What's the purpose of a steering stabilizer...

[Derrick Adams]

and did they use them on trikes?

[raptor]

stabilizing the steering :)

[350x'inNY]

Yes... they were sometimes used on trikes.... would mount to the frame and to the lower triple trees.

Bruce

[atckowalski]

It keeps the front end from wondering.Try riding with no hands, when you are coasting,and watch the front end wiggle back and forth, my 225dx does it bad.The stablizer will eliminate most if not all of it.I have tried to put one on the dx but it is very difficult to join it to the triple clamps, there is just no where to put it.That one you have looks fine!What is it for?

[350x'inNY]

I'm pretty sure on the HONDA's it mounted up to those holes in the lower triple tree where the Hondaline headlight gaurds and fender stabilizers also mount to.

Here;s an old thread I saw at the bottom of the page about them....
http://www.3wheelerworldforums.com/showthread.php?t=3868

Bruce

[Derrick Adams]

The one in the picture is for a Quad. I just wondered what they were designed to do. I guess I was thinking they might help rider fatigue by keeping the bars from bouncing back and forth in every little change of terrain. I'm sure your arms absorb alot of unneeded vibrations.

I may attempt to build one for the Z, if I can get a good explaination of what they do and what the benifits are.

[skippy]

i got one on my paul turner bike.. it mounts to the upper engine mount, and the fender bolt hole for the front fender on the lower triple clamp, i saw someone else on the board has the same one as me. its the only brand i ever saw of them..it also comes with mounting brackets and spacers for the front fender.

[dirtface]

I have one on my '83 250r, it mounts the same as Skippy described. The actual shock part has the original paint and decal on it that was made by Ram Industries.

[Derrick Adams]

So would you say it does anything?

[deathman53]

I know the one on my quad does wonders, I tryed putting a pep one for a trx250r on my 250r trike and there was no way for that one to work(the shaft and body were too long). Fatuage is reduced by easily half.

[Derrick Adams]

I think I'm going to try to fab one up. Since i'm already rebuilding the Z anyhow, nows the perfect time.

Turns out the ones off street bikes sell for dirt, so i'm going to use one and build some brackets.

If it works out, it will be a good upgrade for CHEAP!

[3tigers]

i have one on my '86 tecate and it does wonders.people use to adapt a VW steering stabilzer onto their trx's back when i use to race quads because they were very inexpensive and worked really well.the one on my tecate is leaking and unfortunately i thinks its not rebuildable.

[Paule]

I had one on the 84r I bought. The guy had 4 different holes drilled in the lower triple tree and I have replaced it.. The left rear fender mount was used to mount the front of the stabilzer. Some of the triple tree had to be drilled, but the rear part mounted right up to the frame. I still have it and started sand blasting it. It's in pretty good shape.

[dirtface]

Paule, that's the same one I have on my '83 R. But mine has a bracket that uses the existing bolts and holes on the tripples. There was no drilling involved to mount it.

[Paule]

Check out the triple tree. The guy went crazy with the drill. I would have mounted it below the tree, rather than drill. I don't know what the other holes were for, maybe a deer whistle?

[dirtface]

That "J" shape piece of flat stock with the bolt through it must be original. I have that piece too, mounting it on my bike. You must just be missing the piece that bolts to the tripples.

[TimSr]

The steeling stabilizer is a steering dampener, and it is more or less a shock absorber (minus the spring) to add friction and slow turning steering. They are very popular on quads, especially for cross country type riding, where if either of the front wheels hit something, it jams your wrist when it yanks the steering to one side or the other. Aside from your ams and wrists taking all the hits, and the fatigue that goes with it, they can also prevent injury. This isnt nearly as much of a problem with trikes having a single centered front wheel. Ive not ridden a trike with one, so they may very well have a use, but simply based on physics, its wont be nearly as drastic as it is on a quad.
Ive never noticed if the guys who race bikes are using them. I do know that ALL of the freestyle riders use them. Try and do a "no hands" landing without one, and its easy to see why. It increases the amount of effort it takes to turn the bars. Most have adjustable dampening so you can set it to the desired stiffness you need. Personally, Ive never felt the need for one on a trike, though Id like to test one. I know Id love to have one on my quad.

[YAMAHA_Jim]

Tim sr. always explains it correctly. I installed a steering stabilizer on a friends raptor.I rode the raptor before and after and noticed the difference right away. I would use them on my blasters,but they cost to darn much.

[Derrick Adams]

I'm going to attempt to build one for the Z. For what ever reason, the Suzuki GSXR series damper can be bought for about $25 or less on ebay. I figure that's a good one to use, if it works, because it's cheap enough I could fab one up on anything.

We'll see how it goes... Maybe I better make a pattern off it, if it works!

[Wickedfinger]

.... Look at that hansome fella ...... if only he were posing on a Blaster.
Anyway, I had a chance to ride another Scrambler up at Pohopaco in Pa (rocks, rocks and some other rocks) that had an HPD stabilizer mounted and it was night and day the difference. I would consider buying one if it wasn't for the cost.

[vartiak15]

skippy can we get a pic of yours?

[skippy]

what ya need a pic of? the mounting? i have a denton on one of my trx's and its great!! for xc .. keeps the "twitching down"

[skippy]

here you go!

[skippy]

somethg else cool...

[Billy Golightly]

Nice engine :eek: :eek: :eek:

The dampner doesn't rub on the fender any when its in full lock? Thats pretty cool, doesn't look like it would be hard to make work either.

[skippy]

thx, noper doesnt rub,, u can rebuild these too.. by just installing a new oil seal

[vartiak15]

wow. u need to start a thread on that trike!

[skippy]

i usually dont on mine, but thx for the suggestion.. :)

[TimSr]

Hey Skippy, How would you compare riding with it as compared to riding without it, and what kind of riding do you do?

[BigGreenMachine]

Skippy, Nice R! That Hoosier is awsome and is that a fork brace? Never noticed but I didnt think R's came with one.

[skippy]

i like it.. i do all kinds of riding.. when im running a trx or somethg on the track, it allows me to feel more stable! i increase the resistance on the track, versuses the woods

for the atc, i ran it before i started the restore, and i felt the most benefit at full speed, when crusing across a field or somethg, its just added security.

tim, i thk you will be satisfed w the denton for yr quad, and will feel the difference, i run district 7 down here, and run some scrambles, pokes runs, gncc atuff when i can,. and i thk its just an additional tool for the quad!

[skippy]

yeah i picked it up from an aftermarket company a few years ago, got different sizes for my 350x and the 250r's.. never used them, so cant say what they do..