Experiencing the Performance Damper for the Hunter Cub first hand! (Part 2)

ACTIVE has released a Performance Damper for Hunter Cubs. This is a one-of-a-kind damping device that is unparalleled even among the many custom parts available for the Hunter Cub and it has attracted a great deal of attention. I was able to borrow a sample from ACTIVE themselves, so I installed it and went for a test ride. Here is my review!

Let's continue with the installation!

We installed the Performance Damper in Part 1, so now let's fully tighten all the bolts.

Tighten each part with a torque wrench!

After the temporary fastening, the next thing to do is fully tighten each bolt while paying attention to the balance. The first step is to tighten the bolt attaching the front bracket to the bike body. A 6mm hexagonal socket is used to tighten to 22Nm here.

Next is the bolts attaching the rear bracket to the bike body. Both should be tightened to 10Nm.

Just a little bit more. Tighten the bolt attaching the Performance Damper to the bracket to 20Nm. I really wanted to use a torque wrench on the nut side, but the cylinder is in the way and I don't have a torque wrench that can reach that side well, so I compromised and measured the torque on the bolt side.

Lastly we have the front side which is also tightened to 20Nm. This one has more space, so I was able to use a torque wrench on the nut side.

Here is the amount of clearance between the Performance Damper and the stock exhaust.

I also tried it with an aftermarket exhaust. With the exhaust I had, I was able to get clearance, although it was less than stock. There might be interference with an exhaust where the pipe layout moves inward. However, most exhausts should be OK unless the catalytic converter is right where the Performance Damper is located.

Also, if there is just slight interference, I think it might be possible to use washers or something to push it 1mm inward. Since the Performance Damper and bracket are both made of steel, I think that a steel washer would not have too much effect on the resonance. On the other hand, an aluminum collar might affect the vibration control function. This is just my personal impression, and using washers would change the original design, so using them would be at your own risk. Anyway, this completes the installation.

The GoPro camera and fog lights make it hard to see, but it really fits in perfectly.

Now it's time for a test ride! How effective is the Performance Damper?

I've taken it for a test ride, but before I go any further, just a quick note. This is just my personal impression. The effect of the damper and the rider's impression may differ depending on the condition of the bike, custom specifications, and riding style.

So, back to the test ride, the first thing you will notice when you start riding is the reduction in vibrations. Without spoiling the single-cylinder characteristics, the constant micro-vibrations are greatly reduced. The vibrations that bother me on the Hunter Cub are that of the grips, seat, and step. To be honest, I didn't think there was that much change in the step, but the grips and seat are vibrating noticeably less.

It's not just the grips and seat, but the entire chassis feels more solid. It is not the same feeling as if the rigidity of the chassis has been increased by reinforcing the frame or something like that. Even if the rigidity of the chassis is increased, it wouldn't mean that slight vibrations would disappear. Vibrations don't disappear just by increasing rigidity, which is why there are rubber mounts and the like.

The Performance Damper does not make the bike more rigid, but rather more flexible and tolerant, or to put it another way, it feels like a living creature. Rather than a stiff combination of metal parts, it feels like it is absorbing the vibrations with bones, joints, and flesh. I think this is what we call body viscosity. When I was waiting at a traffic light, I suddenly noticed a sense of stability as if the bike was sticking to the ground. Conversely, I noticed for the first time that until now I had been slightly flustered by the vibration. Hunter Cubs vibrate and have high seats, so I had felt a little unstable when waiting at traffic lights. Perhaps it is the effect of the absorption of micro-vibrations, but it became strangely stable as if the bike was sticking to the road surface, making it less stressful to wait at traffic lights, even for the Hunter Cub which has poor footing.

Now we hit the highway. What I was expecting from the Performance Damper was for it to reduce stress when cruising at a constant speed. Not only the Hunter Cub, but also for other Cubs, when cruising at a slightly high RPM, the vibration of the seat and hands feels a bit uncomfortable. I like it because that's what Cubs are like, and to be honest, I like to ride long distances on a Cub. However, there is nothing better than a comfortable ride and when I tested it out cruising at a constant speed, it really did make a difference. There are times when vibration bothers me even though the speed and rpm are just right. These unpleasant vibrations that can be a bother when cruising at a constant speed have been considerably improved.

When you replace the exhaust or suspension, it's easy to see a big change, but with the Performance Damper, I have the impression that the frame has become more tolerant, and it is a little more comfortable in every situation. One thing I particularly like is when you let back on the throttle. You know that noise you get when you let up on the throttle while riding fast? On a big bike, you would quietly start engine braking, but with the Hunter Cub it gives off a noise that makes you feel like the bike is flimsy. But after installing the Performance Damper, the noise was clearly reduced, and I don't know if this is the right way to put it, but it makes you feel like you're riding a high-end bike. I know it's a cliché, but I felt like the quality went up a notch.

The bike also behaves in a more straightforward way on corners, perhaps due to the effect of the body flexing more slowly. The behavior is calm and not unnaturally intrusive. Personally, I quite like the handling. For those who want more quickness on the approach, it may be possible to adjust that with suspension settings. What I was surprised by is that even though noises and micro-vibrations are reduced and the feel of the body is tremendously improved, the feel of the engine is not spoiled at all.

There is a balance between the frame and the engine, and if the frame wins too much, the engine will feel underpowered. However, by reducing unpleasant noise while maintaining the comfort of the single-cylinder engine, the engine efficiency seems to have increased. To be honest, the frame itself also feels a little more solid, and I have the impression that frame rigidity has increased. My Hunter Cub has stiffer front and rear suspension, but if it had stock suspension, this feeling might increase even more.

However, more than the rigidity, the effect of noise reduction throughout the whole body is what is great. By calming down the clatter of the whole body, movements become smoother, and above all, you can feel the behavior of the bike and engine without any disturbance. However, it is so smooth that you may soon forget how it felt before the Performance Damper was installed.

Conclusion

Getting rid of the noise has honestly made the entire bike feel much better than I expected. It feels like the bike has been completely upgraded.

ACTIVE has been developing a lineup of Performance Dampers for models from various manufacturers, and I think the effect is especially great for smaller models such as the Hunter Cub. Come to think of it, Mr. Ataka also said that the effect is easy to feel on a Hunter Cub. Each damper is designed specifically for the compatible model, so if you own a bike that has a compatible version, I recommend experiencing it for yourself. Honestly speaking, you will be impressed.