Steering Stabilizer

[MAXIMAN]

Anybody ever mounted a steering stabilizer to an Eleven?

I don't think anyone makes one to fit an Eleven specifically but I'm seriously thinking about trying to retro fit a steering stabilzer to my Maxim.

I have gotten so used to this 2005 ZRX stable steering platform I want to have it on my Maxim.

Any ideas?

[Pat Kelly]

There are universal kits available (I think). Adapting one from another bike shouldnt be too difficult. Especially if it's from an older bike.
I posed this same thread several years ago (on the Yahoo group, before this forum) and I was pretty much told that I shouldn't need one.
Well, after adding Tkat forkbrace, progressive front springs, new tires, new steering head bearings (adjusted correctly), I still get a shimmy from 125 to 129 MPH. Above and below that is fine, that 4 MPH is the 'pucker zone'.
Anymore I let-off at 110 MPH anyway and I don't go there very often.
A leisurely cruise at 95MPH in the countryside is relaxing and therapudic. That I do fairly regularly

[fxrer]

Pat,


I, too, used to have a front end shimmy over 100+ mph (I doubt it was 125, though!). I checked everything, to no avail. Then once when the wheel was off, I happened to check the wheel runout, per the Clymer manual procedure, and found that it exceeded the max allowable (by about 1mm, if I remember). I bought another wheel on E-Bay (happened to be from an XS650), checked that it was within spec, installed it, and shimmy is gone!

Thinking back, I remember hitting a curb years ago (with the old wheel), which caused the bike to go over. That may have been created the problem.

[MAXIMAN]

Pat

What is bugging me is something that didn't used to until I bought a new Kawasaki ZRX.

When riding down the highway and I hit a ridge in the road the XJ will shimmy a little then settle down. The ZRX is rock solid. No it does not have a stabilizer.

I've checked my Maxim and all is well....fork barce...tires...new seals and springs are good. As a matter of fact I have felt this "shimmy" in all Elevens I've owned. It's not particularly bad and nothing new. I'm just wanting to improve the handling.

The full dressed Elevens just magnify the shake. I guess the added weight on the front end does it.

[Pat Kelly]

Consider it the "personality" of a 25 year old bike.
Something the new cookie-cutter bikes lack. Not that that's a bad thing <Seinfeld>.
I found that tires effect road feel. Brand, age, wear, air pressure all chip-in their .02 cents worth.
It's like the difference in handling between a 69 Mustang Boss 429 and a 2006 SVO Mustang GT. They're just different beasts.

[MAXIMAN]

True that. I still like the stability of this new ZRX.

But nothing...absolutely nothing...can replace this old Eleven. They simply don't make 'em like this anymore.

[TopCatGr58]

Shopping for Stabilizers

Hey there Maximan,

I did a little shopping around, here's what I've found.
MikesXS has "everything", however their clamps only go up to 35mm diameter for the 650's Our XS11's are 37mm. Mike's Damper looks just like the one shown on Old Bike Barn, at half the price, wish they had the right size clamp, it's also half the price. But you'll have to get one from OBB to be able to fit!

DK has some, but are VERY PRICEY, and are not listed as "universal" fitments, so you'd have to go to the SHINDY web site and search for what would fit!?

T.C.

Hydraulic Steering Damper
Hydraulic Steering Damper - 7 position adjustable in 20Lb. force increments.
Quality Made in Japan. Ideal for sidecar or racing use. Frame bracket must be
fabricated to adapt to your application.


Part #28-4008 $48.00 USD EA.

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Alloy Bracket
Alloy Bracket - For Fork tube end of our Hydraulic Steering Damper.
Fits: 35mm. Fork tubes on Yamaha XS650's (1977-84). Made in Japan


Part #28-4001 $20.00 USD EA.

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Old Bike Barn:

Black 85mm Stroke Steering Damper
2036 | Category: Brakes and Chassis | Part: Steering Dampers | OBB Part #: 28-4008



Description:
Hydraulic Steering Damper. Seven Stage adjustments in 20 lbs. force increments. Lighter settings used for high speed and sharp turning radius turns. Heavier settings used for low speeds and rough road conditions. 85mm stroke length x 185mm Body Length x Total length 270mm. Black Painted Steel case. Same as Kawasaki OEM #: 46117-006

Applications: Universal

$99.95
-------------------------------------
2pc. 37mm. Aluminum Bracket Damper Mounts
2039 | Category: Brakes and Chassis | Part: Steering Dampers | OBB Part #: 28-4003



Description:
2pc Billet aluminum brackets to mount dampers to fork tubes. 37mm

Applications: Universal

$42.95

******************************************
BikeBandit:

Shindy #17113

Shindy Daytona Steering Stabilizer Price Range: Loading...
Common Features -

Order InfoDaytona Steering Stabilizer
Dennis Kirk Part #: 581839
Manufacturer Part #: 17113
Daytona Steering Stabilizer

Part Number - (Price)
581839 - ($175.00)
Quantity:
1 on Hand

Originally Priced: $251.99
Closeout Price: $175.00

[mro]

I hit a ridge in the road the XJ will shimmy

riding out on 580 (livermore/pleasanton area) it has to be one of the worst freeways around. groves/ridges/split concrete etc.....

My 80G would wobble enough hitting ridge/grooves that I quit ridding there.

Few weeks ago decided to check front wheel bearings and pulled wheel off. All looked/felt peachy, so put back together.

Now when hitting same type of road "wobble" has diminished dramatically. Think alignment screwed up?!



mro

[MAXIMAN]

TC

Thanks for the tip. I bought a stabilizer for a GSXR on Ebay. I'm going to see fi it can be retro-fitted to Zilla. If not I may buy a Bike Barn universal.

However I think the 37mm billet clamp will work with this Gixxer damper.

[motoman]

Hey there Maximan.........My 81H Venturer has never in the 25yrs. of it's life has had any shimmy or wooble at over 100mph. Tire choices and especially inflation can seriously affect and cause that problem. It is most definitly not an inherit problem with the XS's.........trust me on that. As you know the Venturer is a factory full dresser, so the extra weight of the fairing(which is only another 20lbs., maybe 25 with the stereo housing) has no effect on front cept for when front tire isn't up there at the 40+psi. The only time I've noticed a 'wagging' effect at short high speed accelerations is when having two different brand tires front and rear and not having rear spring load and dampening balanced with air pressure in front forks. The H is now rolling with Metzlers on it(ME33 Lazer 3.25/19 front instead of traditional 3.50 or 100/90/19, which has speedo dead on now and 130/90/17 ME55 rear which is no longer available) Years ago used to run the Conti's, but the K series is no longer avalible for rear. Have also run Dunlops(Elite 2 when they first came out some 20+ yrs. ago, and Dunlop warrentied them for 10,000 miles then.) Have noticed that the Metzlers have been the best handling tire on this bike thus far, and occassionally touching a peg in a corner it absolutely doesn't 'wag' at all under load of hard cornering and doesn't have a fork brace either. True enough, My Venture isn't gonna 'hang' as well as my Honda ST, but it was the sport tourer of that time, and still does it all fairly well, all things considered.

[MAXIMAN]

Originally posted by motoman
Hey there Maximan.........My 81H Venturer has never in the 25yrs. of it's life has had any shimmy or wooble at over 100mph. Tire choices and especially inflation can seriously affect and cause that problem. It is most definitly not an inherit problem with the XS's.........trust me on that.

Strange. I've noticed it on every XS I've owned. I've had two in just the past 12 months. '79 SF and a '80 SF full dresser.

Now having said that it's not extremely noticable and has nothing to do with speed per se. As a matter of fact Zeus (my '79 SF) is rock like at 120 to 125 mph.

No, where it occurs is on the full dressers I've had and not due to speed. It happens upon encountering small bumps at most any speed.

But then maybe I'm just overly sensitive...

[motoman]

Well Max.......my memory kinda fades with age, but I do seem to remember way back when when the 81H (and I) were a lot younger that I encountered the same problem. I seem to remember I attributed it to at least two of the three combinations that existed on the front of bike; a bit low tire pressure......not having close to exact air pressure in both front forks and using a cheap Jap tire on front. Not changing oil in forks when I should've, I would compensate by running 17-19psi in them to make up for soft dampening and same with tire pressure upwards of 45-50psi. Now being older and a bit wiser(Ihope) I keep pretty good check on fork air pressure and tire pressure. A bit of head shake showing up can usually be attributed to at least two of those three things. As some brand of tires can show some cupping after use (specifically some dunlops and brigstones) can cause some headshake as it has on my ST, specificly at 45-47mph, even though they are steel belt radials. The one thing we really don't have control over is crown in road, as it will cause tires, front and rear to wear on left side a bit more than right side. They all do if you take a look. That in combination of some cupping from heavy front braking in corners and sidewall construction seems to amplify the problem as tire wears. Guarentee, you put two new QUALITY tires, matched same manufacturer on these or any bike and they and these problems strangely dissapear, till tire wears to almost half its life, then at least I seem to play with tire pressure, fork dampening, etc. more often. Having said all that, if you run Dunlops or Metzlers on that bike you'll be a 'happy camper'.............and keep that front and rear psi at 40-44 it'll be all good.

[MAXIMAN]

Well right now the tires are questionable.

I have a brand new set of Avon Venoms in the shop I'll be putting on.

But now that I've developed a little fork leak that could be another issue.

[motoman]

Yeppers, the dampening is gonna not be the same with both forks. Rebuild both and same cc's of oil in both with the new skins you'll be amazed at the difference.

[MAXIMAN]

TC

FYI...I bought a Pro Tek 37mm fork tube clamp at Parts411.com for $25! Looks very similar to the one at OBB.

I will be installing the Gixxer stabilizer I bought on Ebay for $20 sometime next week. If it works I'll document with photos and post it back here. If it works...big IF....if it works I only have about 55 or 60 bux tied up in it.

I am also going to totally upgrade the front end. New inner fork tubes from Frank's. Obviously new seals and oil. But I am upgrading the front end with Progressive Springs while I'm at it.

The best price I found for those was $49 from mawonline.com . If you've never been there they have some great price on all sorts of stuff.