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106
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4/28/2015
Location
Saint Johns, MI
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Edited Date/Time
6/1/2021 9:52pm
Looking to buy a steering dampner for my 2020 350sxf. Debating the crf behind the plate type or the under the handle bar type.
Any input, opinions on either? I want to keep my handle bar position/ the same and just looking to calm down the front end on fast stuff.
Thanks.
Any input, opinions on either? I want to keep my handle bar position/ the same and just looking to calm down the front end on fast stuff.
Thanks.
If you’re having problems with the front end being busy in fast rough sections then drop the forks to the top, check your sag are the two free things that can help. The ride engineering performance link is a not free change that does help tho.
Head shake can be caused by too much sag in the rear combined with a stiff front fork, or a loose steering head.
Set your free sag at 30 to 38mm and your race sag to 103. Also tighten your steering head nut so that the bars fall to the side with a little resistance.
https://precision-rp.com/Parabolic-1-18-bar-complete-KTMHusq-non-rubber…
change the fluid to something heavier. At least it did for me. (Ride local moto and scrambles)
If I was doing high speed desert, I'd go with the Scotts unit.
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We all run Scott’s stabilizers. Every single one of us.
Even if you had your bike at some unknown headshake setting, it’ll save your life if you crush a rock certain speeds too. There is a pie setting on there that will literally keep the bars locked straight if you want it to (both directions). I’m not the biggest stabalizer dude but It’s pretty much a safety thing for us at this point. I would not be standing here right now if I didn’t have one
I'm not a fan of raising the bars like the under mount dampers require, throws off the geometry of the bike and can create different problems while trying to solve a problem.
Personally, I've almost always run a top mount, Scotts is my favorite most GPR are fine if you can get a lighter oil put in them. I used to really like the RTT units that were built in to the triple clamps but they had a few quirks you had to be aware of.
I know a lot of guys say "KTMs don't need a damper".... but to me, if you are feeling front end shake you don't want then a damper will most likely cure that and the positives far outweigh the negatives for 99% of people.
I feel my chassis stup is on point. I think it could turn a bit better than it does but when I go steeper the shake gets worse and if I go slack it won’t turn as well.
I feel my age and injuries attribute to a lot of the issues I have. Haha
Maybe head shake is a strong word, it’s never went full devil dance on me but it is twitchy at times.
In Comparison my other bike wich is a 17 yam 250f never even shows a hint of twitch. I guess maybe that could be the problem, switching to different bikes.
About to fit the factory KTM triple clamps off my MX bike onto the FT bike, so going to have to drill and tap a hole in the top of mount it to fasten it on.
Pit Row
OP - Most people that use them love them, especially if they take them off and try without them for a bit.
While the KTMs are indeed fairly stable in my experience, I've been able to get them to headshake on mx tracks at less that 40 MPH.
Additionally, when I run them with steering stabilizers (I run GPR v1, Scotts, and Precision Racing Parabolic), things only get better AND in ways you don't expect - like the bikes are just more forgiving overall without any drawbacks, better cornering, rear end stays more planted, etc.
Summary:
I've run stabilizers on every bike I've owned since ~ 1998/2000 and I've only seen improvement in overall handling and predictability every time - and I say this after riding my curent 2022 KTMs (a 350 and 450 SX-F) without stabilizers for the past 15h on each (30h total) because I didn't have time to install them.
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The best thing about the Scott’s is that you don’t even know it’s there, or that it’s doing anything. It’s kinda like a seatbelt tensioner. If you pull your seatbelt out slowly there no resistance, pull it quick and it locks out.
I run the KTM behind the number plate shock style damper for hare scramble and enduros here in Florida. The goal was to reduce deflection when I hit a hidden palmetto or rock at speed. My bikes are super stable at speed so I didn’t add it for high speed stability. Was really looking for any speed anti-deflection.
After two years, I’m not sure it actually helps with that stuff and I kind of feel it makes the deflection worse because the front end remains straight if I hit something rather than absorbing the impact. Am I crazy?
I ran Scott's for years, then I tried a precision for a year, sold it and picked up another Scotts.
Imho the precision isn't nearly as good as the Scotts.
I didn't see mention of the adjustibility difference between the lot of them.
The Scotts has adjustable sweep degree, independent left and right.
Also the sweep can be narrowed or widened, most importantly there is zero resistance from turnout back to center.
For example if the front wheel gets kicked out left or right and you need to correct the steering back the other direction, your not fighting the stablizer back to center, if it passes center then the stabilizer dampens from center outward in the other direction.
There's also separate high speed, low speed adjustments and itd fairly easy to change the fluid and service the damper.
Not crazy - definitely an adjustment thing IMO.
Is the following crazy? I prefer GPR v1 on 2-strokes, Scotts on 4-strokes, and I am still learning the Precision Racing Parabolic model.
I still love a stabilizer for all applications, but again, was impressed with stock KTM stability/handling.
What this guy said^^^ there’s no dampening between 11-1:00.
I’ve got one valved and with all the hardware if you’re interested. Dragging the front brakes works better to keep the front wheel from climbing. IMO.
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