Fireblade steering damper

[kneeslider]

I have a '97 blade, 16" wheel, no steering damper. When accelerating hard on bumpy surfaces the head stock can give a little shake. The first time this happened I was quite put out but now I tend not to get to excited about it. I was thinking about fitting an aftermarket damper unit like an Olins etc. Just wanted to find out if anyone has any feedback on them. My fear is that this will reduce my ability to turn in quickly although I belive reducing the damping to the min setting should help.

[HEATZ]

Originally Posted by kneeslider

I have a '97 blade, 16" wheel, no steering damper. When accelerating hard on bumpy surfaces the head stock can give a little shake. The first time this happened I was quite put out but now I tend not to get to excited about it. I was thinking about fitting an aftermarket damper unit like an Olins etc. Just wanted to find out if anyone has any feedback on them. My fear is that this will reduce my ability to turn in quickly although I belive reducing the damping to the min setting should help.

standard blade
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they all do that sir!
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get a damper dont fook about with the fork settings if you like it the way it is now damper only needs to be on 3rd click

[HEATZ]

and where in mullingar are ya i got a few friends up that way that could show ya a thing or two about blades
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[wheels]

Originally Posted by kneeslider

I have a '97 blade, 16" wheel, no steering damper. When accelerating hard on bumpy surfaces the head stock can give a little shake. The first time this happened I was quite put out but now I tend not to get to excited about it. I was thinking about fitting an aftermarket damper unit like an Olins etc. Just wanted to find out if anyone has any feedback on them. My fear is that this will reduce my ability to turn in quickly although I belive reducing the damping to the min setting should help.

ive one fitted on a k3 1000,and can turn in just as quick the only draw back is in heavy filtering at lo speeds the bars will feel a little hevier but there easy to adjust on the go just dont forget to wind it back up after the filtering is over

[kneeslider]

Thanks for the info lads, I am based just on the outskirts of the town. Originally a Longford man (Ballymahon) and I know a few of the heat crew. Did you sell the zzr?

The reason I am reluctant to put a damper on is because at the California super bike school @ Mondello some months back Andy Ibbott expressed his hatred for them. He is a guy than when he talks people listen. check out
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I did send him a mail to see if he would respond and this is what he said:

"Some bikes need assistance from a damper because of the radical steering head angles. this helps these bikes to turn much quicker but can make them unstable is some situations.

Now the rider can help a lot by being relaxed on the bars but a damper on a very low setting can help sometimes and although I hate them :-))))) I do believe that on your roads they can be helpful, just find a setting that works but is as low as possible".

Thought I would share his words of wisdom, highly recommend the course, four levels, going back next year for level 2.

[Bino]

Originally Posted by kneeslider

I do believe that on your roads they can be helpful....

understatement there I'd reckon
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Yeah a few of the lads from the site done either one or both of the courses this year as well. One jammy bastard even went over to L.A. and did the next two levels of it over there

Apparently they're going to run four courses next year in Mondello
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I think.....
Plan on doing them myself

[HEATZ]

Originally Posted by kneeslider

Thanks for the info lads, I am based just on the outskirts of the town. Originally a Longford man (Ballymahon) and I know a few of the heat crew. Did you sell the zzr?

The reason I am reluctant to put a damper on is because at the California super bike school @ Mondello some months back Andy Ibbott expressed his hatred for them. He is a guy than when he talks people listen. check out
To view pics on this biker's forum - your post count must be 2 or greater.


I did send him a mail to see if he would respond and this is what he said:

"Some bikes need assistance from a damper because of the radical steering head angles. this helps these bikes to turn much quicker but can make them unstable is some situations.

Now the rider can help a lot by being relaxed on the bars but a damper on a very low setting can help sometimes and although I hate them :-))))) I do believe that on your roads they can be helpful, just find a setting that works but is as low as possible".

Thought I would share his words of wisdom, highly recommend the course, four levels, going back next year for level 2.

now i know who ya are!!!
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say hi to Jhone and Caelum for me
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[kneeslider]

Heatz, think your might be mixing me up with someone else.

[Jay]

Have a damper on the blade , you get used to it and don't notice it when your on the bike , as the lads said , don't put it up too high
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[kneeslider]

However I am trucking with the Longford Westmeath Riders group.

[Bino]

what's the story with the two brake fluids Jay?
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[kneeslider]

Nive one Jay, and nice machine, don't recognise the brand...any recommendations regarding dampers brands..ones to avoid etc.

[HEATZ]

Originally Posted by kneeslider

Heatz, think your might be mixing me up with someone else.

probably was worth a try though!
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[Jay]

They're a much of a muchness , I had a sprint damper , the adjustment was good but it ended up leaking , I think it was just a bad one , I haven't heard of anyone else having problems . I've an ohlins one on the 600 and the wp on the blade ,the more expensive the more adjustment you get but in reality you never use the adjustment much .

[HEATZ]

Originally Posted by kneeslider

Nive one Jay, and nice machine, don't recognise the brand...any recommendations regarding dampers brands..ones to avoid etc.

WP is the old WHITE POWER they had to change there name when some south african twat said the name was raceist
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[col64f]

Had u the Sprint on the Blade Jay,thinkin of Sprint myself for mine

Wot did ya think of it,how long did ya have it b4 it leaked,do they need to be serviced

[urbantiger]

Originally Posted by kneeslider

I have a '97 blade, 16" wheel, no steering damper. When accelerating hard on bumpy surfaces the head stock can give a little shake. The first time this happened I was quite put out but now I tend not to get to excited about it. I was thinking about fitting an aftermarket damper unit like an Olins etc. Just wanted to find out if anyone has any feedback on them. My fear is that this will reduce my ability to turn in quickly although I belive reducing the damping to the min setting should help.

Go for For it!
I`ve got one for my CBR FS and I love it, it`s worth every cent I pait for it...
In around town I keep it down on 2nd click, on open road it`s 3rd or 4th or so...
And it feels much better and safer for me...

Just dont forget to reduce the damping you get of Motorway onto some small road, you just wont be able to turn
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I nearly ended up in a gap
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just few days after I got it
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[kneeslider]

Jay, Heatz, seeing as both of ye are locals I will take the oppertunity to plug my new plastic heat gun suitable for welding plastic. Very suitable for fairing cracks and breaks.
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Let me know if I can be off resistance at some stage, would be happy to help out.
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[Jay]

Had u the Sprint on the Blade Jay,thinkin of Sprint myself for mine

Wot did ya think of it,how long did ya have it b4 it leaked,do they need to be serviced

Only had it a couple of months and it leaked , having said that I had one on a different bike and it never gave any trouble , don't know about servicing , I know you can get a kit to rebuild them but it's probably as easy to replace it , afaik the kit in the picture is the sprint fitting kit with the wp damper in it .

Jay, Heatz, seeing as both of ye are locals I will take the oppertunity to plug my new plastic heat gun suitable for welding plastic. Very suitable for fairing cracks and breaks.
Let me know if I can be off resistance at some stage, would be happy to help out.

LOL , put the mockers on us ye whore !!! I don't need anything plastic welded .............yet
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[kneeslider]

This looks like the job.

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