revtothelimit - motorbike forum

Have we had the steering damper discussion ? None of my zx6 had one or indeed ever felt like they needed one. Is it standard ?

Couchy wrote: Mon Jan 10, 2022 8:51 pm Have we had the steering damper discussion ? None of my zx6 had one or indeed ever felt like they needed one. Is it standard ?

Yup standard. It's more a question of it not working rather than whether it's needed so to speak.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175052395186 ... SwNnVhkVxp

You should treat her to a recent model R1. They seem to be the track bike of choice.

It's what I'd buy, If I did track days and had any money.

Well if you don't need the damper who gives a shit if it works?

Weeksy, that's who.

Mr. Dazzle wrote: Mon Jan 10, 2022 9:19 pm Well if you don't need the damper who gives a shit if it works?

Weeksy, that's who.

Who says you don't need it? They fitted it to the zx6 for 3 years and the model after has it as an aftermarket performance part option. So clearly Kawasaki thought it may need it.

But it does open a nice debate on track use of one on a 600 for example

The only time I wished I had a damper when I didn't have one was my old R6 on the road.

It had two big hits in the rev range at 10k and 12k, both would make it shake it's head.

Most of the time I classed it as character... except the time I hit 12k at the same time as I hit a level crossing.

I was 100% sure I was dead. Must have gone lock to lock half a dozen times.

Never had anything like that on track.

Well that escalated a little.... coldest morning in the world in the garage... Brrrrrr..

Thought to myself, better drag the bike ready to go tomorrow to MSG Racing...

Then remembered it'll need an MOT in the next few weeks.

Oh bunch of arse, so had to fit the lights, mirrors and number plate etc... Cold still !!!!

Going to get the bolts out for the plate hanger... "oh, bearings.... yeah"... Need to get the rear wheel powder coated and the rear brake line replaced after the non-tightening of the bolt issue. So that's on the list too.

Anyway, it's all good and ready now to take over tomorrow.

You don’t need to fit them for the mot, if they’re removed then it will just have an advisory for them. If the lights are fitted and they don’t work then it’s a fail but if they’re removed then it’s ok, same with indicators and mirrors.

KungFooBob wrote: Mon Jan 10, 2022 9:32 pm The only time I wished I had a damper when I didn't have one was my old R6 on the road.

It had two big hits in the rev range at 10k and 12k, both would make it shake it's head.

Most of the time I classed it as character... except the time I hit 12k at the same time as I hit a level crossing.

I was 100% sure I was dead. Must have gone lock to lock half a dozen times.

Never had anything like that on track.

I had a first gen R6, it nearly killed me as I came off the A25 onto the A22 towards Caterham, I was accelerating hard leant over when I hit a bump that had never bothered my 7R, it went lock to lock a few times before I knew what had happened and then straightened itself out..........I treated it with a bit more respect after that.

wull wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 11:17 am You don’t need to fit them for the mot, if they’re removed then it will just have an advisory for them. If the lights are fitted and they don’t work then it’s a fail but if they’re removed then it’s ok, same with indicators and mirrors.

No reason to not fit them, it's 15 minutes work and it needs the plate anyway, which also holds the indicators, so it doesn't add any time really.

I get that but was going on your “oh bunch of arse” comment which made it sound like it was a chore for you.

MingtheMerciless wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 11:17 am

KungFooBob wrote: Mon Jan 10, 2022 9:32 pm The only time I wished I had a damper when I didn't have one was my old R6 on the road.

It had two big hits in the rev range at 10k and 12k, both would make it shake it's head.

Most of the time I classed it as character... except the time I hit 12k at the same time as I hit a level crossing.

I was 100% sure I was dead. Must have gone lock to lock half a dozen times.

Never had anything like that on track.

I had a first gen R6, it nearly killed me as I came off the A25 onto the A22 towards Caterham, I was accelerating hard leant over when I hit a bump that had never bothered my 7R, it went lock to lock a few times before I knew what had happened and then straightened itself out..........I treated it with a bit more respect after that.

I test rode a 2003 R6, the front end was a little lively, mostly caused by the rear end compressing under acceleration, I bought a 2002 GSXR750 instead, it handled loads better.

They'd tamed it by 2003. The early R6's put hairs on your chest.

I had an early R6 and it wasn’t anything to write home about, cracking bike but wouldn’t say it had to be tamed.

And compared to now you’d probably fall asleep, the early R1’s feel broken when you ride them now.

wull wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 4:00 pm I had an early R6 and it wasn’t anything to write home about, cracking bike but wouldn’t say it had to be tamed.

And compared to now you’d probably fall asleep, the early R1’s feel broken when you ride them now.

I'm going to make you ride an mt07!

I really liked my 98 R1, I found the best way to cure front end liveliness was to accelerate.

Le_Fromage_Grande wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 4:48 pm I really liked my 98 R1, I found the best way to cure front end liveliness was to accelerate.

I liked all 5 of mine.

Only owned one early one, ridden loads on track, last was a race spec one but after riding my 1299 it was lack lustre. I really enjoyed my 5PW, I thought that was a cracking bike for the money, looked great as well.

My 4C8 race bike was fantastic, miss that bike.

wull wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 6:00 pm Only owned one early one, ridden loads on track, last was a race spec one but after riding my 1299 it was lack lustre. I really enjoyed my 5PW, I thought that was a cracking bike for the money, looked great as well.

My 4C8 race bike was fantastic, miss that bike.

Owned a couple of 5vy but never the 2008. I had a 5pw too, I've had a few R1s for sure. I think it's 9-10 of them

5 zx6s too.