KX500 Steering Stabilizers

[hughes]

I went to put my damper on (I own this company www.motosportz.com) but my vintage 87 has the bar mounts at an angle to the triple so it is going to take a little rethink.

I changed my 87 front end for a 89 front forks and clamps. The bar mounts are straight up on the 89 and new 500's. I hope to buy a damper soon myself.

[dans89kx500]

I need your opinions and knowledge on steering damper/stabilizers. Do you use them on your KX500's? Before I spend $500-$600 on a kit. I would like some information from people with experience. I'm looking into the "SUB" mount style.

Thanks
 

[Danger4u2]

I'm not a hard core fast rider.  I think that's where the dampers come into play the most. In the woops section.  I have a top mount and the underbar mount also.  I have not tried to remove the damper from the sub mount on my KX500AF (KX450F chassis) but it looks like you would have to remove the bars to remove the damper. Each application is different so keep that in mine if you plan on using 1 damper for more than 1 bike.  I'm more of an off road single track rider.  Last time I rode my CR500R at the local riding area, I did not have a damper on the bike.  There has been allot of tree damage because of the freezing rain last winter that brought many large limbs down across the trail.  We had been riding about 4 hours and I was getting tired.  I was crossing an 8" limb that was across the trail at a 45 degree angle.  I did not get the front wheel up enough and when I hit, it deflected the front wheel so hard it yanked the handle bar from my left hand.  Down I went.  I think if I was on my AF bike with the damper I would have been able to hang on.  Since then I have gone to Pro Taper fat bars with the Scott's under mount.  When I get a little more coin in my pocket I will purchase the damper for that bike.
If you plan on swapping between bikes they all need the same mount.  The top mount damper arm is different than the sub mount damper arm.

[BasketCase]

Dan, I have a Scott set up that I removed from my '94, I could not use it with the Rox risers I put on. If you are interested, I think i still have all the parts to it and will make you a deal.  I'm pretty sure it was  a top mount though.

[maddoggy]

hey basket, if dan does not want that stablizer, i am interested. let me know please.

[ktmdude]

Danger, it is the same arm, just turned around. I got a link arm puller from scotts. I forget what I paid but it is less than $50. It is pretty straight forward. I removed mine from the old wr (over mt) and put it on the new 300 (sub mt), not a big deal. I don't think that I would switch back and forth for day ride. If I was overhaulin a bike and was gonna ride the other one i would switch.

Back to op, my uncle has a scotts over mount on his 91 k5 and loves it. I wouldn't want to ride without it. I am a huge fan of stabilizers and have them on all my bikes. (switch back and fourth between wr/300) The wr doesn't get ridden much. Most all the people I ride with have one and feel the same way. I have posted some thoughts on stabilizers in Tips and Tricks.

[Polar-Bus]

I need your opinions and knowledge on steering damper/stabilizers. Do you use them on your KX500's? Before I spend $500-$600 on a kit. I would like some information from people with experience. I'm looking into the "SUB" mount style.

Thanks
 

It's been discussed a lot. Do some searching under "Scotts"

here's one of mine:

http://www.kxriders.com/forums/index.php/topic,2498.0.html

[dirtjunkie85]

The GPR Is great, They also have great customer service. They have a lifetime warranty last time i checked. But from what I've heard the Scott is great as well. I've even heard of some guys taking the little stock dampener off the 09 honda 450's because they don't like the heavier feeling of the gpr or scott.Personally the GPR, is the way for me just because of customer service. here's were i got mine.
steering stabilizer

[bob larry]

The GPR Is great, They also have great customer service. They have a lifetime warranty last time i checked. But from what I've heard the Scott is great as well. I've even heard of some guys taking the little stock dampener off the 09 honda 450's because they don't like the heavier feeling of the gpr or scott.Personally the GPR, is the way for me just because of customer service. here's were i got mine.
steering stabilizer

humm...I wonder how one would mount the 09 hondar one?
  $229 at bikebandit

[BDI]

Not only do I think this is a good idea but very easy. You can find these like new on ebay for cheep. All you would have to do is weld a little mount on the frame for the top and the fab up a flat piece of aluminum plate that would get sandwiched between the fender and lower triple clamp that bent up at a 90 degree angle for the bottom mount.

[bob larry]

sweet....if you see any on ebay let me know.

Cheers

[HammeredFlat4]

The GPR Is great, They also have great customer service. They have a lifetime warranty last time i checked. But from what I've heard the Scott is great as well. I've even heard of some guys taking the little stock dampener off the 09 honda 450's because they don't like the heavier feeling of the gpr or scott.Personally the GPR, is the way for me just because of customer service. here's were i got mine.
steering stabilizer

humm...I wonder how one would mount the 09 hondar one?
  $229 at bikebandit

Dont waste your time, they suck.  I have a 08' 450x and you can crank the thing all the way and not even tell a difference.  Stick with the Scotts or GPR.

[bob larry]

Good to know.....man they are pricey suckers...

[The Flyin Hawaiian]

Steering dampers not only work at high speeds but slow speeds also. If you ride alot of tight single track or rocky trail, the damper helps take away some of the deflection that occurs in rocks, roots and even bar banging tight woods. Ive been using WER dampers on all my bikes since 94. They have worked well for me.

[Polar-Bus]

another great benifit i've learned with the Scott's unit is versatility. I have 2 MX bikes, I initially bought a Scotts for my KX500, but recently also purchased a Sub mount bracket kit for my '07 YZ450F, and the Scotts damper unit works with both bikes, in 5 min. I can swap rthe unit from bike to bike, saving me $300 by not having to buy another damper unit.