stick-type next time I have some extra cash :macho

[mikelx]

Originally posted by hornetgod13
I own a Gibson rebuildable 7 way adjustable steering stabilizer. It cost me $150.00 and it dampens steering movement in BOTH directions and has 7 different settings. I'm happy with it and feel that it's worth every penny for MX and heavy trail riding. My arms don't take the beating they used to. I can ride faster and longer now.


I have the same and as stated above my arms don't feel sore, where as my buddy with the same machine but NO stabilizer had stiff/sore arms the next couple of days after riding...

[08400EX]

Originally posted by REPOMAN
08 i would venture to say this "mythical beast" is just that. i really dont think there is a middle ground where these are concerned unfortunatly.


:-(


The problem I have is I have used the Scotts before on bikes. Wish I had kept it when I sold the bike!!

I have been on the phone with Scotts since December trying to get them to supply me with a kit for the 400. They show they have (had ) one, but are missing a "few" parts to make a complete kit !GRRRR !

After using a Scotts and then buying one of the stick versions, it was not worth the increased steering effort that it gives when you turn it up enough to even come close to what a Scotts will do with high speed impacts on the lowest settings.

I took it off and put it on my wife's 250EX, she seems to like it... when I told her it was on there after she had already unknowingly ridden 3 days with it :-).

Repoman, maybe we need to start a new company :-) :chinese:

[08400EX]

Here is a pic of the Scotts on a 400EX, just wish it wasn't "vaporware" :-(

http://www.scottsperformance.com/photos2/96.jpg

[red_rider38]

I've seen the Scotts new in ebay for $240.00. The only thing is that its not covered by scotts only by the seller. It seems too good to be true. Right now I'm looking at the Motosportz Damper (http://www.motosportz.com/) but it only has mounts for dirtbikes.. I have a couple of dirtbikes and my 400ex. I really like the Scotts because it has mounts for all my bikes, but after reading here it doesn't have a kit for the 400ex :( I'll have to look elsewhere.

[08400EX]

Originally posted by red_rider38
I've seen the Scotts new in ebay for $240.00. The only thing is that its not covered by scotts only by the seller. It seems too good to be true. Right now I'm looking at the Motosportz Damper (http://www.motosportz.com/) but it only has mounts for dirtbikes.. I have a couple of dirtbikes and my 400ex. I really like the Scotts because it has mounts for all my bikes, but after reading here it doesn't have a kit for the 400ex :( I'll have to look elsewhere.

I too got excited when I saw that deal, they've been doing it for months. Be careful with that deal on Ebay, it doesn't even include the stepped arm. When you factor in the cost of the mounting kit and arm needed to go with this "deal" it starts to not look like a deal afterall.

Scotts has sent me some photos of the parts need to fabricate for the 400, but wanted to change a lot for the others they had. Kind of soured me on them for a while.

Ironcially one of the better Quad Steering Stabilizers I have used was on a Honda Foreman. Don't laugh, I had one of the 07 Foremans with the Electric Power Steering. Not only was the EPS fantastic but it had a side effect of being a fantastic stabilizer. Since the input to the electric motor came from the handlebars only, any impact from rocks roots, etc was ignored by the system. Basically nothing would turn the wheels unless the input came from the handlebars. There was one flaw, when you were rockcrawling downhill in low using the engine as braking, once the idle dropped below a normal idle speed the EPS suddenly shuts off. Trust me, I had my wrist in a brace for a month due to this behavior. Under normal situations I wouldn't have been injured, but I had gotten spoiled with the EPS and wasn't expecting that very hard sudden jamming of my wrist :-(

[08400EX]

Originally posted by red_rider38
.... I really like the Scotts because it has mounts for all my bikes, but after reading here it doesn't have a kit for the 400ex :( I'll have to look elsewhere.

If it helps, here is a pic of the main part that needs to be made to use a Scotts on a 400. Pretty simple to make. If you can get your hands on a damper, the correct stepped arm, pin and the correct bar clamp for a good deal you would be good to go.

[coryatver]

precision is the best you can get. The GPR, and elka ones are the same price but the precision tops them all. The GPR and Scott were made for dirtbikes which there stearing performs in a totally different way. The precision is designed for ATVS. The stick ones are ok for trail riding but racing they wear out fast and if you crash the stick can get caught in your bumper making it so you can't steer.

[my88r]

i run a W.E.R on my ex. they run about 400. with everything you need to mount. it has full dampening throw the entire steering radius. i don't notice the stabilizer on a quad has much as i do on my ktm 200. the bike stabilizer has no dampening in the middle. as soon as you turn it that's when dampening kicks in.

[red_rider38]

Originally posted by 08400EX
I too got excited when I saw that deal, they've been doing it for months. Be careful with that deal on Ebay, it doesn't even include the stepped arm. When you factor in the cost of the mounting kit and arm needed to go with this "deal" it starts to not look like a deal afterall.
On my xr650r it has everything except the stabilizer and link arm. I'll add up the prices from Scott's. If it's not much more than I'll buy directly.

I saw they also have a submount for the 450r. Maybe it can be adapted. That's how the precision stabilizer is mounted.
http://www.scottsperformance.com/photos2/509.jpghttp://www.scottsperformance.com/photos2/514.jpg

In the end I just want a stabilizer I can swap between bikes.

[08400EX]

Originally posted by red_rider38
On my xr650r it has everything except the stabilizer and link arm. I'll add up the prices from Scott's. If it's not much more than I'll buy directly.

I saw they also have a submount for the 450r. Maybe it can be adapted. That's how the precision stabilizer is mounted.

In the end I just want a stabilizer I can swap between bikes.

I would bet the 450R sub mount will fit the 400EX no problem.

I personally had my heart set on a top mount so I can adjust it on the fly..without my hands getting caught by the tires :-)

[08400EX]

You just caused me to have a great idea! I use encased 1/4" flexible drive shafts on some remote fuel pressure regulators on some projects I do. They would easily fasten to the adjuster shafts on the Scotts (remove the knob first) down on the sub mount and then run them up to the bars with a nice knob on the end!! Best of both worlds!

http://www.mcmaster.com/catalog/114/gfx/large/5910kc1l.gif

[red_rider38]

The low mount is 209.95 accordiing do their web-site. I like the remote access idea you have.
http://www.rttmotorsports.com/New_%20Bike_Photo_images/unite_handel_bar.jpg http://www.rttmotorsports.com/images/LeverControl.jpg
RTT Motosports has remote access like you're thinking of doing, but I think their lines are hydraulic. How would you hook up the other side the cable? Maybe just a butterfly turn knob and run the cable through the hood? Like the one on this stablizer.
http://www.scottsperformance.com/photos2/253.jpg

[08400EX]

Originally posted by red_rider38
How would you hook up the other side the cable? Maybe just a butterfly turn knob and run the cable through the hood? Like the one on this stablizer.


That hydraulic setup is cool but IMO way too complex and fragile. Not to mention expensive.

WIth the flexible drive shaft you simply attach the hollow end to the metal shafts on the Scotts (when you remove the plastic knobs there are shafts sticking out). The end slips over the shaft and has allen set screws that lock the shaft in place..

http://www.mcmaster.com/catalog/114/gfx/large/6426kc1l.gif


On the other end of the flexible drive you will have a shaft similar to the shafts on the Scotts with a panel mount fitting. You probably could use the original knobs there, if not a proper fitting knob is easy to get.

http://www.mcmaster.com/catalog/114/gfx/large/5910kc2l.gif