Initial thoughts:
I spoke in the VIP lounge to the management team about how difficult this is to operate with your hands... on 10 (50% dampened), I could barely move the lever and on 20 (100% dampened), it was impossible to move. I obviously know that the steering of the bike provides a lot more leverage and didn't worry about this at all.
True to physics, leverage plays an important role in this device.
The engineering of this stabilizer is excellent. The fit and finish are spot-on with no slop or play once properly torqued into place. I really think the overall appearance of this unit over the standard piston (I call them mini shock absorbers) style is very modern and almost as if it belongs there.
For instance, the base of the unit which the SSN hold in place... This was precision machined to fit in the well of the top triple with almost zero tolerances. After installing the SSN and torquing, the base was rock solid.
I was initially concerned about the stationary post because of the mount point and a single bolt. However, the design of this was engineered to fit the GEN II extremely well. There are two legs for this to stand on the frame head to stabilize the post even with the single bolt. The tolerances provided allowed the bolt to press these two legs against the frame just enough to make it immovable. Lock to lock steering shows that the legs left just enough space for the top triple to clear them. Well thought through!
Placement of the stabilizer on the base was the only small set back. It was a bit difficult to line up the bolt holes and get the bolts started properly. This would have been easier with the handlebars undone and moved but there's enough freeplay to get a straight #4 Allen into each of the two bolts and get then torqued properly without disrupting the handlebars. For anyone with bar-backs installed, I'm afraid you will need to undo the clamp and move the bars.
Last was to tighten the post bolt that clamps to the stabilizer lever. That concluded the install. It took me three times as long to write this and post the pics. If I had not stopped so often for pics, this would have been about 5 minutes and over with.
I was not able to ride the bike tonight but will tomorrow provided the weather is good.
My initial experiment was to work the bars while sitting on the center stand and try differing adjustments. At the lowest setting of Zero, you almost cannot tell the unit is installed. It does offer a very slight resistance but anyone not paying attention wouldn't notice at all.
On a setting of 5 or 25% dampened, the steering offers some resistance but again, nothing that would interfere with city riding.
At the 10 mark of the dial, 50% dampened, you really start to notice the resistance and have to work the steering a bit. It felt very controlled but still manageable. Thus approaching the 8 mark and up, I'd not recommend a setting this high for very low speed riding. Remember to dial back if you are stuck in traffic and need to quickly turn out of a situation. But, this is also where it starts to assist in cornering.
From here, I need to get out on the bike and actually ride it while adjusting for some performance data. That review will come after this weekend in VT.
-Eric
