600rr on the Track.

[rjh200]

So I know there are a few people here who race 600rr's and I have a general question. Do you feel that the 600rr needs a Steering Dampner on the track?

A little history: I bought a 600rr race bike that I am converting to a Street bike/ Track day bike and it came with an Ohlin's fork mounted Steering Damper. I had to take the damper off in order to put the stock Fairing back on and my options are listed in the poll.

[JeffL]

Whats the issue with the plastics and the damper?

[Doc]

Unless you are REALLY hustleing the bike I don't think you need a damper.

[KillBill]

Keep tha damper dude

[rjh200]

Whats the issue with the plastics and the damper?

The way the damper mounts to the forks it interferes with the stock fairing. In other words I can't get the stock fairing on when the damper is on.

[SSearchVT]

Whether you need it or not would also depend on the suspension set up you have. If you've dropped the front forks a little the bike could get twitchy - the damper could help.

[gmdboston]

You will need the damper, better rider have tried and failed to ride with out one. It's not a speed issue, but rather one of stability. Keep the damper, it can be made to work with the stock bracket, unless you like broken collar bones and ground off fingers.......

[rjh200]

You will need the damper, better rider have tried and failed to ride with out one. It's not a speed issue, but rather one of stability. Keep the damper, it can be made to work with the stock bracket, unless you like broken collar bones and ground off fingers.......

Hmm collar bone has been broken once and I would like to avoid that again. That is basically what I figured but I was hoping I might be able to justify selling it. The Damper is not an issue with the track plastics, just does not fit with the street plastics. I will keep it and re-install it for the track days.

Thanks Again,
Randy

[akira700]

or sell the Ohlins and get a Scotts which does work with
stock plastics.

Anyway whats the conflict with the Ohlins and the stock plastics
anyway? Just get out the hack saw !

[SVRACER01]

i race without a damper. you could take it off and try a trackday without it and if you get the shiggles then put it back on

[Awesome]

Trade it for a scotts or GPR or adjust the street plastics to fit.

[TTD]

My 2 cents...

Make it work, or sell it and use the money to replace it.

As Pete (GMD) mentioned, others have proven the danger of not having one. Why not benefit from their pain?

And I'm not sure I can agree with the "try it without and if it shakes, get one" method.

Kind of like telling a teenager...

try sex without a condom, and if she gets pregnant, then use one next time.


My point being that the first "shake" may be your last.

[a13x]

After hustling a 2004 CBR600RR (no damper) around VIR for two days I would recommend keeping it. I had a few nasty bouts of headshake.

[highsider]

Dampers are cheap insurance for track days, and make you a lot more confident in your bike. I bought one for my R1, rode it on the track the one day without it, and installed it the following day, and swore I'd never own another sportbike without one.

[OreoGaborio]

After hustling a 2004 CBR600RR (no damper) around VIR for two days I would recommend keeping it. I had a few nasty bouts of headshake.

yeah, i got the shiggles a few times too on that bike. I'd take the advice above, make it work or sell & buy one that will.

[KB]

Damp-en-ers are for fags!

KB

[zombie]

After hustling a 2004 CBR600RR (no damper) around VIR for two days I would recommend keeping it. I had a few nasty bouts of headshake.

Thanks Alex for warming up the tires for me, very nice indeed you are a gentleman and a scholar.
Yeah keep the damper it will really help as you get faster

[Degsy]

Unless you are REALLY hustleing the bike I don't think you need a damper.

Virtual slap to doc here!!!

Sorry dude, bad advice. Ya should definitely have a damper on a track bike.

[akira700]

about dampers...
question for ya:

I just got mine installed (a Scotts on my 600RR)
Its set right now pretty close to wide open.
Are you supposed to feel its effect just riding around?
I dont even notice it.

How do you know when its adjusted right aside from riding fast
at the track and getting headshake?
You should only feel it when you need it right?

-Akira

[Degsy]

Turn it to about half of it's resistance setting. Now try to turn the bars slowly. You should feel a little resistance. Now try to turn the bars fast and you will feel more resistance.

I usually run mine pretty low for the street and turn up the resistance for the track, to the point where I feel some resistance riding around the pits, but not enough that steering is difficult.

derek

[Awesome]

I keep mine set pretty low. I don't mind feeling a little shake it let's me know I'm at a fast pace, but it will stop the bars from slamming around. I have a GPR and set it at about 2 or 2.5 out of 6 for racing.

[akira700]

Thanks

So I see its not a rocket science...
which is good since I'm not a rocket scientist !

[rjh200]

Thanks Everybody and to Akira for asking my next question for me.

[Doc]

Virtual slap to doc here!!!

Sorry dude, bad advice. Ya should definitely have a damper on a track bike.

Damn! How did I miss this... I guess Degs hits like a girl!

Advice noted. I swear someone from here told me I didn't need one until I was really pushing it.

[a13x]

Advice noted. I swear someone from here told me I didn't need one until I was really pushing it.

You are riding a sub-70HP vtwin Hawk, not a 100+HP modernday 600.

I experienced more headshake in 1.5 days of trackriding the 600 than I have in 1.5 years of racing my non-damper Hawk.