Ohlins Steering damper fitted...

[Wolfman]

Ok folks, as some of you know, i recently bought an FZ6 Cup bike, which has an Ohlins Steering Damper fitted to it...

I had been thinking about getting a Steeering Damper for my road bike for a while anyway, so i thought, whilst the race bike sits around a lot between track days, why not fit the steering damper to my road bike between track outings...

Well i have done it....

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Took about 5 minute to fit, with the base of the bracket mounting onto the front tank mount, and the top of the unit, fitting straight onto the right handle bar mount.

Now all i need to do is get out and have a decent ride to see what it does for me whilst sportriding...it may be nothing, it may help keep the front a bit more planted when i am asking "questions" of it!

Will be back with a review, once i have had a chance to take the bike for a decent blat.

[Humperdinkel]

Looks great mate , does it really make that much difference/suggest buy one ???

[Jedi]

Does look an awesome mod, but is the front end of the Fazer nervous enough to need one? It's got quite a conservative rake compared to a pure track bike?

[LERecords]

yes.. let us know.. i would have bought a matris one a while back when they were cheaper, but didnt know if it really was worth it..

[Wolfman]

Originally Posted by Humperdinkel

Looks great mate , does it really make that much difference/suggest buy one ???

Dunno yet, have got to go ride the thing! But you can be sure i will tell you in 1000 words or more!!!

Originally Posted by Jedi

Does look an awesome mod, but is the front end of the Fazer nervous enough to need one? It's got quite a conservative rake compared to a pure track bike?

I have found the bike a bit nervous when asking it some serious questions, and i am quite heavy myself...

Originally Posted by LERecords

yes.. let us know.. i would have bought a matris one a while back when they were cheaper, but didnt know if it really was worth it..

As above, will do my best to give it a thorough testing!

[Cali rider]

Definitely waiting to read your feedback. My guess: no difference in stability. The swingarm is still the most flexible component.

[Wolfman]

Originally Posted by Cali rider

Definitely waiting to read your feedback. My guess: no difference in stability. The swingarm is still the most flexible component.

Am just about to jump on, and find out...ride report will be up later today.

[Wolfman]

Ok, just got back from taking my bike for a decent 140km blat with the steering damper fitted!

Now a bit of background info..my bike shakes it's head lots...and i find it quite "nervous" going into turns..., it doesnt like potholes, or big bumps, bars move in my hands lots when i hit these.

Have got Racetech Springs & Gold Valve Emyulators fitted, Braking wave discs - a lot lighter, less unsprung weight, the front end is set up very stiff for quick tip in when in sport riding mode, and the forks are dropped 20mm through the triple clamps, to further sharpen up the steering, and put more weight over the front wheel, for better feedback.

all this works, but has made the front end a bit flighty! oh and last of all, my head stock bearings are in tip top shape....

Ok, now for the ride impression.....to all the naysayers that reckon the FZ6 would only need a steering damper if it was being used at the track....i now disagree completely!

My bike was a lot lot better to ride, better over bumps, better going into corners, better coming out of corners, better in a straight line....it just feels a lot more planted, sure handling, and i can really feel what's going on at the front, through the bars a lot better....

I noticed the other day, after i jumped off my track FZ6, and onto my road FZ6 , that the road bike felt loose, and very jittery after riding the track FZ6....could'nt work out why, as the suspension set up is almost identical on both bikes...then i thought, maybe it is the steering damper on the track FZ6...well, i can now say, that i was right!

Seriously, if you ride your FZ6 in Sports mode a fair bit, i would seriously consider getting a steering damper...the difference is night & day!!!

I had the 18 step steering damper set at 9, which still made the bike easy to turn at a stop, but definitely, settled down the front at all other times.

One last thing i did notice, if you get the front wheel off the ground, when it comes back down, with the steering damper, the bars just stay planted, no wiggle as the front wheel hits terra-firma again!

Awesome mod.....for sports riding FZ6 owners!

[DefyInertia]

And it's secksy too

[Wolfman]

Originally Posted by DefyInertia

And it's secksy too

As Austin would say...."Dead Secksy"!

Except it is vibrating against something on the bars, or within itself...and there is quite an audible tingle eminating from the thing...will have to have a close expection, and see what it is, comes on at about 8000rpm....i am sure it is just a mounting issue...might need a bit of rubber fitted on the handle bar mount, it is made from lightweight billet, and i reckon that is what's vibratng...didnt do it on the track bike.