Link to damper

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NTk0WDU5NA==/z/vmMAAOxy039TK7UR/$_12.JPG (http://www.ebay.com/itm/221398556608)

Link to brackets
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTAwMFgxMDAw/z/s-IAAOxyGwNTBb9v/$_57.JPG (http://www.ebay.com/itm/121275715103)

Step 1 - get rid of the side fairings and move the gas tank out of the way. I just used a small box to prop it up.

Step 2 - install the top part of the bracket on the flat portion just behind the steering head.
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j44/psych0hans/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-06/D5778991-DD24-4B95-8048-F0264E941BCB_zpswsd2ar4m.jpg (http://s77.photobucket.com/user/psych0hans/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-06/D5778991-DD24-4B95-8048-F0264E941BCB_zpswsd2ar4m.jpg.html)

Step 3 - install the lower part of the bracket and bolt it in place using supplied bolts.
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j44/psych0hans/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-06/B1FB6FA7-9547-478D-84CE-8BBB0772C4C4_zpszhr7xj3b.jpg (http://s77.photobucket.com/user/psych0hans/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-06/B1FB6FA7-9547-478D-84CE-8BBB0772C4C4_zpszhr7xj3b.jpg.html)
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j44/psych0hans/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-06/77696C24-DA9B-48FC-96FA-269B647EC8C8_zpsut5gu9ya.jpg (http://s77.photobucket.com/user/psych0hans/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-06/77696C24-DA9B-48FC-96FA-269B647EC8C8_zpsut5gu9ya.jpg.html)

Step 4 - you can now put the gas tank back down over the bracket.
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j44/psych0hans/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-06/02A46077-6FDB-4D36-87F5-56CBA139ECF7_zps3n5tuurf.jpg (http://s77.photobucket.com/user/psych0hans/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-06/02A46077-6FDB-4D36-87F5-56CBA139ECF7_zps3n5tuurf.jpg.html)

Step 5 - install the support bracket on the right side of your upper triple as shown in the picture. This should work with the stock handlebars too as shown in the picture below...
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j44/psych0hans/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-06/671023A2-2703-466E-87CD-F15BAA20244D_zpsvjtofwgd.jpg (http://s77.photobucket.com/user/psych0hans/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-06/671023A2-2703-466E-87CD-F15BAA20244D_zpsvjtofwgd.jpg.html)
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j44/psych0hans/Ninja%20250r/Steeringdamperninja250_zps06188584.jpeg (http://s77.photobucket.com/user/psych0hans/media/Ninja%20250r/Steeringdamperninja250_zps06188584.jpeg.html)

Step 6 - now install the steering damper (make sure to use loctite here, as the bolt tends to work itself lose due to vibrations... Ask me how I know... :rolleyes:)
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j44/psych0hans/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-06/092111A8-E71D-4BA1-9385-2A40D7F3251E_zpsw7s9p0lu.jpg (http://s77.photobucket.com/user/psych0hans/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-06/092111A8-E71D-4BA1-9385-2A40D7F3251E_zpsw7s9p0lu.jpg.html)
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j44/psych0hans/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-06/21F8676C-7ED9-401B-80EE-55506CAA41E9_zpscftt7qlb.jpg (http://s77.photobucket.com/user/psych0hans/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-06/21F8676C-7ED9-401B-80EE-55506CAA41E9_zpscftt7qlb.jpg.html)
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j44/psych0hans/Ninja%20250r/BFA65B58-5764-40FD-ACCF-2709FCBF399B_zpsmlu6ffas.jpg (http://s77.photobucket.com/user/psych0hans/media/Ninja%20250r/BFA65B58-5764-40FD-ACCF-2709FCBF399B_zpsmlu6ffas.jpg.html)


TADA!!!!
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j44/psych0hans/Ninja%20250r/D43F48F7-2F02-44C4-8ED1-A5F6C1DD5A46_zpskesnxdoh.jpg (http://s77.photobucket.com/user/psych0hans/media/Ninja%20250r/D43F48F7-2F02-44C4-8ED1-A5F6C1DD5A46_zpskesnxdoh.jpg.html)

Looks great, thanks for the write up and the pics! :clapping:

So how do you find it, works well? This is something that I have been considering for some time.

Thanks for the comments. I only really installed it today, so I Haven't had a chance to really try it out... Tho I highly doubt it will make a huge difference to our baby ninja. I installed mine more for show than go, tbh.

Race orgs are making you put these (mostly unneeded) dampers on the little bikes now asd well. Any idea what the whole contraption weighed?

Race orgs are making you put these (mostly unneeded) dampers on the little bikes now asd well. Any idea what the whole contraption weighed?

I didn't weigh it, but I doubt it would be more than 500gms... I'll still try weighing it tomorrow...


Alex can we have a sticky please? It's my first diy and it'd be super sweet to have it stickied :D

No problem; happy to add it. :thumbup:

I didn't feel the need to put a damper on my 250 but my 16 year old son had a scary moment on it and I am not shopping for one. I have always used Hyperpro and Ohlins and can get a decent deal on a Hyperpro RSC damper with a mount for a ZX-10R. I was thinking about buying it and getting the eBay mount like you have. How's the quality of the hardware? Thank you.

Anybody of thoughts on this mount? I have 2 Hyperpro dampers but mounts are for R6 and ZX-10R. Hyperpro wants $330 CAD plus tax and shipping for a Ninja 250 mount so hoping to find a cheaper alternative. Thanks.

$330 for a mount... That's nuts... Shame I can't be helpful :idunno:

Nice! I need this asap

I am still waiting to hear if the eBay mount is garbage or decent quality. I wouldn't trust the eBay damper but I have two spare Hyperpro dampers that should fit the mount. I just can't bring myself to pay $330 CAD for a mount.

Cool stuff!

I found a mount on eBay for $30 CAD with free shipping from China so think I'll give it a try. If anyone is looking for Hyperpro mounts for the 2004-05 ZX-10R and 2003-2005 RS (plus 2006-2009 R6S), I have both and will be listing for sale.

Any bike can get into a tank slapper with the right (wrong) disturbance. A rear tire going over a spot of oil on the road with the bike leaned over could do it. A steering damper makes the system more stable, reducing the chance of it happening, and increasing the chance of coming out of it quickly it if does try to happen. It's my opinion that if you think you don't need one, you just haven't had one happen yet, and maybe you never will, but...

You don't have to have it cranked up so high that it makes steering feel different for it to increase stability greatly.

I've only had a mild tank slapper on the 2009 Ninja 250 but my 16 year old son had a more severe one. He just started riding and likes the idea of having a damper. I've been using one on my 2003 ZX-6R since I bought it in 2004 and that bike definitely needs one. I bought lots of parts for my FZ1 from the same seller, and a damper was part of the bundle. I did not bother installing it on that bike because it is much more stable. I will be ordering the ebay mount for the 250 and will let everyone know how bad the quality is. I don't think I would trust the ebay damper so will be using my spare Hyperpro RSC unit.

Us Kaw triples guys learned that the H2's stock dampers, while working well, had the L shaped bracket that's welded to the frame tend to eventually crack and break off. Then the adjustment knob end of the damper gets stuck in the cylinder head fins, either making you violently twist the bars to save a crash, breaking the head fins, or just causing you to crash.

This is just some evidence that the damper mounts need to be reliable enough that you can trust your life with them.

Eh... they look cool. :lol:

I understand the need (I've done the math on the motion of unstable or marginally stable systems, I understand what's going on) for a damper in some applications such as aggressive track-only superbikes, but... for the 250... most of what it's doing is just talking to you. If the bike is getting to the point of being unsettling to the rider, there's two major things I'd do before going to the hassle of a damper. 1) loosen up on the bars big time!!! Only times I've had a head shaking shimmies up there was when it was my own fault. 2) lower the rear/raise the front a tad; doesn't have to be a lot, likely just 1/4" on either end.

Like I said, there's a time and place for a damper but the important part is that it makes you feel better. Everything is usually in your head.

I received the ebay damper. I ended up going with silver because many of the adonized finishes from the Chinese products ends up fading. I got it for $19 USD plus $9.99 shipping. I am very impressed with the quality. Only problem in the biggest bolt that connects to the damper clamp around the main body is too big for my Hyperpro clamp. I am getting a clamp from the same seller for $7 USD and I confirmed that it will fit my Hyperpro RSC damper. Now I just need a spacer because I am using Woodcraft clip-ons and the damper mount is made to be used with the OEM bars.

Here's pics of my eBay damper mount and Hyperpro RSC, plus one showing my new 2015 CBR300R with the 2009 Ninja 250. I had a metal spacer in my toolbox that makes up for the lower mounting position on the right because of the Woodcraft clip-ons. I had to use some metal and rubber washers to eliminate too much forward and backwards flex near the clamp that holds the damper in place. I've yet to ride the bike but my son had it out a few times and gives it 2 thumbs up :thumbup:

Kinda just poking in on this topic. I'm NOT a know-it-all on motorcycles or safety, but this is a 250 we're talking about, not a superbike, not on a track, not a 500lb monster with a scalpel in it's hands ready to slice us up for a tiny mistake, and we're not on super triangulated twitchy tires.

I've logged a LOT of time at schools and on the track, and somebody should chime in here with some common sense for a moment! Come on.

This damper for a 250 is the WORST idea I've ever heard of! It's smells of high-rice.

Ride legs against the bike and posture up to wrist-light to keep from having tank-slappers. More often that not, wobbles and slappers come from being way too heavy and hands-tight on your bars and not letting the bike undulate and flow naturally with the surfaces and fighting the forces created at the front wheel. People also ride crazy cheap tires, with over flat (from too many highway miles) or over triangulated shapes (poor tire design) to them which make them really unstable. I've even seen improperly inflated tires cause wobbles.

Transferring weight off the front tire can cause a bit of a light front tire feeling too, but you're talking about a hard acceleration. Something I just haven't seen a 250 do. Again, not something I would say you'd need to drop $300+ on a damper for.

If you're installing this damper on a light nimble bike, what you're doing is impacting the low-speed function of the lock to lock bar speed response with the generic quality of these parts and not increasing the quality of the pilot. Spend the $300+ on a safety course and master your equipment.

ALSO: Practice in a parking lot for free.

What you need to do then is fix your technique, not mask your mistakes with a damper. I promise you, it will haunt you. They will still bite you eventually so it's better to correct them. I've seen it a few times.

I'm not saying you shouldn't have a damper ever, I'm just saying don't cover poor technique with it.

Here's a comprehensive checklist of when you should install one on a streetbike that didn't come with one:

( ) Do you need this generic damper to pass tech at a race?

Damper is required to pass tech at many tracks. I personally wouldn't have bothered installing the damper on the 250 for me, but thought it was a good investment for my 16 year old son. I picked it up for under $150.

I will be enrolling my son in track school. I've taken 3 schools and attended a few track days.

My 2003 ZX-6R definitely needed a damper. I have the same Hyperpro RSC on it and can highly recommend it. My 2009 FZ1 does not need a damper so I sold the one that came with the bundle of aftermarket parts I bought for it last year.

^^ correct. Many race organizations require you have one. Period.

Personally, I feel like I'm in crazy land.

Anyone who puts a damper on a 250 without needing it for tech needs to watch Twist Of The Wrist and put some serious time on technique. I'm telling you, that will bite you in the butt, having poor skills and trying to make up for it with a piece of kit.

That kind of instability comes mainly from being too heavy on the wrists and death gripping the bike. Then it is compounded by poor roll-off of the throttle because you're choking your ability to smoothly operate the thing from the tight grip. Easy.

It's not rocket science. It's bad technique.

I hope you guys get some time out there and increase the rider knowledge to increase safety.

I think you may still be missing the point. Not many folks are disagreeing with you. But folks who want to race the bike in a variety of series need to have one on the bike to pass tech. At that point, spending top dollar vs. getting the cheapest one on that won't negatively affect the handling, seems to be a proper trade-off to make.

ok Demonik here is pros and they still mess up on occasions


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzB6KSlD6ec

That video made my butt pucker a few times

Any bike can get into a tank slapper with the right (wrong) disturbance. A rear tire going over a spot of oil on the road with the bike leaned over could do it. A steering damper makes the system more stable, reducing the chance of it happening, and increasing the chance of coming out of it quickly it if does try to happen. It's my opinion that if you think you don't need one, you just haven't had one happen yet, and maybe you never will, but...

You don't have to have it cranked up so high that it makes steering feel different for it to increase stability greatly.

The only tank slapper I ever experienced was on a Kaw 500 triple and it was only because I wasn't paying attention to my front tie air pressure. Tank slappers scare the ship out of me. There's nothing you can do except slow down quickly.

Bill

ok Demonik here is pros and they still mess up on occasions


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzB6KSlD6ec

Those are not "tank slappers", they are the loss of rear tire grip or over-steering. The chassis whipping back and forth is merely due to the effort on the rider's part to keep the bike upright.

Bill