[Grunt_99]

For those of you who have steering dampers on your 6R's...what one are you using, and how well do you like it??? I am getting sick of these head shakes that, sadly, are only going to become more common with the roads around here.

Here's what I found quickly

Toby - $279
Scotts - $400
Matris - $305 - $465
Hyperpro - $385
Harris - $449

All things being equal, I'd rather get the Toby or Matris as they're the cheapest. But if the more expensive ones are a lot better then I'll nto skimp. This is for street use, with very occasional (1 or 2/year) track days. Converted to Canadian funds, the $279 Toby would cost ~$420 before shipping!!!

 

[mfzx6r]

Hey Grunt
I haven't found a need for one on mine but having said that I dont
realy go around lifting the front wheel and landing is prob the time
that most would need one to help stop slappers.
Anyway I have read alot about them and the adjustable ones are the only way to go.

 

[Grunt_99]

Thanks, I think I'd like to try a Matris. Seems like they're pretty good. Yeah, I know a lot of people will think, a damper on a 600? Well I get some nasty headshakes over bumps (the roads here generally suck). That's where I need it, not on landing wheelies. I had one BAD shake yesterday that was not the regualar 'wiggle'. This one was a violent thrash that lasted for about 5 hard 'slaps' before it dissipated. By slaps, I don't mean it was going from full left to full right, but it was big. My buddy behind me saw it and said the whole bike was wobbling back and forth. This was at a pretty high speed too.

Later we came to a road that was really bumpy and me and the other guy w/o a damper (VTR) couldn't keep up to the moderate pace the 2 guys with the dampers were going thru there. Once the road got better there was no prob. That pretty well convinced me, but my other buddy really convinced me. He put a cheap Daytona on his R1 and said the difference was night and day. He only rides on the street. Everyone who rides his bike loves the damping. I did ride a busa yesterday too, and it comes stock with an OEM damper. BTW, the busa is a sweet bike. I never thought I'd like them that much. Figured it'd be too big/heavy and awkward & unruly for me. No way senior .

 

[Grunt_99]

Found a sweet deal on a side-mount slightly used Matris. I'll post my findings when I get it installed & tested.

 

[aqon2welz]

quote: Found a sweet deal on a side-mount slightly used Matris. I'll post my findings when I get it installed & tested.

Any news on the Matris?

How do you like it so far?

It's days like this I wish I still did drugs!

 

[Grunt_99]

Never arrived yet. He was delayed a couple of days before he got it sent, and crossing the border usually slows things down a bit. I'm guessing it'll be here next week. I'll post pics and opinions!

 

[quikie]

I've got a W.E.R. and it's excellent.

-quikie

"Conan, you can't trust anyone in this world, not man or woman nor beast. (points to sword). But this...this you can trust."

 

[Grunt_99]

Well the Matris arrived and I installed it tonight. ONly had a short ride but I am very impressed, really made the front neutral and I couldn't upset the front end at all. And that's just on click 2/12!

Edited by - Grunt_99 on 09/19/2002 23:13:24

 

[napsterninja]

Hi Grunt, That looks very nice. Hey you got any more pictures of the matris dampner? Where does it hook up to by the steering column? Was it really easy to install? I'm thinking about getting a dampner but don't know what kind and ease of installation? Cyclemall.net is selling there Scotts kit for the zx6r for $379. Any information on the matris would help.
thx

 

[Grunt_99]

Well my only experince with dampers is my matris. I rode bikes that had other, but not long enought to form an opinion. A frind has a Daytons, that a lot of people crap on, but for street use, it's fine for him. he's really happy with it. I think they go for about $300 us appx (check my list at the top of the thread for others).

I would definatly recommend the Matris. It's made in Italy and is a high-quality piece. Although scotts is nice because they have a low-speed setting as well as a high-speed setting. It's very easy to install. You have the boss connection on the left, bolts directly into that. Then a clamp goes around your fork, and ya just allen key those on. Connect the clam to the base and you're done. It has 12 positions and unlike some others, the lower settings are actually useful. They're rebuildable too, so ya don't have to buy another when it's toast. The knob is big enough that you can quickly reach down and adjust the damping on the fly as well. I love how it's changed the front end, if you're thinking about getting one do it!

I don't have any more pictures, but if I get a chance tomorrow I'll take some. Good luck.

 

[blueleopardzx6r]

hey grunt...with that damper mounted on the side with the "rod" pointing toward your leg, doesn't the rod poke your knee everytime you turn left?

 

[Synd]

Worse than that... imagine you fail your braking and hit the back of a stopped car. You will move forward and that rod will penetrate your knee almost to your hip!! Not a nice sight... <img src=icon_smile_blackeye.gif border=0 align=middle>

Isn't there another way to fit steering dampers? Like in the top of the yoke, as I see in other bikes...

Wilder than the wildest dreams!

 

[Andy_7676]

thanks for the visual Synd

My Drinking Team Has a Racing Problem!

 

[Grunt_99]

No I've never come close to hitting my knee on it. And I don;t see how it would impale your leg either. The whole rod angles/pivots out a bit when ya turn the bars. And if there was a hard impact on it I think it would just snap off. But I can't see how my knee would hit it anyway. Your crotch would hit the tank first. The ya's either go over or something. I have never seen it as a safety concern at all. But there are other types that go on different, like Scotts etc. I think there's a little extra I could trim off the rod if I was so inclided.

 

[blueleopardzx6r]

i just asked because i had one that mounted like that, but it always hit my leg...maybe i have longer legs or something

 

[Grunt_99]

LOL I can't comment there, I'm on the short side. But I thought the knees of taller people would be up around the tank more. What kind did you have?