[downtown]

I had a loud chat with a felow rider today.

He saw my Ohlins damper and told me things like "02-03" dont need a damper. the bike is perfect without it. and he also told me that he doesnt know a single 02-03 rider how had a headshakes or tank- slpppers.

I sure told him that the bike is now more then perfect with the damper and the diference are like night and day.

What do you think? shell I take this thing off and sell it? :lol

 

[R1ANDREW]

Keep it, I have had a few shakes on my 03.

 

[downtown]

Keep it, I have had a few shakes on my 03.

Thanks thats what I wanted to hear! anyone else?

BTW, I was just kiddin about selling it.

 

[cowboychrisd]

Keep it........!

 

[1bdR1]

keep it I would say that mine head shakes at least once every time I ride it hard , not a full blown tank slapper but shakes its head pretty hard. A couple of times at the drag strip it has went into a full blown tank slapper from about the 1/8 mile marker all the way through the trapps about 140mph not fun!! :boom

 

[KneeDragger77]

I've had mine shake a bit on the track, and I have a damper. Your friend is an idiot

 

[frozen R1]

Crossing a bridge at 80mph nicked a bump and went into a FULL tankslapper, thankfully I was able to hang on long enough to keep it together. With out question keep it on the bike.

 

[stizzity]

keep it. i just put my ohlins on and i would never think of riding without one again. just tell that dude to shove it up his a-hole. wwn3d

 

[Tweak]

I had major wiggles and shakes before I adjusted the suspension on my R1. It helped a lot. But I still slapped on a Scott's for extra caution.

Id tell your friend to go smoke a pole The R1 is notorious for headshake and your just being safe :thumbup

 

[bigkvn1]

Dunno bout 02-03. My 01 was a little "twitchy" you might say. I know the later models were a bit better though. Keep it!

 

[bpa00]

Mine has certainly saved my ass a few times when landing a wheelie less than straight or accelerating hard over rough pavement...

- BA

 

[elegalr1der]

another yah on dampers :fact

 

[F16driver]

I've got an Ohlins on my 2003 and I know of 5 instances where it has saved my bike. It was the best investment I ever made and I rode for years without one. Your friend doesn't know what he's talking about.

 

[raidwolf]

i've had some headshakes coming hard out of some nice leany turns. it can really make you shit your pants... and i don't have a steering damper yet.

 

[prnstar123]

Keep it, that guy does not seem to have a clue on what he is talking about. I think it is a night and day difference to. I would never go back to not having one. In fact I have 2 r1'w both 02's and I don't like to ride the one without it because of the feel. And yes I have had a couple of minor headshakes before I bought one.

 

[QuicksilveR1]

I always got headshakes under full acceleration, and had a couple of bad tankslappers by coming down from a wheelie a bit crooked. Now that I have my Ohlins, my bike is solid through turns, I get no headshake accelerating, it's great.

 

[viper6277]

Keep it... my damper saved me plenty of times... I can feel when it's working and it's worth it's weight in gold...

that guy does not know what he's talking about and he'll only understand better if he got a damper he can adjust and play with ...to see exactly how you benefit by having one...

 

[pkracer21j]

Does an R1 get headshakes:lol I dunno about the rest of you guys but mine will shake its head on pretty much the exit of every turn when I'm out riding hard:yesnod. I just got used to it because it always seems to smooth itself out when I get her more upright. I don't think I've ever not had headshake under full acceleration. just my .02:hellobye

 

[pchiava]

I've had mine shake a bit on the track, and I have a damper. Your friend is an idiot

That's exactly what I was thinking!
My '98 would shake like mad. The '03 is better but it WILL head shake when being pushed.

Took my '03 on the track last summer just after the initial break in period.
I had ordered the Scott's damper but it had not yet arrived.
Coming out of the corners hard on the throttle the One would go from full lock to lock everytime. Scary!

:beer

 

[Swedie]

I have not had any problems on my 02 with tank slappers. And ya all know I wheelie(d) my R1 a lot. It has to do with how you land your bike. On the track though, during hard acceleration out of corners where front wheel starts skimming the surface, that is where ya most likely will gain most out of having a steering damper. Since my 02 R1 is now all track bike I have of course invested in a Öhlins steering damper to dampen then shakes ya can get on "landing".