Does a ZX14 2006 need a steering damper at all? I've heard some opinions that this model does pretty safe without a damper, some opinions that a damper would increase your safety a bit and not a single person has ever mentioned that he or she ever experienced a tank-slapper on ZX14. What do you people think and know?

Not putting one on mine.

It's personal preference. This machine does not require one like other machines do. Properly setup, chances are you'll never experience a tankslapper. Also depends on how you plan to use the machine. If you want one put one on. It never hurts to have a safety net!

Upon wheelie and with corner carving crusaders over or at 200hp. YES!
OTHERWISE touring and riding at normal and semi agrresive ranges, NO

* Last updated by: Wolfman on 9/1/2013 @ 2:27 PM *

C set up my suspension I rarely get handlebar shake.
So set up is the best and less expensive way!
W

"C set up my suspension I rarely get handlebar shake. "
Errr, what?

ZX14 - ZX14R steering damper

Kofla

Riding My Own Biography
2010 ZX-14 MotoVlog

Under power when I slam the throttle I'd get a vibration as the front wheel came up shaking the bars! Not anymore or at least barely noticeable. As you power loft the front wheel everyone gets it without a dialed suspension.

I can't believe Kawi didn't put a stock damper on these things. Under power in 1st and 2nd it head shakes pretty bad, and 3rd it has tendencies. I don't think its very safe as much power as these things make to not put one on from the factory. I mean for the guys that don't really use the power much they don't really get it but even at the track it powered up in first and I clicked 2nd on the way up and when it sat down it head shaked pretty bad. It wasn't bad enough to make me let out of it but still. It could get worse..

I can't believe you are crying about a pussy pin. Pin my steering up and hurry up. Like saying, you know, this peecostso needs another penis someplace? You insult engineer. You roundeye you... Oh sang, oh sang. Youtube banned my steering How-To for the second time btw, or I show you poo sea pin.

https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSiinfmN5JMUprKKbaUvsDYQYiMwBf9VT-Ic4DvTq4xi6_-1agRQw

Hahaha! Exactly!

Hahahaha! Come the fuck on!!! Ya beg ur whole life for BIG POWER, ya get it handed to you on a fuckin Ti platter, and ur little nutskis freeze up?!?! :)) I've a little 'shimmy' in the chassis! Ever rev a muscle car at a stoplight??? Hmmm torque effect. WTF is ur steering damper gonna do for torque effect except REDUCE FEEDBACK??? If ya know what Kawasaki means when they say 'She doesn't need one', its that SHE DOESN'T NEED ONE. But hey, I'm just some dumb fuck from an island. ;)

Ya get shimmy shake under hard launches huh? Me too. Lets me know I'm ridin a fing man size bike.

* Last updated by: Cblast on 9/6/2013 @ 1:38 AM *

lol

Yeah, you need it, especially in those moments after you realized what just happened and thank God you installed one.

I don't know about shimmy shakes, never had them, but I did catch a center rut on a bridge in the middle of a moonless night going about 70 mph and the damper stopped the wheel from whipping over long enough for me to counter steer back.

I would not go out of the driveway without it considering the declining quality of hiways and roads. I crank it up on the hiways and back it down for the streets around town. Corners are much more interesting.

Jesse

Man i jump railroad tracks on mine and no head shake or tank slapper, dead stable in all situations! 2007

Man i jump railroad tracks on mine and no head shake or tank slapper, dead stable in all situations

HAHAHA!!!!! Man I thought I was the only one dumb enough to jump tracks!! I've got one that is kind of level with the road where if I rip it just right before I leap I can clear the tracks and land with my front in the air! If I mess it up it just ends up being a really rough rail crossing. No damper. Never even ridden a bike with a damper.

* Last updated by: nasty on 9/26/2013 @ 2:15 PM *

"If ya know what Kawasaki means when they say 'She doesn't need one', its that SHE DOESN'T NEED ONE. But hey, I'm just some dumb fuck from an island."

Kawasaki says you don't need an exhaust or an ECU flash... so I guess that means I don't NEED one... lol

I put a damper on the ZRX even though it didn't really require one, and it did make the handling feel a little less squirmy. On the 14 things feel really stable the way it is, so I will put a damper on the list just for the sake of a tiny improvement but it is way at the bottom of the list.

Caveat: Upon changing the stock geometry by raising or lowering the front or back, all bets are off. You are jacking around with a carefully considered situation. Go ahead and do it if you want, but alteration of geometry is non-trivial, and may warrant a stabilizer.

* Last updated by: tooncinator on 9/27/2013 @ 3:06 PM *

nasty I got some that are kinda on a small hill, and i power up going up and launch that puppy like isle of man and that is just fucking wicked, flying a beast!!