steering stabilizer? help with rocky terrain?

[OldNo437]

So thinking about a solution for my 81 R.. most of the trails around here are rocky, and quite punishing going at speed. trying to come up with an idea to reduce fatigue from trying to resist deflection from hitting small rocks on the trail.. Would a steering stabilizer help? or does anyone else have any suggestions on what I could do? I'm getting tired of looking for smooth trails, because there aren't many 'round here...

[El Camexican]

That what they’re for. Unfortunately stabilizers are “get what you paid for item” Scott’s is the final word in stabilizers. Fortunately you only need one as they can be interchanged between vehicles in a matter of minutes.

[fabiodriven]

I don't remember where you ride but it sounds like NH. I've spent a lot of time riding in NH and I don't think a steering stabilizer is going to help you.

I started riding in the Keene/Richmond/Swanzey area on an 85 Tecate. It sucked. It was bumpy as hell and it beat me to shite just getting around out there, not even what I would call riding.

Then I made the unfortunate mistake of bringing my 81 ATC250R up there, which was even worse off in the NH mountains than the Tecate. I threw a fit that day actually and didn't want to ride out of Richmond (the Hell Hole) again.

Then one day I procured myself a 1986 ATC250SX, with supple 2-ply tires, an automatic clutch, reverse, and electric start. All of a sudden, the dreaded Hell Hole became an enjoyable place to ride. The key is in the machine and the tires. 2-ply 22" tires (or 25's on the Big Red) are essential! It also helps to ride very fast. The added weight of the SX keeps it more steady than a racing trike on the soccer ball size rocks.

Save the R for the sand pit. If you want to be a Billy goat that's not going to happen in that kind of terrain on a race bike. Get yourself an SX or an ATC250ES Big Red and either of those trail machines will make your R look like it's standing still in the mountains and you'll save your back. I used to be ready to quit before lunch, I didn't like riding the mountains of NH, but I was bringing the wrong machines. You will never make an R into an SX or ES, not with a steering stabilizer, a shock, or different tires. There's a tool for every job.

[Doug8765]

I don't remember where you ride but it sounds like NH. I've spent a lot of time riding in NH and I don't think a steering stabilizer is going to help you.

I started riding in the Keene/Richmond/Swanzey area on an 85 Tecate. It sucked. It was bumpy as hell and it beat me to shite just getting around out there, not even what I would call riding.

Then I made the unfortunate mistake of bringing my 81 ATC250R up there, which was even worse off in the NH mountains than the Tecate. I threw a fit that day actually and didn't want to ride out of Richmond (the Hell Hole) again.

Then one day I procured myself a 1986 ATC250SX, with supple 2-ply tires, an automatic clutch, reverse, and electric start. All of a sudden, the dreaded Hell Hole became an enjoyable place to ride. The key is in the machine and the tires. 2-ply 22" tires are essential! It also helps to ride very fast. The added weight of the SX keeps it more steady than a racing trike on the soccer ball size rocks.

Save the R for the sand pit. If you want to be a Billy goat that's not going to happen in that kind of terrain on a race bike. Get yourself an SX or an ATC250ES Big Red and either of those trail machines will make your R look like it's standing still in the mountains and you'll save your back. I used to be ready to quit before lunch, I didn't like riding the mountains of NH, but I was bringing the wrong machines. You will never make an R into an SX or ES, not with a steering stabilizer, a shock, or different tires. There's a tool for every job.

My friends used to use a vw bus stabilizor


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[fabiodriven]

Ladies and gentleman, Doug!

https://media1.tenor.com/images/63415b2ea8b547e22fa5734e11607947/tenor.gif?itemid=7248435

[OldNo437]

I don't remember where you ride but it sounds like NH. I've spent a lot of time riding in NH and I don't think a steering stabilizer is going to help you.

I started riding in the Keene/Richmond/Swanzey area on an 85 Tecate. It sucked. It was bumpy as hell and it beat me to shite just getting around out there, not even what I would call riding.

Then I made the unfortunate mistake of bringing my 81 ATC250R up there, which was even worse off in the NH mountains than the Tecate. I threw a fit that day actually and didn't want to ride out of Richmond (the Hell Hole) again.

Then one day I procured myself a 1986 ATC250SX, with supple 2-ply tires, an automatic clutch, reverse, and electric start. All of a sudden, the dreaded Hell Hole became an enjoyable place to ride. The key is in the machine and the tires. 2-ply 22" tires (or 25's on the Big Red) are essential! It also helps to ride very fast. The added weight of the SX keeps it more steady than a racing trike on the soccer ball size rocks.

Save the R for the sand pit. If you want to be a Billy goat that's not going to happen in that kind of terrain on a race bike. Get yourself an SX or an ATC250ES Big Red and either of those trail machines will make your R look like it's standing still in the mountains and you'll save your back. I used to be ready to quit before lunch, I didn't like riding the mountains of NH, but I was bringing the wrong machines. You will never make an R into an SX or ES, not with a steering stabilizer, a shock, or different tires. There's a tool for every job.

NOOOOOOOO! the R is good for everything.. and yes, its NH.. meh! lol well I don't really want to buy any more machines, but I do have that XR650L just sitting waiting, might have to see what that might turn into.. guess the R is meant for the maine trails, and the xr possibly for nh..

[fabiodriven]

Yes you can certainly ride a trail bike on the track or a track bike on the trails but don't expect either to perform to their potential outside of their intended environments.

[Tri-Z 250]

I've used them on Dirtbike's woods weapons and they can be magic but take time to adjust your style of input. From time to time you see the strut style from the 80's. The new puck style units today are extremely dialed. Modding a bar or lower mount might take some engineering but possible.

How about putting 25" front two 6ply 23" rears run mushy and a bag of cheeseburgers for extra weight?

[Dirtcrasher]

Hey bud, Brian Ward has put together some steering stabilizers. They are just like the ones run back in the 80's.

I'm sure he'd be happy to sell you one, or at least discuss it with you..

I had to thread the ends of all of the pistons for him, and he had another shop make up the brackets, I'll let him know about this post, but these SS work awesome for rocks etc etc

[fabiodriven]

I've used them on Dirtbike's woods weapons and they can be magic but take time to adjust your style of input. From time to time you see the strut style from the 80's. The new puck style units today are extremely dialed. Modding a bar or lower mount might take some engineering but possible.

How about putting 25" front two 6ply 23" rears run mushy and a bag of cheeseburgers for extra weight?

The frig you getting 6-ply? I've been riding up there for ten years, 2-ply like I said. Would have been silly of you to say 4-ply but you even jumped right to 6!

[Tri-Z 250]

Kenda Vipers haven't cut a side wall or puncture in 20yrs and wear like a TrailPro.

[fabiodriven]

That's great. Bring them to NH and find out why we run 2-ply tires. My Ohtsus are OEM original from 1986.

[Tri-Z 250]

No doubt they rob horse power and are heavy and stiff but never failed for me. So confidence plays a heavy hand over plush. If that's an invite to come explore NH's trail system camp areas, thanks. "Ain't never been there but they tell me it nice." That's for Glammy....lol

[fabiodriven]

Seriously you should definitely come up if you can some time and let me know if you'd ever like to, but bring a set of 2-plies mounted and ready to swap for after you try your 6-plies!

[Tri-Z 250]

I'll PM you first for the best locals only best spots to go...always have a set of HoleShots 22" laying around for muddy MX conditions.

[fabiodriven]

Yup let me know! Not Holeshots though. 2-ply balloons, like a Cheng-Shin knobbie or an Ohtsu Pro-Vector. If you bring the wrong tires you can absolutely make it through, but you will be in pain before lunch.

[Tri-Z 250]

252635Ok I get ya, on that...never had the confidence to roll them on the Z. I'll try anything if it works, thanks for the suggestion. My rig is two payments away from paid, then I start Camptruck mods

[ironchop]

I run carefully siped bare inner tubes

1/2 ply and shyte

Top that

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[Shep1970]

Chop, this must be yours then..................(sorry had too) ha
252637

Shep

[ironchop]

YUP! THATS IT! [emoji16]
Chop, this must be yours then..................(sorry had too) ha
252637

Shep

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[El Camexican]

After reading John’s post which has some very valid points I want to expand a little on my experience with dampers starting by saying it’s hard to describe what driving a vehicle with a good one feels like, but I’m going to try.

The only way to know what a damper can do for your riding experience is to drive a bike with one for at least 2 hours and then drive it without one. Same goes for Flexx Bars and Tubliss tire systems. There is no instantaneous “Wow! This is so much better!!!” feeling when you jump on a vehicle with these mods. It’s more of a “Dang, this feels like cr*p!” feeling when you get back on the bike that doesn’t have these accessories.

Whenever someone starts talking about what mod they should do to their new bike “Scotts Steering Damper” always comes up. Then it’s “Those are expensive, can I just buy one of those brand XXX dampers?” to which the correct answer is NO. The reason Scotts is so good is because they perfected an adjustable damper that resists rapid movement with minimal low speed resistance and even more importantly they return to center with no resistance. That’s the difference between a $40 hatchback damper and a $400 motorcycle damper. The two guys I’ve recently convinced to pony up the coin have both thanked me for insisting as have I the guy that convinced me to get one years back.

If you ride in rocky desert terrain at high speed they can save your azz multiple times a day. I can attest to this as my rim bending rate climbed at the same time as my “oh sh*t!” moments per ride declined after installing one.

At low speeds they reduce rider fatigue by assisting your arms in fighting the jerking movements that occur when your handle bars are taken places you weren’t planning to go by rocks, ruts and roots AKA the Three R’s. You won’t notice the benefit driving around for 30 minutes, but at the end of the day you will. The longer you ride the more you’ll appreciate what they do.

So if you insist of running your R through the rock piles I suggest looking for a 250R mount kit for a Scotts unit. The mount kits (if you can get one) run about $100 bucks, but you can pull the damper off and swap it onto another bike that has a kit. If you know someone with a damper that will lend it to you it may be a plan to buy the kit first and test the damper before you drop $400 on one. I have no doubt you’ll love how your arms and shoulders feel at the end of the day, but if you don’t, used units hold their value very well as these are pretty much a lifetime use part and can be rebuilt if its ever needed.

[dougspcs]

I don't remember where you ride but it sounds like NH. I've spent a lot of time riding in NH and I don't think a steering stabilizer is going to help you.

I started riding in the Keene/Richmond/Swanzey area on an 85 Tecate. It sucked. It was bumpy as hell and it beat me to shite just getting around out there, not even what I would call riding.

Then I made the unfortunate mistake of bringing my 81 ATC250R up there, which was even worse off in the NH mountains than the Tecate. I threw a fit that day actually and didn't want to ride out of Richmond (the Hell Hole) again.

Then one day I procured myself a 1986 ATC250SX, with supple 2-ply tires, an automatic clutch, reverse, and electric start. All of a sudden, the dreaded Hell Hole became an enjoyable place to ride. The key is in the machine and the tires. 2-ply 22" tires (or 25's on the Big Red) are essential! It also helps to ride very fast. The added weight of the SX keeps it more steady than a racing trike on the soccer ball size rocks.

Save the R for the sand pit. If you want to be a Billy goat that's not going to happen in that kind of terrain on a race bike. Get yourself an SX or an ATC250ES Big Red and either of those trail machines will make your R look like it's standing still in the mountains and you'll save your back. I used to be ready to quit before lunch, I didn't like riding the mountains of NH, but I was bringing the wrong machines. You will never make an R into an SX or ES, not with a steering stabilizer, a shock, or different tires. There's a tool for every job.

Finally started to see the love for my SX front tire/rim upgrade idea eh Fabio?? You weren't such a fan in the beginning as I recall..

Good on ya!!