[giosoccer20]

is it a life or death thing? a lot of people sure have made it out to be like that based off of some things I've read. Or is it one of those things that really won't be apparent unless tracking the bike? I mean, there are a good number of times when I rode my 929rr HARD on the twisties, so if I were to do the same on the 954, would that spell trouble without a stabilizer? lol

 

[bladeracer]

is it a life or death thing? a lot of people sure have made it out to be like that based off of some things I've read. Or is it one of those things that really won't be apparent unless tracking the bike? I mean, there are a good number of times when I rode my 929rr HARD on the twisties, so if I were to do the same on the 954, would that spell trouble without a stabilizer? lol

Entirely personal preference.
I would be willing to bet that _far_ more 954's have spent their lives without dampers than those that have.

 

[giosoccer20]

Entirely personal preference.
I would be willing to bet that _far_ more 954's have spent their lives without dampers than those that have.

okay, that's great to know

 

[omnivore]

Of the many sportbikes I have owned, I find the 929 to be the most violent headshaker I have ever owned. I suspect the long swingarm pivoting in the engine cases has something to do with making the geomertry prone to causing headshake on heavy acceleration. I race mine, so I may be noticing something that people who aren't full throttle exitting every corner may not notice.

 

[bladeracer]

Of the many sportbikes I have owned, I find the 929 to be the most violent headshaker I have ever owned. I suspect the long swingarm pivoting in the engine cases has something to do with making the geomertry prone to causing headshake on heavy acceleration. I race mine, so I may be noticing something that people who aren't full throttle exitting every corner may not notice.

It's not something I've ever noticed. I even make sure there is no drag on the steering from hoses and cables, so the bars can tip from side to side with zero effort. No headshake at all.

 

[norty303]

I have a 929 on the road only and I have enough shakes to make me want a damper. Usually hard acceleration when slightly tipped over, countersteering one way or the other and catching a small bump or cats eye sets it off.

 

[Lobsta13]

On my 954 it would only headshake under hard acceleration when the front tire was barely skimming the ground and usually coming out of corners. It had happened a couple times at the track and then finally caused me to put it in the gravel. I never had any issues on the street and haven't had any on the track since I put my Scott on. I personally have found it be well worth the $400, if only for piece of mind.

 

[zfrilly3]

After a couple really bad slappers, mostly from setting the front end down a little crooked, I got one for my 929. WOW! what a difference, never have had another problem. I would say the $450 has saved me at least a couple trips to ER and if not to ER definitely has kept skin on me.

 

[giosoccer20]

After a couple really bad slappers, mostly from setting the front end down a little crooked, I got one for my 929. WOW! what a difference, never have had another problem. I would say the $450 has saved me at least a couple trips to ER and if not to ER definitely has kept skin on me.

well, I don't like wheelie-ing my bikes. so, problem solved? lol :smilebig:

 

[norty303]

I think that if you ever accelerate hard enough out of bends to get the front go a bit light and floaty then consider a damper. That is the situation which seems to cause the most wiggles: leant over, but pulling on the inner bar to come upright (you do it even if you don't think about it...), hard on the gas, ripples or other bumps in the road.... its happened enough times for me to know not to push it so hard in those situations.

I had a fairly serious one in front of quite a big crowd at the Isle of Man (2007 TT) coming south out of Kirk Michael just after roads re-opened (so pretty much first on the road in that direction). First right hander goes through a little dip and up the a hill and the crest of the dip caused a big slap as I came onto the rise. I actually heard the cheers from the people on the bank through my earplugs! If the crowd hadn't been there I'd probably have shut it off a bit more than I did. SERIOUSLY considered a damper after that....

I tend to ride around it now, but I do think about it, and it would be nice not to.