| Author | Message | ||
     Ingemar  |
The XB LSL Steering Damper that mounts below the steering head, that is. Installation is a breeze, everything fits like a glove. And guess what? It works too! Not particularly cheap, but given the facts mentioned above well worth it. Including reading about the motor mount and torque specs listed in the service manual, it took me less than 30 minutes to install it. I came prepared though, I had spent another 1 1/2 hours finding the darn tools needed to do the job. | ||
| Rpmchris |
Is this the damper that runs "east & west" or the one that runs "north & south" like the Storz? I think Dago has the LSL and it runs east/west. Much cleaner design, IMHO. How much and where? (Message edited by rpmchris on December 26, 2004) | ||
| Al_lighton  |
I've just added this to the American Sport Bike store, have 4 in stock. They will likely go fast, but I'll have more on order next week. See http://www.americansportbike.com/shop/cgi-bin/cp-app.cgi?usr=51F9003943&rnd=4617 435&rrc=N&affl=&cip=&act=&aff=&pg=prod&ref=9048&cat=&catstr= Al | ||
| P0p0k0pf |
I'd like to fit a Scotts damper to my S1... That'll be a project for the future... :smile: | ||
| Ingemar |
Yeah, that's the one Al. | ||
| Barkandbite  |
I was just about to post my install notes also. I purchased the "gold" Showa version from Trojan. Al, you keep killing me. I'm too damned impatient to wait. I promise the next LSL thing I buy I'll order it from you... Per my last EMail regarding the fork adjustments, I ended up raising the forks one line through the triples because at the "stock" setting I was not comfortable with the amount of flat surface area for the fork clamp to mount to. Installation could not have been simpler. Everything was included. I needed to make several slight adjustments to where the damper met the retaining clamps to make sure I had no steering lock obstructions. Nothing to it. At any rate, my observations thus far are as follows with the damper set at its lowest setting: 1) Because I raised the forks, initial turn-in is more stiff and slower; I believe I can balance this out with some additional suspension adjustments. At first I thought it was mostly the dampers fault, but I think it has a lot to do with the adjustment to rake. 2) Once the turn is initiated the bike lays over without any drama BUT it's incredibly more solid in mid-corner and corner-exit; the front wheel doesn't want to bobble any longer and I can modulate the rear brake with more confidence if I go in a little hot. 3) I can hang off the bike like a monkey now since some of the initial drag occured because of my movement on the bars. It's quite a lot of fun. Previously, the bike was overly sensitive to any hand movement on the bars, now it's just as I like it... 4) Cruising on the freeway is SO much nicer since the wind hitting my chest used to cause a push-pull oscillation with my arms against the bars which lead to a buzzing wobble of sorts at the higher speeds. No longer. 5) There is no more high-speed "wobble" whatsoever, especially when laying on the tank All in all, it was an expensive purchase, but the bike now gives me so much more confidence in the corners since I can hang off the bike much farther and hold my lines much easier. Oh, by the way, I dragged my knee (unintentionally) for the first time this week thanks to my gymnastics on the bars thanks to the damper. Would have been nicer if I had sliders on  Chris | ||
| Fullpower  |
you had a high speed wobble? the damper sounds like a cool toy, but did you ever wonder what caused the instability? | ||
| Enigma |
Had ordered the LSL gold from Trojan but the supplier of the gold units had a problem. So getting a Hyper-pro unit with the LSL mounting kit. Couple of weeks time will have it fitted with the Hyper-pro progressive fork springs. Was thinking of getting a new rear shock unit but was thinking is the OE shock a good enough unit, just needing a better spring. Any thoughts? | ||
| Barkandbite |
Full: It's hard for me to characterize it as anything other than a wobble...slight, and only at 95 or higher...it was slight, but there. Been through all the usual suspects; bearings, tires, stem cap nut, suspension settings, and nothing made it completely go away. Perhaps this is a subjective issue because what I classified as a 'wobble' my friends who rode the bike (who are very picky) didn't detect, but I did. But I'm sensitive to sounds others don't hear... So, besides the LSL unit being "...a cool toy," it elminiated the imperfection I detected and now I have the confidence that perhaps it really was just my over sensitivity ... or just normal road feel or wind gusting at those speeds. I'm very happy now. Again, this only happened at 95 and over... Not to worry, the bike's tuned fine...at least for now. Thanks for what you were implying  I got the message, and I don't think it's hiding any large problem. Chris | ||
| Ingemar |
Was thinking of getting a new rear shock unit but was thinking is the OE shock a good enough unit, just needing a better spring. Any thoughts? Hyperpro, like you chose for the forks? I believe they sell 'em in different spring rates to match your weight. But personally, I wouldn't get progressive springs. | ||
| Cataract2 |
Any made to fit the 05's yet? Particularly the XB9SX? | ||
| Wyckedflesh  |
B&B just out of curious...how much wind flutter do you get in your jacket sleeves at that speed? | ||
| Barkandbite |
Wycked -- Good question. A lot more with my ballistic/summer jacket and a lot less with my leather; but not enough difference in terms of transmission to the bars as far as I could tell. I've ridden with both jackets since I installed the dampner, and now there's no difference at all (duh.) Good question. I hinted at that when someone else posted about his high speed wobble, also. I think it's a valid data point. Chris | ||
| Joele |
Speaking of that high speed wobble, I still sense it at higher speeds too. For the most part it went away with rear preload adjustment but I still detect it every now and then. | ||
| Opto |
The XB12S I'm riding has been the best handling, most nimble, forgiving and most stable bike I've ever owned. There must be something going on to make some of the bikes wobble. Just my 2c worth. (Message edited by opto on December 26, 2004) | ||
| Ingemar |
I never felt anything unstable or wobbly. Not even with worn and cupped dunlops, and not with "wrong" suspension setup. I've done top speed several times. I let go of the handle bars regularly. At 85 mph I can let go of the bars and change lanes by shifting weight. Not even wind upsets the bike. Just compensate by shifting weight. I have more confidence on this bike than on any other bike I've ridden. But I like to add that the R1 and the Gixxer I've ridden felt just as good, if not better handling wise. I never pushed my limits on any of these bikes so I wouldn't know how nimble and forgiving they are. All I know is that the few times I've ridden them I was never able to "feel at home". | ||
| Barkandbite |
I didn't mean to rock the boat by making things seem (much) worse than they are. Look, at 80+ MPH, I too can let go of the bars and steer with my knees. Again, it was a small "wobble" -- and maybe that's a bad word for it -- but now it's gone. Perhaps it was just the wind pushing back or the natural harmonics from the road, vibrations, etc. Nonetheless, I'm a happy camper. Chris | ||
| Ingemar |
I wasn't attacking you for your post Chris. I know some have a wobble. I'm not sure why. All I can say about it is that since I have had the Pirelli's mounted, my front is a little wobbly too, but at low speeds only. The faster I get, the less the wobble gets. It never dissapears though. I will go back to the dealer to have them look at it. Unless I dial up the damper all the way, the damper doesn't help for my wobble either. | ||
| Barkandbite |
Ing -- Sorry bro, didn't even see your post as any sort of "attack," I was just letting everyone know that the defintion of a "wobble" seems to be quite subjective and I don't think the dampener's "hiding" anything I haven't tried to fix...or thought that I could. My friends don't sense it, even @ speed. I've come to the conclusion that what I think is a wobble is really just normal feedback from aero, road/suspension, or gear flutter (like air under my helmet.) At any rate, didn't mean you to think I thought you were pitching one @ me, Ing. I apologize if it seemed that way. I have my LSL set @ the lowest setting and now it's gone. Can you even freakin' turn with it turned all the way up!? Chris | ||
| Opto |
Bark, the XB's are very sensitive to steering input and also put out through the handlebars some feedback/feel that you don't often get from other bikes. Once you get used to it, it's really good. It took me around 5000 miles to fully appreciate. | ||
| Court |
Actually, I've used, when describing testing, the term "wobble" to describe a motion center on the steering axis and "weave" as one centered on the center of mass. Not sure these are "defined" but it's how i have differentiated twinxt the two. | ||
| Barkandbite |
That makes mine a "weable" then! | ||
| Dcmortalcoil |
The steering damper would exacerbate the wobble - perhaps due to tire imperfection - in my opinion. People with steering damper try this in an empty parking lot. Set the damper all the way to the highest setting (fully close) and drive at SLOW speed (less than 10 mph). You may find your bike oscillating left and right ever so slightly. That is, it would be extremely difficult to go straight; instead it snakes or zigzag (oscillates) ever so slightly, but noticeable at very low speeds. This all disappears above 10 mph. I really don't know what causes this on my bike, but I think it has to do with the tire. I replaced the stock with Metzler M1 and the slow speed wobble (oscillation rate) decreased, but it's still there, however small. | ||
| Ingemar |
As soon as the rain and snow dissapears I'll give it a try. I'll keep you posted. Btw, I have mine set to 4 of 6 (6 is stiffest). | ||
| M1combat  |
"This all disappears above 10 mph. " Not quite  . Motorcycles always "wobble". | ||
| Joele |
I asked the Rider's Edge instructor, who taught the course I took, about this and his thoughts are that the bike has such a short wheel base that wind will always cause some degree of oscillation at higher speed. | ||
| Barkandbite |
Btw, I have mine set to 4 of 6 (6 is stiffest). I guess that's the difference between the silver unit and the gold unit -- I have 13/14 clicks of adjustment as far as I can tell... Anyone else have the Showa Gold version? Chris | ||
| Ingemar |
Chris, Although I have clicks, I can set in between clicks to make smaller adjustments (I wouldn't notice the difference though). I thought the showa gold also had a better valve or membrane, whatever it's called. |
