I hit a tree at a enduro race a few years ago and broke my arm. That because I hit a root and it kicked my back end up. I think if I would have had a stabilizer on I don’t think The back end would have kick sideways so much. From that day on I have had a GPR steering stabilizer on every bike I have had.
Currently watching with a broken humerus that I got at the track 2 weeks ago. Was my first time experiencing head shake. Threw me pretty hard. definitely interested in how to avoid ever getting it again.
2020 KTM 300 XCW rider here. I have the Precision Parabolic and I couldn't be happier. Other than a full suspension revalve this has been the single best upgrade spent on the bike so far. Pros: Its tiny, there's no "Sternum skewer" sticking up (like the GPR and Scotts), does everything a Scotts will do but more efficiently, on the fly adjustments, innovative bar clamp design, easy to set up, unique service ports make changing fluid a cinch (in through one hole, out the other), customer support is top notch. Cons: the clamp that supports the pivot dog (not shown in the video) can be difficult to setup. It's designed to clamp around the top portion of the headtube. Not a big deal in MOST cases, but KTM's welds and the amount of head tube sticking up from the top of the frame is inconsistent. With my bike I had to grind a portion of the clamp so it would sit flush on the head tube. George from Precision helped me every step of the way and assured me if anything went wrong he had me covered. All said 'n done it was painless and as mentioned I couldn't be happier. To be fair my friend has an identical bike and didn't have any of the issues I had when he set his up (its strictly a KTM QC thing) Helps with headshake (or speed- wobbles, tank-slappers, etc) sure, but it also dampens the impact when you clip a tree at WOT. Another detail most people don't realize is a damper will prevent your rear end from "swapping". Think whoop sections when your rear wheel starts swapping side to side, or you clip a rock with your rear wheel at high speed and it kicks out to the side. A damper helps that front wheel track with the rear wheel when you land, thus saving you a high-side. Dampers are great. Scotts hasn't changed since the 70's The Precision Parabolic has taken damper technology into the 21st century. Thanks RMATV for covering this topic!
The Scott's and fast way system 5 still seem to have the most adjustability... Does the precision offer sweep adjustment, or have free return to center?
@@codyjoseph44 No sweep adjustment but the built in dampening "curve" seems to cover this pretty well. At center it has the most dampening and tapers the further away from center. This curve remains constant while the HS/LS adjustment changes the resistance level. Yes- free return to center which is awesome. Plus no bar risers if you dont want to run it.
Something to keep in mind about the Precision Parabolic is that it CANNOT be used with the MAKO 360 bar mount... other than that it’s an awesome option.
Put a scotts on my kx450 after loosing ahold of the right grip while going over a couple downhill whoops... love it. Even love it more at the dunes. :)
I've had every steering stabilizer in this test. GPR is one way (direct) steering stabilizer which you don't even need. In fact I turn my direct steering stabilizer component all the way off (I do desert racing). You need the high speed (rock hits a wheel doing 50, oh shit) component to a steering stabilizer. The Scotts is a great product, but rather bulky. By far the best steering stabilizer you can get is the Precision Racing setup. Its minimal, weighs nothing, and easy to use. KTM/ Husky factory offroad teams use them for their offroad teams.
Great job! One other feature that the Parabolic has that the others do not is an internal reservoir to compensate for thermal expansion of the fluid. Oil expands at twice the rate of aluminum and with nowhere for it to go it flexes and bends parts causing fading and less thermal stability.
I purchased the new GPR V5-S stabilizer for my 2013 ZX6R Ninja 636. I was so excited to install it and start using it. To my surprise it partially blocks access to the key hole, so If you install the stabilizer you can't turn on the motorcycle! I thought maybe GPR send the wrong kit or I did something wrong? I called them and they said that many guys have the issues and the only solution is to buy a new triple clamp for $160!! I'm disappointed. They shouldn't be selling this stabilizer for 636 if it doesn't fit! They wouldn't help me and I was on my own. I'm returning the stabilizer ASAP and getting a OHLINGS stabilizer instead. You can read the comment section on some older 2013 videos and people had problems back then and they still didn't fix it! Their customer support and company as a whole sucks!
REMEMBER... Something "easy to set up" simply means "less options." Much MUCH easier to find what you like with (what looks like) 22 options, as opposed to 100 😂
Forgot to mention that the offroad version from Scott’s doesn’t dampen back to center from full right or full left. This is more advantageous for offroad where you are more likely to turn full lock.
Great video. Curious to know more about the design of the Precision Parabolic. Very different from the others (i.e., how it bolts directly to the handlebars). Does this affect its performance? I certainly like the bell curve stabilization, as opposed to the on/off of Scott’s and the constant on of GPR. I also like the ease of changing oil, click dial and half point adjustment on the slow speed setting. When I ask around for opinions (here in Australia), most people seem to be defaulting to Scott’s and some to GPR. I’m willing to try something different. Just need to know more about the performance in relation to design.
Sorry We did not see this sooner. Here is a link that you may find helpful. Call Tune-Tech in Australia for more info. precision-rp.com/Why-is-the-Parabolic-better_ep_43-1.html
I would probably grab a steering stabilizer and stick it on a normal bicycle just because I can. I wouldn't *need* it by any stretch of the imagination, but it would be fun to put motorcycle parts on a mountain bike or e-bike.
Which is your recommended for crf1100 Africa twin? I was looking into scotts but it seems they only have mounts for the crf1000. I also have high risers installed.
It is a great idea to keep the steering stem in check and is definitely something that is commonly overlooked but it is not a substitute for a steering stabilizer. Thanks for the tip and for watching!
Too bad the Precision Parabolic dampener is only for huskavarna and Ktm. I’m sure the rest of the riding world would appreciate the Parabolic being made for other Makes and Models.
Maggilla, you can get a parabolic damper for: KTM, Husqvarna, Gasgas, Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Beta, and now Sherco. RM does not cary all of them yet, but I'm sure they will.
Its a damper not a dampener, they do not make things wet they damp the movement. LOL GPR has unbelievable customer service! When my 7 year olf V4 Dirt strated to leak a simple email was all that was needed to be sent a rebuild kit with four sets of seals and even a tool to safely install the seal on the lever arm. No questions asked. I had a similar experience with a second hand GPR 1 that was completely worn out from abuse, they sent me a new one.
This is from the cambridge dictionary. 1: something that makes something less active, less exciting, or less enjoyable: 2: a device that reduces vibration (= continuous quick, slight shaking movement): From the Mirriam-Webster dictionary: 1: to become damp 2: to become deadened or depressed
Dampener = an instrument to make something wet. Damper = A device which reduces vibrations or slows the speed of a cyclical movement. Stop calling these things dampeners.
Sigh. 🥱 Let's go over this again. To damp is to induce friction, to dampen is to make moist. These devices are steering dampers, not steering dampeners, and they damp the steering, they do not dampen the steering. A shock absorber is a damper. A garden hose is a dampener. Want to adjust the dampening on your bike? Wash it. Someone at Rocky Mt. should know this, and should have corrected the wording here.
