Anyone know what the difference is between these two? I know, about $200 but performance-wise?

BROCK'S

MUZZY'S

I don't know much about those but would you consider one of these:

http://www.adrenalinemototoys.com/xcart/Scotts-Performance-Steering-Damper-ZX14

I've been running these on my bikes since 2001 and they have more adjustments & wider range of adjustablity built in. Just my 2 cents though......

* Last updated by: danfzx14 on 4/15/2011 @ 6:58 PM *

Someone please tell me when they have ever needed a steering stabilizer on a ZX14 (assuming its put together correctly)?

I agree that the ZX-14 does not NEED a steering stabilizer. However, I personally consider it extra insurance due to past situations I have encountered, sometimes due to road conditions. A one handed tank slapper that I had back in the late 1980's comes to mind and this caused me to always install one on any sport bike I own especially when I start playing with the shocks ride height adjustment to quicken the steering. Again, this is just my opinion that's all...

* Last updated by: danfzx14 on 4/16/2011 @ 11:12 AM *

danfzx14 wrote:

I agree that the ZX-14 does not NEED a steering stabilizer. However, I personally consider it extra insurance due to past situations I have encountered, sometimes due to road conditions. A one handed tank slapper that I had back in the late 1980's comes to mind and this caused me to always install one on any sport bike I own especially when I start playing with the shocks ride height adjustment to quicken the steering. Again, this is just my opinion that's all...

You are using events in the 80's and applying them to a ZX14 ? Seriously?

Frame and steering head technology is so changed as to make your statement laughable. Even back in the early 1990s, with the ZX11, stabilizers were no longer necessary. I rode the hell out of my ZX11 in Europe. Bombed up and over and down the Southern Alps to the south of France. Down into the coastal canyon, back up, to Nice. Then back and northwest into Chateau country, finally to Calais to get on the ferry to England.

I started with Michelin Rain Slicks (DOT legal). I ended with just plain slicks. Not once, despite slides, stuffing it into blind corners to the point the footpegs touched down, and some really fun sections with lots of gravel in the corners, did that ZX11 ever set up so much as a shudder.

You guys that put stabilizers on ZX14s are wasting your money.

Nice talking to you though!!!

* Last updated by: danfzx14 on 4/16/2011 @ 2:18 PM *

Hey danfzx14 great imformation mate @ $70 cheaper than the manufacturer aswell as cheaper than the BROCK/MUZZY and more compact modern design

I just checked out the vid on STG.com on the Pitbull damper too. I was wondering if anyone had tried that one. For the same price though the Scott's or GPRv4 would be my choice. GPR mainly for color choices.

Thanks, danfzx14. I have always liked the look of the tube stabilizers over the rotary. Thank you for sharing the adjustabilty info. I did not know that and it will def weigh into my decision.......I really like the look of the tube, though. Can you give more details on the dif between adjustability between rotary and tube?

AFA need for a damper on the 14-----if you are going to get on a track you will need one whether you need it or not. As the old line goes, most people who needed one and didn't have one prolly are not riding now. I haven't needed my helmet yet. If you are going to do wheelies, I would have some sort of damper on there. I have felt my steering zip to the side on several occasions. No oscillation, but enough to make me think.

All of the dampers are very cool. I'm even getting interested in the rotaries. That Scott's is nice and I have recieved other recommendations at BL. It does require drilling. Pit Bull makes a Rotary that does not require drilling. Also the Brock Ohlins ZX-14 adaptor gets the nod.

MassZX14 hasn't been around much lately but he would def be one of the more track / road race owners. He has suggested one of these sweethearts. DAmn, check this out>>>

http://www.hyperprousa.com/catalog.php?cat=Dampers&make=Kawasaki

* Last updated by: Rook on 4/17/2011 @ 11:43 PM *

Nice talking to you though!!!

doh! lol

He edited out his original post, no doubt. Some people respond to someone strongly taking the opposite position on an issue by issuing a personal attack rather than attacking the facts or logic.

He should have left it, my skin is very thick and it would amuse me more than anything.

I agree 100% if you are going to track day often a stabilizer makes sense.

But I have ridden on roads that are more technically demanding than tracks like Laguna Seca and Road America and Watkins Glen, and had no issues with front end stability.

Most of the ZX14s with stabilizers on them never go on a track. So they've spent signicant $ to solve a non-existant problem. This is my only point of contention.

yeah, Prive, we're all friends here. I know I've had my days though. lol

Edge opined:

yeah, Prive, we're all friends here. I know I've had my days though

For sure! I tend to be blunt and logical and call it like I see it. But.... how I see it is not always how it is.

The only one exempt from this is Hub, because 99% of the time you can't tell what his point is. LOL.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDjemYkNjI4 Some have seen this vid; It is more I am trying to get someone to buy an MV-4 for me. He wants to quit riding, and I think I'm going to be a wannabe, 'Red Farmer' @ 80yrs old, coming in 6th; keeping the kids behind. Did you catch that Alabama Gang Guy still hanging it out on SpeedTV last night?
All I am doing is running slow and taking line in. Reel slow is me. All I do is speed up real time; reeling in the study. If you catch the rail waxing in real time, watch the front end revert back to N; for neutral. It snaps to N when I come out of that turn. I straighten up, it snaps up with me, then, comehither; the rail.

You do not even see the entry snap in, like you need one??? If I had that slow ass shock hanging me up, check the beginning where I have to traverse the ruts and bumps, you can see the cracks in the road, the shake of the camera. Hell, I hit a rut on that road, my head camera came down and video'd the dash and bars. That's how hard that bike slammed that road. That's how soft the suspension is. Like I need an aftermarket shock set anywhere?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwwmq7NE-a8 Now, DIS video is a how-to installation of an aftermarket steering dam the feeling right out of it. Dis is more a 'hands on' from startwo finish. Maybe dis might help deciding which one you use; either way it's pretty easy to install a steering unit.

Just talked to the guy at AnniTorri and he explained everything i wanted to know so i will relay it on if anyone is interested.

They sell active and non-active dampers. Active dampers react to steering speed inputs much more dramatically as the charts on the site indicate. Max damping force can be achieved well before max steering inputs are applied. The non-active dampers increase damping force the same way as the actives except the damping force increases at the same rate as steering inputs (i.e. max damping doers not ever occur unless max steering speed happens). The non-active dampers are used by stunters or others who require predictability in damping force. The rest of us are more likely to benefit from an active damper that will be closer to or at max force during all extreme steering inputs and has only a little damping at low speed steering inputs.

The active damper actually has a slightly higher max damping force.

Stroke refers to the travel of the piston inside the damper. The active damper is 75mm which allows for lock to lock steering on the ZX-14 and most other japanese sportbikes. The longer stroked dampers are for the side mounted dampers such as Ducati uses.

I asked how stiff the HyperPro can go compared to a rotary and the guy was not able to compare them. They work in different ways, he told me. I suspect this is another notch for the rotaries having the most powerful damping as others have suggested here on this thread.

The gentlman explained that rotaries may not be able to be rebuilt and will have to be replaced, possibly. The HyperPro can be fixed. The AnniTorri guys will do a complete overhaul on your HyperPro for $99. That is oil and seal change. He strongly suggests that owners NOT attempt any internal work or oil change on the HyperPro. The oil they use is charged with hydrogen and they do not even know what weight oil is used (or at least they do not disclose this info so as to not encourage owners to attempt oil modding).

The HyperPro does not require any drilling or changes to the bike. It is totally bolt on except in cases where someone may have modded handlebars, in which case, they figure out some way to adapt the brackets.

There's my pre-owner review. lol. I think I am going to buy it. Just have to give the Pit Bull one last look.

That looks Sweet!! No drilling is nice too!!

Hub I take back every thing nice I said about you, you ARE frigging nutz hehe

And Rook. I'm likin that blue damper. Even though I don't need it I feel I have to have it if ya know what I mean?

I'm glad they aren't needed for any kind of riding I'm doing, because my new electronics pod won't fit in the steering stem mount with that stabilizer mounted. And it would be a bit of work (not too much) to mate it up to my real handlebars.

I look at it as 'you guys are a bunch of nut case is case closed.' How dare you insult the engineering! How dare you take that factory test rider's input, the engineering output and he/they are all wong? The fat tore me has it wrong with an R? The sin say has it wong with or without R from column A or B? My wong is going to come out unbecoming a Moe Larry Curly kind of Q-UP some wake me up. Slap me in the face I need a clue.

I must be getting old, but didn't squid racing start a trend?

1. 4-in-1 I gotta look like george cork her.
2. Oil me cool her and did the factory take that market segment?
3. Steering dim some wobble out of me with a 200 mph bike, Honda engineering coming out with electronic input is here is your damp pin wing and a prayer more weight with a swerve-oh geeze is, more for me to remove is more like it.
4. Better fairing comes along with his front wind chime and did the GL begin a legend as with craig better and a bus written on the side of the gray fee tea is some fortune made is still being made.
5. Fairing fairing make me a squid. Make me a Rossi and WOT he had rid.

You see thaTrend or is it just me?

And Rook. I'm likin that blue damper. Even though I don't need it I feel I have to have it if ya know what I mean?

Dammit, yes I do. that is just beautious.

* Last updated by: Rook on 4/18/2011 @ 2:57 PM *

He edited out his original post, no doubt. Some people respond to someone strongly taking the opposite position on an issue by issuing a personal attack rather than attacking the facts or logic.

He should have left it, my skin is very thick and it would amuse me more than anything.

I agree 100% if you are going to track day often a stabilizer makes sense.

But I have ridden on roads that are more technically demanding than tracks like Laguna Seca and Road America and Watkins Glen, and had no issues with front end stability.

Most of the ZX14s with stabilizers on them never go on a track. So they've spent signicant $ to solve a non-existant problem. This is my only point of contention.

Mr Privateer: You are VERY wrong. That was my original and complete post. I really did not have the time to get into it when I read your little tyrade but now I do and since you appear to be a person that gets intrigued here is the actual story that goes along with my particular point of view for using a steering damper. SO in the future please don’t go assuming you know me or how I am going to respond to things because personal attacks are not how I operate. Thankfully all the other people here seem much more friendly, civil and repectfull.

The specific incident I was referring to had NOTHING to do with pushing the bike, a 1985 ninja 600, particularly hard and most of it was caused by a momentary lapse in concentration. In fact I was going in a straight line, on a two lane highway coming back from one our local beaches on a beautiful sunny day. I was not dressed even close to appropriate for riding: sneakers, shorts & sunglasses. I was cruising along about 80mph with only my right hand on the handle bar when I drifted ever so slightly into the breakdown lane. I just barely went over the white line which had a layer of pavement missing so it was stepped down about an inch or two. When the bike transitioned from the upper section of pavement to the lower section of pavement apparently my one hand on the handle bar was enough force in the split second of time the tire was not touching the pavement to allow the handlebar to go full lock to the right. What happened next changed my whole riding disposition forever. The bike was still going approx 80mph, with the front end going full lock to lock at least 6 if not more times with me trying desperately to catch the left handle bar with the free hand all the while I can hear the front tire very loudly & clearly chirping away every time the wheel went from full left to right lock. I finally was able to grab the handle bar with the other hand and stop the tank slapper. To this day I have no idea why I did not crash and given my riding attire that day it would have been a mess at a minimum. I sure your opinion will still be that a steering damper would not have done anything but I really believe that a damper like the Scotts I ride with today would have been very helpful in preventing a situation like that from occuring.

* Last updated by: danfzx14 on 4/18/2011 @ 7:27 PM *

The gentlman explained that rotaries may not be able to be rebuilt and will have to be replaced, possibly.

Rook - The Scotts can be rebuit and serviced as necessary. I usually have mine done when the suspension get serviced in the winter months.

* Last updated by: danfzx14 on 4/18/2011 @ 7:23 PM *

I like that Scott's rotary. Looks cooler than the Pit Bull. The PitBull si installed without drilling. The Scott's requires a hole(s?) to be drilled and I always try to stay away from mods that alter the stock pieces. I may go with that on the busa someday....if I find the stock damper isn't up to the task.

......I'm stuck on the hyperPro pictured above. I think I am going to order in the next day or two. ....?maybe I will wait a bit????? After that, the 14 will be done except for rearsets.......and Marchesinis (yeah, right way out of my league) always had an intrigue with NOS.