• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

Steering Stabilizer

  • Thread starter Thread starter akreider
  • Start date Start date
A

akreider

Guest
Has anyone installed a stabilizer on their bikes or know of a post that describes the mod?

I know that these bikes are stable if everything is properly adjusted and maintained. But. since I am doing an entire teardown I want to go overkill and be safe than sorry. (front and rear upgrades coming)

Thanks
 
Use the search tool to find threads in the archive. Like this one.
http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=67767&highlight=steering+stabilizer
I did a quick review, and most opinions are that a steering stabilizer is a band-aid instead of an actual problem solver. I tend to agree. I have no steering stabilizers on any of my bikes, and I've had 'em up over 100 mph with no problems.

I did have a steering challenge on my '80 1100E this past summer. Turned out the forks needed new springs and oil, and the steering head bearings were bone dry. Here's my thread on that if you want to review it.
http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=97264

Point is, if your suspension is maintained properly the steering stabilizer is probably unnecessary.
 
I did a little searching but didnt see any pics showing modified mounts. I agree that the stabilizers are sometimes used as bandaids but I would like to have that little extra control to adjust the suspension. On my bike right now the suspension is in good working order (everything checked) but I still noticed a little shake when I was approaching 140 mph.

I am definitly going to be installing one just looking for a little help designing it.
 
my gs 1000 came with one. looks like they welded a lug on the downtube. it is overkill. i run it full soft cuz it slows down the already slow steering. no wobbles, ever
 
Below is what I did to my 1100 frame. It's a bolt on only setup. If your not running an oil cooler there are two bolt holes you can bolt a flat piece of metal too. Then you can mount the stabilizer to it with a locknut behind the plate and the other end to the fork leg. Works for me, no welding needed, just alittle cutting of metal and drilling 3 holes. Doesn't hit the tank, fork legs or exhaust pipes.

I also intalled and o-ring between the pinch mount and the swivel to prevent the stabilizer from flopping up and down alittle. If you install one you'll see what I mean.

ss7.jpg
 
Thanks for the reply but I will most likely be going with a stabilizer mounted on top of the steering stem. I plan on welding two tabs onto the frame shown in the attached pic where I can bolt the stabilizer to the frame. I designed those tabs so I could use this cheaper stabilizer first
326.jpg


then later be able to upgrade to this type which is a few hundred more.
IT7865_HWebPhotosR6-03OHLINS.jpg



I just want to clarify the reason for this modification. It is not to fix a wobble caused by loose steering stem nut or something else. I want to have this as an extra safety feature to prevent of lessen jerking of the handlebars when hitting a pot hole or other obstruction. I want that little extra that I may never need or possibly help me keep control if I have to suddenly swerve to avoid an accident.
Thanks
 
hey im with you better to hav it and not need it, than need it and not hav it!
 
personally i think the slower steering response with a stabilizer is more dangerous
 
Well the way I see it is that the steering is only as fast as you are strong and quick. But if it is to much I'll be able to take it off rather than try put it on later and have to tear apart the front to weld on the brackets.
 
You're using a GSXR front end in your rebuild - a steering stabilizer is STOCK. :D

Plus those really nice stabilizers you showed pics of will bolt on.
 
Last edited:
roadron said:
yeah you, the crazy aussie, thx 4 the link
Click to expand...

LOL, I'm in Utah actually.

One bit I neglected to mention is the fact that you'll need to weld a bracket to your steering head to mount the GSXR steering dampener.

Here's a pic of YJ's GS1000 with the 2003 GSXR 1000 front end with steering dampener installed:

pb-article1.jpg
 
Last edited:
akreider said:
Thanks for the reply but I will most likely be going with a stabilizer mounted on top of the steering stem. I plan on welding two tabs onto the frame shown in the attached pic where I can bolt the stabilizer to the frame. I designed those tabs so I could use this cheaper stabilizer first
326.jpg


then later be able to upgrade to this type which is a few hundred more.
IT7865_HWebPhotosR6-03OHLINS.jpg



I just want to clarify the reason for this modification. It is not to fix a wobble caused by loose steering stem nut or something else. I want to have this as an extra safety feature to prevent of lessen jerking of the handlebars when hitting a pot hole or other obstruction. I want that little extra that I may never need or possibly help me keep control if I have to suddenly swerve to avoid an accident.
Thanks
Click to expand...

IMO, you feel the need for a steering damper for all the wrong reasons. There is absolutely NO need for a stabilizer on a street driven bike. They are very necessary out on the track, where high speed headshake is ocassionaly an issue. If you crash, a damper is NOT going to save you from injury, if anything, a damper will HINDER a quick evasive action with the handlebars. A steering damper slows down the handlebar "sweep" action. I have a Scotts damper on my KX500 (KX500's inherantly have hefty headshake issues). So I needed to add one. They are generally very expensive, and on a GS, I don't see any way to go with the "top triple tree" mount method as the fuel tank is too close to the triple clamp. Heres a pic of the Scotts weld on kit on my 500:

 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top