For your average street riding crusing, pushing the bike up to say maybe 70% on the street its not needed. Push any harder or goto the track or doing any racing its a must have. For me a damper is a necessity now. I prefer the scotts damper. I have had one 06 zx10 street/track bike for years. My zx14 I put 26k on her before I got the cash actually l one.
Had an experience on the track with the zx10 where if it was not installed I surely would have crashed. I was on the track going thru a fast 90+ left handed sweeper. Was racing with a buddy he got by a slower rider Which i needed to pass to keep up with him. Was leaned way over. Applied to much gas front kinda washed out, rear stepped out. Almost high sided over front fairing, rear wheel up in the air. Actually scraped left front rotor on ground, somehow bike bounced up straightend up and went into a harsh tank slapper. Staid up. The was enough force in the incident that the forks had twisted in the tubes to the left. How I stayed up I don't know. Credit luck and the damper.
On the street I commute many miles. Lane splitting most of the way on the altimount. Mr wooo you know what that stretch of freway is like. Lots of bumps, construction, pot holes. Ect. Splitting lanes you have to run over those divider reflectord..without damper front end can get real twitchy. With damper its not that bad. Front stays more stable. You'll definitely notice a difference even with just cornering and when excelleration. Front end just feels more stable and balanced. Road imperfections and bumps just don't upset the front end.
