Stiffening up your GSX-R steering damper

[Bigdog]

Kat00 and myself decided to stiffen up our steering dampers today by replacing the stock 10W oil to 15W oil. This is a good compromise for street and track although I might further increase it to 20W in the future. (for track riding)
Firstly you will need a couple of litres of 15W fork oil. The damper requires only a fraction of this but we required 2 litres to fully submerge the damper while we filled it. This will guarantee that no air will be in the damper once refilled.
Once you have removed the damper from your bike you will have to locate and remove the filler screw. You will require a 2.5mm allen key to remove it.

http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/1084/fillerscrewko7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Now you will have to pump the damper backwards and forwards to remove any oil and air that was inside as seen below

http://img482.imageshack.us/img482/1332/dumpoilwq0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Once all the oil and air is removed you can then think about refilling it. You will need a container that is large enough to allow you to fully submerge the damper while allowing you to move it to it's full extension and back again. We used a cut up 5 litre water container as seen below. The objective of this is to suck in the oil without any air bubbles.

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/5813/oilbathaa5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Next comes the fun part, where you submerge the damper and pump it to full extension and back again. You will have to do this as many times as necessary, so that you don't see any air bubbles coming out of the filler hole.
You must keep the damper submerged at all times so that no air enters it.

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/527/submergeai6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Once you are certain that there are no air bubbles in the damper you extend it one last time and then refit the filler plug, while still submerged. Here you see us refitting the plug while the damper is fully submerged.

http://img118.imageshack.us/img118/4478/refitplugdy8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Once you have fitted the filler plug, take the damper out and pump it backwards and forwards and you will notice a big increase in resistance. This will further assist your bike in reducing headshake.
Make sure to pack the bearing in the damper housing mount with grease to eliminate the knock noise that is common with GSXR steering dampers.
The only thing left to do is to refit the damper, go for a ride and enjoy your handy work. Voila!

http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/6136/voilaof6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[daz]

That is a friggen top idea guys will have to give it a go when I get back to the good old Oz

[dungbeetle]

i got a spare stock damper if you guys fuk one up!!:D

[Toka]

I did that to my old 750 and it worked a treat. I couldn't afford an aftermarket one so i did that, great work on the step by step too guys :ayyy:

[MadHatter]

Very interesting. Some stock dampers don't come with filling screws though and you have to rebuild them somehow if you want to change the fluid.
Let us know how it goes at the oran!

[Jordan]

nice write up... Bigdog; where have you found yours too light? I haven't been tempted so far with my 750 - felt a bit of a twitch when the wheel hovers over the ground outa 12 at the creek sometimes but no shake. just wondering.

[pan]

I've wanted to do this on my Busa for a while!
Now I have instructions.
Thanks!

[BORIS]

wow. that was increadably informative biggie. now all i need is a gixxer 750!
nice one tho

[Zee]

Great step by step instructions guys :ayyy:
Gloves too, aye!
Nice to see you're practicing safe OH&S values.

[MATTK6]

you little beauty, now i know what i'll be doing tommorow night, i would do it tonight but dont have the oil, or time, but most importantly, i dont have the rubber gloves:lmao:

thanks heaps guys for the"how to" guide:ayyy:

[VINNIE]

someone has been using the nogen

[Fingers]

Top job guys.. nice write up Biggie!! Very informative!!

[aussiegixxxr]

im yet to acually use the 600 on the track, but monday the 9th will let me know

For street use and up oldroad its half decent, but i have a feeling it wont be as good as i need for EC.... i may decide to either do this with 20W or get a aftermarket one, Thought the stock one seems fine for me, dont really need adjustable...
ill have to look into it, Either way,
Awsome write up... Thanks

EDIT:

Also, i noticed on gixxer.com people were saying either 15 through to 20...

Mix the two together and maybe try to get it around if you find 20 to much, They are on ebay cheap if u wanna buy a few and use different weights for track and street....

[Bigdog]

nice write up... Bigdog; where have you found yours too light? I haven't been tempted so far with my 750 - felt a bit of a twitch when the wheel hovers over the ground outa 12 at the creek sometimes but no shake. just wondering.

Ever since I put the Pirelli slicks on, the bike has been head shaking everywhere. Possibly the rear is bigger in circumference or maybe the front is smaller than the Brigestones I had on previuosly.
It started at Phillip Island and was doing it on turn 12 big time at EC. It was enough for me to slightly back off when it would happen.

[Bigdog]

The steering damper was a huge success today, the bike was much more stable in the flip-flop and the last turn onto the straight at Oran park today. The mod was well worth the minimal effort it took.

[fullhouse]

so its got rid of the shake you have big?
you dont want ya wheels balanced...

[MATTK6]

was going to change the oil today, but found out, i dont have any fork oil, so i've got the damper off, now just need to wait till a shop opens to get then oil, and see how well it works:lmao:

[fullhouse]

come see me doodle

[MATTK6]

i will be mate:ayyy:

[Bigdog]

so its got rid of the shake you have big?
you dont want ya wheels balanced...

Yeah it's all good Fullhouse, thanks heaps for the offer though.:ayyy:

[fullhouse]

;) :ayyy:

[Marcus]

I did this mod last week! Tested it up the old road, let the group go and started being a throttle jockey!

I only had one very very small head shake where it would go spastic before.

One thing is for sure, it does make U turns harder especially if you put the plastic cover back on wrong and it binds :n:

I contemplated using koni shock oil but the guy at koni said it wont be thick enough.... Should have drained it before hand to check.

I filled mine up a little differently and used a syringe. Pump, tap, fill x 10. Leave it to sit, tap the hell out of it and do it again. As long as it goes all the way in/out smooth its bled.

I have heaps of oil left if anyone needs it

I even considered a 10R ohlins unit as they are cheap! Still might convert one if I can find one cheap enough locally.

[pan]

Hi Marcus. Did you use the 15W or 20W?

[Marcus]

Hi Pan,

I used 15w oil. This seems to be perfect for hard street riding.

[aussiegixxxr]

hey guys, i done this mod like a week ago, seems fine, little less shake, seems fine for me, put 15w in.

[fullhouse]

Looks Like Kat00 And Bigdog Have Started A Bit Of A Craze

[pan]

Marcus... check your PM...

[Johnny]

Was walking around bike last night, next thing you know damper is on the bench. Back in with 15 (motul), much better, I like :)

Saw this thread ages ago, was reminded of it when someone asked how it was done on another forum, so passed it on, only to find myself doing it :p
Thanx, nice write up, made terribly easy, could of done it with my eyes closed thanx to write up here :ayyy:

[SLAC]

Great idea my try it on the TL, but i think that a look on this web www.promecha.com.au may also address a few myths etc. Head shakes are generally from incorrect suspension settings. Check it out good info. Great place to start a platform for suspension settings. I had head shakes on my old R6 at first, after a few tweaks here and there, for most they went away until i pitched it in to quick at EC turn one. No brakes, hands come of the bars and scared shitless.

[Turtle]

Good stuff fellas.....and i thought they were better thrown away ......

[Chaser]

Great instructions guys. I did this about a year ago on my R1, although I didn't submerse the entire unit in oil. Worked out a treat!

[prawns]

Done mine now also cheers :)

[Foghorn]

I have only just come across this because it was loaded on the front page, I'll be doing mine post haste.
Nice work:ayyy::ayyy:

[Marshy]

My old gixxer had this done already, and it makes a big difference. I'm for sure gonna do this mod to the new gixxer. Nice instructions!! Thinking of 20w for racing, instead of 15. Thoughts?

[seals]

My old gixxer had this done already, and it makes a big difference. I'm for sure gonna do this mod to the new gixxer. Nice instructions!! Thinking of 20w for racing, instead of 15. Thoughts?

i would say for racing buy an adjustable one so you can adjust it depending on the track requirements.

[Kat00]

Some say with well soughted suspension they are not required, I still reckon I wouldn't be without one on the road. I was on some pretty bumpy roads today and with a big enough bump on the rear wheel there was enough weight shift to get plenty of weight on the clipsons and at pace it wobbled around a bit , at no time did it feel like it was ever going to get any worse but it was reassuring to have that damper nonetheless.

[Birdman45]

I have some very cheap Matris dampers for the GSXR's left if you stuff it up or can't be stuffed. LOL

[brickie]

Any thoughts on whether this can be done on a honda electronic steering damper

[Bigdog]

Any thoughts on whether this can be done on a honda electronic steering damper


Anythings possible but I wouldn't be mucking around with an electronic one.

[Marshy]

I have some very cheap Matris dampers for the GSXR's left if you stuff it up or can't be stuffed. LOL

How cheap? Are they any good?

[mjmoo75]

Anythings possible but I wouldn't be mucking around with an electronic one.

Wonder if it possible on the new R1's electronic damper, standard it's terrible!!!