[Mike-the-Bike]

Anyone fitted a steering damper on their R3 yet? It really needs one! There are a few "universal" fit steering dampers on Ebay, but can't find one that would work on the R3. Looking for the traditional bar/slide damper, not the expensive
dial type.

 

[FangShui]

Anyone fitted a steering damper on their R3 yet? It really needs one! There are a few "universal" fit steering dampers on Ebay, but can't find one that would work on the R3. Looking for the traditional bar/slide damper, not the expensive
dial type.

From these photos is appears that they're available in Japan now. This is on an R25 but would fit an R3 as well. Probably just a matter of time before more companies are selling them for the R3.


View attachment 1714

View attachment 1722

Here's the page with more accessories shown.

http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/xtreme_nutsberry/folder/1350231.html

 

[Max Aguirre]

So im new in this motorcycle world, What are the benefits of having this?

 

[FangShui]

Here's the Wikipedia page on them

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steering_damper

 

[Zorfnab]

Anyone fitted a steering damper on their R3 yet? It really needs one!

The roads and freeways around me are perpetually under construction, so I am constantly riding over bumps, dips, grooved concrete, steel plates, loose gravel, and/or bison-sized potholes. The bike has handled it all like a champ, especially after I set the preload properly. I'm sure a damper wouldn't hurt, but I can't say it "really needs one"...

I am very curious to know what situation/surface caused you to feel that the lack of a damper was the issue. Was it at speed, or around town? We're you carrying any load that might have been out of balance? Even at 65mph-ish on the grooved snake that is I-405 I didn't have any issues, so I'm genuinely curious.

 

[Aufitt]

I'd find out what's wrong with the bike and fix it before masking the problem with a steering dampener.


Decent rubber, Wheels aligned with stringline, headset bearings, forks twisted and stressed in the triples from being dropped, or frame bent, fork bushes ok etc


The geometry is far too lazy to 'need' a steering dampener and add weight to make the bike slower at great expense.

 

[Ho11ywood195]

The R3 does not need a steering dampener for a number of reasons. 1. This bike does not accelerate like a bullet. 2. This bike has a low top speed. 3. Lightening up your death grip on the handle bars along with good throttle control and knowing when to gas out of a tank slapper will save you butt. Problem solved with out a steering dampener.

 

[Mike-the-Bike]

The bike is so light that when moving around on it for corners, it reacts too quickly to even the slightest unintentional steering inputs. I have a 2004 GSX-R750 that I changed the 5w steering damper oil to 15w--and I like the feel of that. Maybe I'm used to the steering on my Suzuki, and perhaps just need to get used to the R3. But a steering damper on my R3 would be a nice addition. I don't have a death grip, know how to control the throttle, and haven't had a tank slapper in over 28 years; thanks for the comments.

 

[Ho11ywood195]

The bike is so light that when moving around on it for corners, it reacts too quickly to even the slightest unintentional steering inputs. I have a 2004 GSX-R750 that I changed the 5w steering damper oil to 15w--and I like the feel of that. Maybe I'm used to the steering on my Suzuki, and perhaps just need to get used to the R3. But a steering damper on my R3 would be a nice addition. I don't have a death grip, know how to control the throttle, and haven't had a tank slapper in over 28 years; thanks for the comments.

No worries at all, Every tank slapper i have ever seen the root cause was the rider. Yes the R3 does turn in really fast and too sharp in most cases its happened to me also. Like you said Im also use to riding heavyier and faster bikes so the same effort to go around turns isnt needed.

 

[Mike-the-Bike]

My tank slapper happened in 1986 on my 1981 Yamaha 550 Seca. I was coming back from Clemson SC on a backroad going about 100MPH near dark; after hitting a small bump, the handlebars started oscillating more and more. I rolled off the throttle and just let the bike calm down (no death grip on the bars). Technically, not a real "tank slapper", but steering dampers have been important to me ever since...

 

[Stirz]

Some race organizations require them. Good find Fang.

 

[sendler]

There are disadvantages to steering dampers. They take away the responsiveness of the bike to self correct in cross winds and tend to make the bike feel less natural and more likely to wander. If a motorcycle isn't prone to steering oscilations, it doesn't need a steering damper.

 

[t-rav_12]

I considered getting one for my ninja 2-fitty track bike, but honestly never felt like I needed one. I'll hold off till I get the R3 on the track, then decide if this bike needs one.

 

[Stirz]

I considered getting one for my ninja 2-fitty track bike, but honestly never felt like I needed one. I'll hold off till I get the R3 on the track, then decide if this bike needs one.

I had an older gen Ninja 250 - ended up using a fleabay GSXR damper and built my own mounts. Not currently running one on the R3 - I should be OK, it just depends on how picky WERA tech is. I think GPR will have one available soon, although I like the linear style better.

 

[t-rav_12]

I considered getting one for my ninja 2-fitty track bike, but honestly never felt like I needed one. I'll hold off till I get the R3 on the track, then decide if this bike needs one.

I had an older gen Ninja 250 - ended up using a fleabay GSXR damper and built my own mounts. Not currently running one on the R3 - I should be OK, it just depends on how picky WERA tech is. I think GPR will have one available soon, although I like the linear style better.

I really like the GPRs, but dang, they're expensive! My ninja's a pre-gen '05. I ended up buying a donor new-gen bike ('08) and used the forx, wheels and swingarm off it.

 

[Stirz]

That bucket belly pan kills me with the pure win!! Same gen as yours -

2nd photo - got gridded ahead of some much faster bikes somehow, decided to put on the vest to avoid getting ass-packed. Trying to make myself as small as possible to get just one more mph... fastest I ever got on that bike was 92 indicated, although occasionally it would go into warp drive when the speedo cable fell out.

 

[t-rav_12]

Hailz yea-uhhh!! It's the bottom of a 5 gal. kerosene jug with heat tape on the perimeter. Last year, I actually got (an indicated) 114 mph on my dd '06 ninja on my way to corner work at the track. I've gotten (an indicated) 103 on my track bike, before I took off the gauge cluster.
Factory claims 93 mph as a top speed.
What... you don't like my number plates in the second pic?

 

[FangShui]

Here's an R25 using a GSXR600 steering damper.

The Google translation is wack!

http://kobayogas.com/2015/01/05/rev...modif-mono-arm-dan-up-side-down-moge-bingits/

 

[Stirz]

I run mostly at Miller (elev. 4500), so lean jetting and down on power - even the newer gen Ninja 250's will only get a little over a buck here. But MMP is an hour from the house, so not complaining.

Saw the number plates, but there is so much win in those shots I couldn't cover it all in one post.

 

[t-rav_12]

Here ya go, Stirz. Have at!!!