re: Steering Dampers
Wed Oct 20, 2004 3:59 pm
Hey Quark, to be honest with you, suspension set-up will only get you so far. You don't weigh much (IIRC) and this means that the only way to get a good set-up is to fit correct rate (strength) fork springs & shock spring.
For example, your bikes front fork springs are rated at 9.00kg/mm. For street use, this would suit a rider of approx 100kilo's!!!! A 50 kilo rider would need a spring rate of about 0.700kg/mm.
Go to this link
http://www.racetech.com/evalving/SpringRateCalculation/dirtspring.asp?brand=Kawasaki&yr=04&ml=ZX-6R%20B2&formuse=form1&SpringType=Fork - type your weight INCLUDING RIDING GEAR (kg x 2.2 = lb's) in the box and you will get an idea what spring rate you will need. Price is in USD but you can get Racetech springs from just about any decent bikeshop. Price should be about AUD$180 - I've bought them before.
Not sure about rear springs as Racetech don't list them yet but a call to a motorbike suspension specialist should get you pointed in the right direction.
In the end, a set of fork/shock springs (supplied & fitted) may end up costing you almost as much as a cheap steering damper, but you will appreciate the difference.
You will get heaps more confident in your riding which translates to becoming faster and safer.
For example, your bikes front fork springs are rated at 9.00kg/mm. For street use, this would suit a rider of approx 100kilo's!!!! A 50 kilo rider would need a spring rate of about 0.700kg/mm.
Go to this link
http://www.racetech.com/evalving/SpringRateCalculation/dirtspring.asp?brand=Kawasaki&yr=04&ml=ZX-6R%20B2&formuse=form1&SpringType=Fork - type your weight INCLUDING RIDING GEAR (kg x 2.2 = lb's) in the box and you will get an idea what spring rate you will need. Price is in USD but you can get Racetech springs from just about any decent bikeshop. Price should be about AUD$180 - I've bought them before.
Not sure about rear springs as Racetech don't list them yet but a call to a motorbike suspension specialist should get you pointed in the right direction.
In the end, a set of fork/shock springs (supplied & fitted) may end up costing you almost as much as a cheap steering damper, but you will appreciate the difference.
You will get heaps more confident in your riding which translates to becoming faster and safer.
re: Steering Dampers
Wed Oct 20, 2004 6:45 pm
Cheers Wannabe, appriciate your trouble. Will look into it 
re: Steering Dampers
Wed Oct 20, 2004 7:27 pm
Hey I have already suggested you go & see Paul @ MPE Beerwah as he did the rear shock on my bike.
He's also the QLD Racetech shop & his phone number is: 54390088
He commented that std, the 03/04(ZX636) are setup for around 85-95kg or there abouts & I had my shock revalved & a lighter spring fitted as I only weigh around 75kg's plus gear. It cost me $365approx? ride in ride out. Paul kept the std valve, but changed all the shims around.
I regularly get headshake on my 636 where there's bumps & I'm accelerating hard in 2nd & 3rd with the front wheel just off the ground, it's cool fun & lets you know it all happening, but a damper would certainly tame the beast down, I guess it all depends on how wild a ride you want.
As for the steering damper if it was me I'd go for the Scotts/Ohlins simply the best & you can change it to another bike & just buy another mounting kit where as most steering dampers are model specific.
The other thing, How can you go past Ohlins?
BTW Hopefully this is the top mounted unit you are talking about.
He's also the QLD Racetech shop & his phone number is: 54390088
He commented that std, the 03/04(ZX636) are setup for around 85-95kg or there abouts & I had my shock revalved & a lighter spring fitted as I only weigh around 75kg's plus gear. It cost me $365approx? ride in ride out. Paul kept the std valve, but changed all the shims around.
I regularly get headshake on my 636 where there's bumps & I'm accelerating hard in 2nd & 3rd with the front wheel just off the ground, it's cool fun & lets you know it all happening, but a damper would certainly tame the beast down, I guess it all depends on how wild a ride you want.
As for the steering damper if it was me I'd go for the Scotts/Ohlins simply the best & you can change it to another bike & just buy another mounting kit where as most steering dampers are model specific.
The other thing, How can you go past Ohlins?
BTW Hopefully this is the top mounted unit you are talking about.
Last edited by gizmo on Thu Oct 21, 2004 7:30 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: re: Steering Dampers
Thu Oct 21, 2004 12:54 am
[quote="Mica9R
.
Reading this thread I must ride like a Nancy( Leaving myself open here!! ) .[/quote]
its highly likely
neka
.
Reading this thread I must ride like a Nancy( Leaving myself open here!! ) .[/quote]
its highly likely
neka
re: Steering Dampers
Thu Oct 21, 2004 2:00 pm
C'mon Neka you must be still hung over from PI other wise you wouldn't have left yourself open to the obvious come back to that mate.
A Nancy on a bike has got to getting more Jollies then a Neka on foot with a repair parts bill.
One word mate ...... Berrocca.
Cheers Brett
A Nancy on a bike has got to getting more Jollies then a Neka on foot with a repair parts bill.
One word mate ...... Berrocca.
Cheers Brett
re: Steering Dampers
Thu Oct 21, 2004 2:18 pm
Heres a link to a thread on my other group, TrakDaze. Lots of talk about head shake on there and some tips from Steve Brouggy from Aus superbike School.
Its a long thread and gets way to deep but interesting none the less..
http://groups.msn.com/TrakDaze/offtopic ... 23&CDir=-1
Its a long thread and gets way to deep but interesting none the less..
http://groups.msn.com/TrakDaze/offtopic ... 23&CDir=-1
re: Steering Dampers
Thu Oct 21, 2004 8:15 pm
Hehe Neka, suppose thats why am riding my bike still and is in one piece!!! 
re: Steering Dampers
Mon Oct 25, 2004 12:04 am
Well I thought I would have a look at this forum to see what they fit to a 636 for a steering damper there is a spot on the frame to fit one so i think a engineer at kawasaki thought it might need one but sales wanted to keep the price down.
A lot of it can be fixed by correct setup in the first place but when you start raising and lowering the bike (lift the back or drop the forks through the tripleclamps) geometry suffers one way or the other, this would be the best setup guide I have seen and it worked for me with the limited adjustment I have on my 250 http://www.gostar-racing.com/club/motor ... set-up.htm
print and staple and take it to your next track day and it will all make sense after that.
My 250 also suffers from headshake you either have twitchie quick steering and headshake or a stable bike that you have to push a lot harder into corners, it all depends what you do on the bike and how you like it for you.
Oh yeh you have to be rideing it pretty hard up the hills before you get a problem generally.
A lot of it can be fixed by correct setup in the first place but when you start raising and lowering the bike (lift the back or drop the forks through the tripleclamps) geometry suffers one way or the other, this would be the best setup guide I have seen and it worked for me with the limited adjustment I have on my 250 http://www.gostar-racing.com/club/motor ... set-up.htm
print and staple and take it to your next track day and it will all make sense after that.
My 250 also suffers from headshake you either have twitchie quick steering and headshake or a stable bike that you have to push a lot harder into corners, it all depends what you do on the bike and how you like it for you.
Oh yeh you have to be rideing it pretty hard up the hills before you get a problem generally.