Bought new 2013 ZX-6R...steering dampener?

[tsdexter]

Just bought a new in box 2013 ZX-6R ABS... Should I opt for the $500-700 steering dampener? Is it really that unsafe (for a super sport newb) without one if I'm not lifting the front tire all the time?

[csmith12]

Edit: Should you spring for it? Maybe, depends on the deal? If I were financing it, then I would strongly consider it. Otherwise... Simply.... no.

Your money is better spent on gear, insurance, training and tires. In just about that order.

Enjoy the bike

[tsdexter]

Originally Posted by csmith12

Simply.... no.

Your money is better spent on gear, insurance, training and tires. In just about that order.

Enjoy the bike

Thanks, I'm sure I will, though it's looking like I won't be able to ride it for at least another month.

I have gear, insurance, tires and basic training. Wish this was a well priced supersport training around here.

So what should I be looking out for that a dampener would correct/avoid? And how do I correct/avoid it myself?

[alex.s]

Originally Posted by tsdexter

Just bought a new in box 2013 ZX-6R ABS... Should I opt for the $500-700 steering dampener? Is it really that unsafe (for a super sport newb) without one if I'm not lifting the front tire all the time?

things don't happen when you are riding how you intend to. its when some **** bag does something unexpected, and you have to do something unexpected, and you do things you aren't supposed to, like going from WOT and having a car step infront of you and you try to turn and its like popping the wheel up while you were pitching the bike and then chop the gas cause you didn't expect the wheel to come up and you're trying to avoid the car and so the wheel comes down crooked and now instead of going around the car like you intended to do, you tank slap into the side of it

[Alex]

I'd get one for any SS that is ridden more aggressively than a weekly trip to Starbucks. They are mandated by most racing orgs for a reason. Even at non-racing speeds, the front end geometry on a SS bike is a compromise between stability and agility. Land a mini (or unintended) wheelie wrong, or hit a strange bump in the road that knocks the wheel into an oscillation, and you'll wish there were a damper installed. A few years back I had an R6, also without a stock damper. Only rode it for a short while before accelerating on a bumpy road, and having the bars start to go lock-to-lock almost instantly. Was able to recover, as the road was fortunately straight enough to allow for that recovery time; but spent the $ on an appropriate damper directly afterwards.

[alex.s]

you could probably retrofit a cheap gsxr bar damper onto it

[csmith12]

Sorry, note my edit above about 5 mins ago.

Steering dampers are to minimize head shake and tank slappers. Slappers can be caused by a few things but the main ones are;

Putting the front wheel down while misaligned with the rear wheel
Bumpy pavement
And sometimes, when light reflects off venus through some swamp gas and then shines on your bike, a slapper will happen. lol JK on that one but sometimes, it's very hard or impossible to determine the cause.

What can you do to avoid them? Avoid the bumps as safely as you can, potholes suck and stay loose on the bars. Keep the front wheel on the pavement... lol

I have ridden an r6 without a damper on the track for the past 3 years and had all kinds of head shake and mild slappers. Some call me loco, maybe I am. I have found that all kinds of things might calm it down but I basically throw it all into one bucket. "Take control by doing nothing." Basically what I mean is, don't stop what your doing to fight the bike. If you're accelerating, then keep on the throttle, if your braking... then keep on the brakes. Stay focused on the task at hand and most of the time the bike works itself out given enough time and space.

Bonus Info: The bike will still turn during a mild tank slapper event. It's just everything the rider is seeing and feeling will lie and say your out of control.

In time, if you feel you need one, then a used/aftermarket could be purchased, most of the time for around 3 big faces for a nice scotts or ohlins.

[alex.s]

that venusian swamp gas is deadly yo

[choneofakind]

^^

[dailowill]

If you decide to go with Ohlins, opt for model SD 042 vs the one Kawasaki sells. You can read more about it here: http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/ge...ng_damper_mod/

[Ducati999]

I believe from your post this will be your first super sport bike. I would highly recommend the stabilizer. You will have enough to get adjusted to with just the raw power and acceleration. I am not saying you will loose control but do you even want to risk it on a new in the box SS bike? I do think the cost is a bit high but get one if you can. I see it like insurance, waste of money if you don't use it but could really save your A@@ if you do need it, which is a definite possibility since that new ride has the power to out ride your skill set!

Great bike post some pic and let us know what you decided to do!!

[Ptdoughnut]

Originally Posted by tsdexter

Just bought a new in box 2013 ZX-6R ABS... Should I opt for the $500-700 steering dampener? Is it really that unsafe (for a super sport newb) without one if I'm not lifting the front tire all the time?

Actually if you look over at the ZX6R.com forums hardracing offers a special price for a better updated version of the damper. As long as you don't speed excessively and wheelie you really shouldn't need it.

[Ducati999]

PTdoughnut had a good suggestion on looking on the forums but I don't agree with him saying you wont need it. Think about it like Anti-lock brakes. You don't need them till you need them. The damper is a safety device and you wont even know if it works if it is installed but if its not there then you will see if you need one. The only problem with that is you may need a new bike if you realize you should have had one. You need to decide if it is worth the cost vs risk which is a decision we all make. I would recommend if you can afford one, either from the dealer or after market, then get one if not then be careful while learning your new bike, ride safe and post lots of pics and videos.

Just FYI I do not have a steering damper on the NINJA or my SV but I do have one on my Ducati because it lifts the wheel under acceleration and even a small bump in the road will cause the front tire to lift if you are on the throttle so there are many chances for the front to get wobbly.

[backinthesaddleagain]

Originally Posted by dailowill

If you decide to go with Ohlins, opt for model SD 042 vs the one Kawasaki sells. You can read more about it here: http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/ge...ng_damper_mod/

Yeah the oem version is over priced under damped. I haven't ridden my 636 yet. Don't even have it home yet but on my cbr the elec damper was great. Crest a hill under acceleration, front gets light, and at the least little hint of shake is stopped. I am curious as to how the 636 will feel. With all the rider aids on that bike no damper seems odd.

[backinthesaddleagain]

Originally Posted by Ptdoughnut

Actually if you look over at the ZX6R.com forums hardracing offers a special price for a better updated version of the damper. As long as you don't speed excessively and wheelie you really shouldn't need it.

Yeah another good alternative to the oem.

[backinthesaddleagain]

Another option.

http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/g...zx-6r-636-2013

[psych0hans]

Get the dampener...

[azn370z]

I don't think it's necessary but it doesn't hurt to have one. Almost all of my riding is spirited. I've taken the bike up to rather high speeds and it feels stable. You have to remember to keep a loose grip or you will feel it shake at high speeds. Traction control will prevent the bike from wheeling when you accelerate very quickly so you shouldn't feel it shake. Good choice on the new bike.

[nickjpass]

Even Harleys and 250s crash from slappers... buy one.

[choneofakind]

...says the kid who's never ridden either.

[KawiKid860]

I never had any problems on my F4i with slappers or head shake at all, not after smashing wheelies down hard like an idiot, or doing triple digit wheelies in 3rd gear after cresting a particularly steep hill at the track, etc.

[cbinker]

Why would you like to make the steering more wet?

[alex.s]

Originally Posted by cbinker

Why would you like to make the steering more wet?

that's what she said

[nickjpass]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

...says the kid who's never ridden either.

yet again chris being an @$$...

Go research, and you'll see that 250's and Harley's do in fact crash from tank slappers...

[choneofakind]

Originally Posted by nickjpass

yet again chris being an @$$...

Go research, and you'll see that 250's and Harley's do in fact crash from tank slappers...

Go ride them. You'll see just how on frequently that happens. Cost vs need. Some bikes it's a priority. Some bikes it's just a safety net. They're not uber necessary on those bikes.

The buell (Harley, sort of) and Harley I've ridden had no headshake tendencies to the point I would consider a damper a necessity. Sure it's probably a good thing to have. But not super important in my mind.

And the ninjette. Meh. Mine gets a little squirrly under track braking. Never given me shake on the street I didn't induce through my riding. Even then, it stabilized immediately. Not worth a damper in my eyes.

Call my response being an ass if you will. Whatever. I call it calculated risk and balancing risk vs reward. Dampers are expensive. Dangerous headshake on these bikes, in my experience, is not a likely event. Next thing you'll tell me is that I should drop a few Benjamin's on dampers for my bicycles

[RedPepper64]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

I call it calculated risk and balancing risk vs reward. Dampers are expensive. Dangerous headshake on these bikes, in my experience, is not a likely event.

You're making me think of my macroeconomics class.. marginal benefit of steering damper compared to marginal cost. Eesh.

[choneofakind]

Haha. Every time you modify your bike, it's a cost vs reward thing.


That said, I'd go for a damper in a heart beat if dangerous slappers or frequent head shake was an issue. But I think for the 250, they've not shown themselves to be easily prone to shake. Unless I were racing or I always had a peculiar shaking issue due to a bike rack or luggage rack (like rojoracing53) I wouldn't worry too much about a damper for a 250.

They do look cool and are totally necessary on other bikes though.

[RedPepper64]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

That said, I'd go for a damper in a heart beat if dangerous slappers or frequent head shake was an issue. But I think for the 250, they've not shown themselves to be easily prone to shake. Unless I were racing or I always had a peculiar shaking issue due to a bike rack or luggage rack (like rojoracing53) I wouldn't worry too much about a damper for a 250.

For a 250 I think it depends on the bike behavior itself as they all have unique attitudes. The original thought was about getting a damper for the 636 though.