Steering damper

Hi!

I'm looking for a good steering damper.

What brand is the best?

Anyone has experienced it?

Thanks for the info!!

GPR (a local San Diego Company) has a version 4 (under the bar) stabilizer in the works for our little WR250R......it's not out yet but hopefully I'll be able to post a picture of one on my bike within the next few months.....I've used both Scott's and GPRs......I prefer the GPR.....

Go here for more info on the V4 stabilizers: http://www.gprstabilizer.com/prod_v4_dirt

Thanks Crawdaddy, I'll look at that.

Xcalibur046 wrote:

Hi!

I'm looking for a good steering damper.

What brand is the best?

Anyone has experienced it?

Thanks for the info!!

Yes, have the Scott's under bar on mine and absolutely love it. Dial it up for what ever conditions you are in almost instantly. Makes a huge difference. Best accessory you can buy for your bike.

Randy from GPR just sent me an e-mail with a couple of photos.....the GPR V4 stabilizer is now available for the WR250R - $495......I've used GPRs in the past on my YZ/EXCs......great product for the sandy/loose conditions in So. CA./Mex......I'll have one on my WR250R after the first of the year......

http://www.gprstabilizer.com/prod_v4_dirt

Look what just arrived......



I'll snap some photos once I get everything mounted up......

Crawdaddy,

You make me sick.

Or at least jealous of your farkelness.

Jim, after trying to keep up: Must....stop....trying.....

Hope you enjoy and glad you got it. Would love to see how it rides next week out at Sups.

Jim

Crawdaddy wrote:

Look what just arrived......I'll snap some photos once I get everything mounted up......

Beaver 3CS is hooked up along with GPR & Heated Grips......

Hi, I'm looking at the GRP due to good reviews and a decent price. Any chance of an update and the model/fitting kit code so - can enquire with my importer?

old reliable

GPR does not list the Wr250R on their site yet?

http://www.gprstabilizer.com/shopping_dirtbikes

Next question - which steering damper could I use with my set of Rox anti-vibe risers (they use the lower stock clamps)

Crawdaddy, any chance of getting a group deal on one of those?
It has been almost a year and I still don't see the WR250X/R listed on their web site.
I am trying to decide between this one and the Scotts. Also considering one from Washington.

Looking forward to your reply...

Fisherman,

Which one is from WA?

*cricket*

man these forums are dead...
I'm also interested in the GPR one, but no updates...

I'm annoyed with myself for not picking up a GPRs damper when I was over in the States last week. They're so expensive here. I need to get my bike back together with the Rox risers and see if I like that enough to deny myself a steering damper by using them (I haven't found one that fits will them).

Recently installed the GPR. Could not be happier with the way it performs. Installation instructions could be more detailed. Makes the front end more "precise" and more controllable.

Will it really fit under the bars??? There's not much room there with the 7/8" bar mounts???? I know they're shipping me shims, will it fit?

With the kit you get new bar mounts and steering stem nut that work with the steering damper so clearance not an issue. The bar mounts are machined for fat bars but if you have 7/8" like I do, ask to be supplied with bushings for those bars. What the instructions don't tell you is that in addition to bending the one cable stay forwards all the way, you also have to remove another one. Otherwise both will interfere with the headstock collar at left/right lock. Not a big deal but if you do it in advance, will save you the work of removing the top triple again to do so.

Same deal here with the cable stays, bend the center loop one down and removed the one on the left side.

Been futzing around with other parts of mods. I should post my pics tonight.

So this may be a real noob question, but looking online I've seen Steering Stabilizer/Damper offered for the WRX and WRR. Is there a difference? Im a very technical person (engineer), so I believe I understand the concept of a Steering Dampers, which is to create resistance when turning away from center. Kinda like auto-centering for steering? Is this correct?

Is the goal of adjusting the damper... Higher for crusing (typ. straight) and lower for a more nible scenerio (single track)?

My main reason for looking into a Damper is because crusing on the Highway I get a light wheel wobble that I'm afraid to let progress into a full-on tank-slapper. Is this typical of WRRs? Could it be an alignment thing? Bearings? User-Stupidity?

Current WRR Setup:
Renthal 1-1/8" FatBar
Mitas C16/C17 StoneEater Tires (90% off / 10% on-road) DOT, in 21"/18"

I borrowed this from ADVrider

Okay, Second NOOB Question...
Can anyone explain the benefits of the GPR vs Scotts. Scotts makes their information readily available on their website, but I'm having difficulty finding GPR's info. From what I can find, they are essentially the same. Please chime in if you know about this...

SCOTTS has three settings.
1. The Base Control Valve:
"The Base valve adjust the amount of resistance you feel as you turn the bars left to right."

2. The High Speed Valve:
"This valving circuit is designed to help absorb large, unexpected hits, such as hidden tree roots or a pot hole. It reacts to spikes that exceed your current base valve setting."

3. The Sweep Control Valve:
"Located on both sides, these are what control the distance of damping force (or sweep), from the center line out to either side until it releases. The stabilizer is then free to move to the steering stop. This allows for easy steering in tight turns."


GPR has the following under their website FAQ:
"Question: I've heard your damper has no high speed dampening. What's the difference between high/low dampening?
Answer:This is a great question. If you know what high and low speed dampening is, you would laugh at our competition and their claims. To start, you can't have one without the other (high/low speed dampening). Low speed comes with high speed and visa-versa. Any damper, including ours, would be useless w/o high speed valving or dampening. We get our valving through a single port made of only hard, anodized aluminum (nothing to contaminate or break down the oil) that on impact will restrict the flow of oil (Fluid, volume transfer). The harder the impact, the more high speed dampening it has. No unnecessary dials or parts to fail. We do have high speed dampening and a high-speed circuit. What we don't have is a 2nd external adjuster dial for that circuit, as both high and low speed dampening are controlled with the single, large, dial instead of a separate, blind adjustment dial. It is a true on the fly adjustment that has a numerical reference, so you know where it is set at all times, no guess work here."

whitea42 wrote:

Okay, Second NOOB Question...
Can anyone explain the benefits of the GPR vs Scotts. Scotts makes their information readily available on their website, but I'm having difficulty finding GPR's info. From what I can find, they are essentially the same. Please chime in if you know about this...

As I understand it, the major difference between the two is the Scotts off road models is free return to center whereas the GPR dampens in both directions making for more work (read: more arm pump) :

"via Jake at Scott's Performance
Scotts manufactures 2 different stabilizers, a road bike version and an off-road version. Both units share the same physical size and appearance; the main differences are in the valving design. Below is a very brief description of the differences between the 2 styles.

The off-road damper is a non-rebound stabilizer, which means, as it sweeps away from center it has damping but the moment it changes direction back toward center the damping is free until it reaches center again, hence the term non-rebound or free-rebound. This was an important development in the off-road damper and is what makes our damper work so well. Its design is to allow the rider to correct for constant slides associated with off-roading while not fighting with the damping forces back to center. It's a serious advantage for the off-road rider. This feature helps prevent the common syndrome known as arm pump. Our stabilizer is the only one made with this feature.

The road bike damper design requires a totally different function and therefore is a rebound damper. A road bike is primarily leaned, not steered, and the damping forces need to be absorbed in both directions to maintain constant stability, due to the nature of the energy needing to be absorbed.

Can they be interchanged? Yes.

Are you receiving all the advantages you could by using the off road unit on a road bike application or vice versa? No.

Is there a big difference? That is an individual opinion. Using your dirt bike damper on your road bike would still be a vast improvement over no damper at all and the same goes for using a road bike damper on a dirt bike. Some customers who have tried switching from one to the other say, they feel no difference. Others claim there is a huge difference. So you see, it's truly personal preference. There are other internal differences between the 2 stabilizers which would take a lot longer to explain. The best bet is always to use the right damper for the right application. However, we could not tell you that they don't work when switched for the other application; it's just that they work better when used as designed for the right application.

There are always specific applications that might favor one type or the other depending on the situation. We make our suggestions based on our testing and what the majority of our customer base prefers. You have the option to specify whichever unit you prefer when ordering.


Thank you,
Jake
Scotts Performance"

GREAT INFO Chrispy! That's Exactly what I've been hoping to find out about the two.