So I searched and didn't find anything informative on this topic. You know the routine, so post em up!

To make this thread more informative please add your experience whether good or bad and any additional information you may have.

I have a couple Q's of my own. Feel free to respond if you know the answer.

-I noticed that there are stabilizers like GPR and then there are dampers like the Euro company Toby. Whats the difference if any, stabilizer vs. damper?

-This one is purely theoretical given they are different and serve varying critieria. Could or does anyone use both? I noticed this would be possible on a bike like mine (2002 Suzuki GSXR) where the Toby replaces the stock location under the handle bars leaving the headset available for the Scott's or GPR?

 

stock for now but i may upgrade to something better one of these days... i too would like to see what you guys are running

 

ride a honda(newer models,dont know about the oldies),you wont need one

 

The stabilizer and damper do the same thing, right? So it's just a different name for the same part. Like calling your bike's exhaust a pipe or can.

I don't know if putting two dampers on your bike would have enough of a positive effect to warrant the cost. I wouldn't think so. A good one should be enough to quell any headshake you encounter. If your suspension is set up right, the damper is almost superfluous.

I can't vote twice; since I have an Ohlins on the GSXR but none on the SHawk, I'll go with Ohlins.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by eg6T &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">ride a honda(newer models,dont know about the oldies),you wont need one</TD></TR></TABLE>

that doesn't stop people from tossing them for aftermarket ones. should differenciate between the scotts/ohlins and just the ohlins...

 

Have a sprint on the TZ which works fine. Have used a WP one which gave more adjustment but didn't do anything different IMO, apart from make my wallet lighter.

One thing I will say though is I havent seen anyone using the new rotary types, personaly I think they are this moment fashion accesory. I would like to see a test that shows they are any better, plus it looks like much more of a lump of metal than a conventional type.

You can normaly find out if something is worthwhile if you look around the paddock. You just dont see them.

 

Stabilizers and dampers are the same thing, though most people call them dampers.

The piston type and rotary type work equally well.

There's not point in mounting more than one since either can be set stiff enough to lock your steering.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by serious &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Stabilizers and dampers are the same thing, though most people call them dampers.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Thats what I wanted to know since I had a discussion with a guy who had the GPR and he was telling me that they are different (stabilizers vs. dampers).......just wanted to know how.

But essentially they are the same huh..... Thanks for clearing that up.

*I am suprised to see that there have been 8 votes and no one has voted GPR yet they seem t be the most popular.

Oh yeah, I am currently using the stock damper and wonder if it does anything at all. There have been a few times in a turn where I noticed the handlebars start to oscillate, but nothing serious as I'm not racing. I just read RossR's experience on his Yamaha which sounded pretty evil.

Link if you missed that one:
https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1319652

I don't think the Suzuki has the issues with headshake like the Yamaha does but still...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by gumtape_deathmatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Thats what I wanted to know since I had a discussion with a guy who had the GPR and he was telling me that they are different (stabilizers vs. dampers).......just wanted to know how.

But essentially they are the same huh..... Thanks for clearing that up.

*I am suprised to see that there have been 8 votes and no one has voted GPR yet they seem t be the most popular.

Oh yeah, I am currently using the stock damper and wonder if it does anything at all. There have been a few times in a turn where I noticed the handlebars start to oscillate, but nothing serious as I'm not racing. I just read RossR's experience on his Yamaha which sounded pretty evil. https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1319652 I don't think the Suzuki has the issues with headshake like the Yamaha does but still...

</TD></TR></TABLE>

I used to have a GPR; it was awsome/simple.

 

How does it feel? I mean do you notice it working actively a little or does it kick in when needed and the rest of the time feel unnoticeable? I've never ridden a bike with one and I never feel my stock one working but I've never had tankslap yet either....

 

GPR, Scott, Ohlins, Hyperpro, etc., are all dampers which stabilize your steering. There is no difference between them except how they mechanically damp steering movement.

 

Rockin Stock, I love it, I like Ohlins though too, my buds had it on his R6 and it was nice

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by serious &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">GPR, Scott, Ohlins, Hyperpro, etc., are all dampers which stabilize your steering. There is no difference between them except how they mechanically damp steering movement.</TD></TR></TABLE>

The Scott damper is a rebadged Ohlins. I just dont have the same faith in a rotary damper as I do a regular one.

http://www.tz250racing.com/Upl...n.avi

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Luke &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

The Scott damper is a rebadged Ohlins. I just dont have the same faith in a rotary damper as I do a regular one.

http://www.tz250racing.com/Upl...n.avi
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How they mechanically perform their job accounts for a lot and can make them take many different shapes. But ultimately, reguardless of which you choose, all it's doing is damping steering movement.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by serious &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

How they mechanically perform their job accounts for a lot and can make them take many different shapes. But ultimately, reguardless of which you choose, all it's doing is damping steering movement.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I prefer to know that more oil is being worked less hard by a linear rod, it makes more engineering sense to me. Rotary dampers are far more complex internally for my liking. As you say all it does is damp oscillation, so why go a more complicated way to do it? Seems like its going to add even more weight as well?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Luke &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The Scott damper is a rebadged Ohlins. I just dont have the same faith in a rotary damper as I do a regular one.

http://www.tz250racing.com/Upl...n.avi</TD></TR></TABLE>
My Scotts/ damper has Ohlins engraved/laser etched into it I'm still adjusting mine, not sure what setting I like yet.

 

where is the I want one but I'm poor option?

 

Scotts is nice. It's got adjustments for low speed and high speed. And it's less prone to damage from a crash as opposed to telescopic dampers. http://www.scottsperformance.com/indexmain.html

I use a Ohlins telescopic damper myself. But if you don't already have a damper, any adjustable one will be fine. It's night and day w/and w/o it. On an R6, I definitely recommend it. It keeps your bars from going lock to lock under acceleration and you feel a lot less gyroscopic effect from the wheel spinning for steering inputs.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by big pete &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">where is the I want one but I'm poor option? </TD></TR></TABLE>

http://search.ebay.com/steerin...omZR8

There is even an old stock RS250 damper, that would work well even if you had to adjust your lockstops.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Luke &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I prefer to know that more oil is being worked less hard by a linear rod, it makes more engineering sense to me. Rotary dampers are far more complex internally for my liking. As you say all it does is damp oscillation, so why go a more complicated way to do it? Seems like its going to add even more weight as well?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm not making an argument for one or the other, all I am trying to say is that reguardless of the method used, they're all trying to do the exact same job. This is the same as saying V-Twins and I-4s do the exact same job, but do it different mechanically.

I just didn't want people thinking that rotary and linear dampers are doing two different things. No, they're doing the exact same thing, they're just going about it in two different ways. The advantages/disadvantages of one over the other is a function of how they do it, not what they do.

 

Wow Im surprised no one said dampener yet hahaha.
I just like the two way adjustability of the scotts plus its really easy to transfer it from my race bike to my street bike.

 

I use a Shindy Daytona series one on my track bike. That's because it was the only one I found available for my bike. Well I didn't, Kevin Erion did. It does it's job with noticeable improvement over stock(nothing at all) so I guess I love it.

The new bike will have an OG Ohlins on it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Luke &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">http://search.ebay.com/steerin...omZR8

There is even an old stock RS250 damper, that would work well even if you had to adjust your lockstops.</TD></TR></TABLE>

no good...I need one with a 120mm stroke. Trying to find out if one off a F3 will fit

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mr Hammond &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I use a Shindy Daytona series...</TD></TR></TABLE>

I sell those!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mos &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I sell those!</TD></TR></TABLE>

Hmmm....I think mine's feeling worn out.

Soooooooooo where do you work?