What are the effects of a Performance Damper? Explanation & Reviews!

Have you ever heard of a custom part called a Performance Damper? You may have heard of a steering damper, but never a Performance Damper (incidentally, it was originally called a Power Beam). The Performance Damper is a part developed by YAMAHA for four-wheeled vehicles to suppress the minute frame vibrations that occur during operation, and is currently being applied to a wide range of mobility equipment, including motorcycles and snowmobiles. Here, we will give you the details about this lesser known custom part.

What is a Performance Damper?

As mentioned above, the Performance Damper was initially developed by YAMAHA for automobiles. It is a part with a surprisingly long history, with its first appearance on a production vehicle dating back to 2001. In the case of four-wheeled vehicles, they are equipped with a tower bar, which is a reinforcing part that increases vehicle body rigidity; for motorcycles, this would equate to the sub-frame. However, too much rigidity in either 4-wheel or 2-wheel vehicles can have adverse effects on ride comfort.

The Performance Damper was developed as a solution to this problem. It stabilizes distortion of less than 1mm, which is the amount of deformation that occurs in the vehicle body while it is in motion. You may be thinking, "Wait? The body of a vehicle deforms while it's in motion?" In fact, since a vehicle is a collection of metal parts, it tries to come apart due to all the forces generated by movement. The actual amount of stroke of the Performance Damper is less than 1mm. However, that small amount of damping provides various benefits, such as convergence of body sway, stabilization in cornering, and reduction of vibration. The concept of the Performance Damper is similar to, but not exactly the same as that of reinforcement bars, which add viscosity to the chassis rather than body rigidity.

In addition to the lineup from Y'S GEAR for YAMAHA bikes, ACTIVE, who have been provided with the same technology, also have a lineup for HONDA, SUZUKI, and KAWASAKI motorcycles.

What type of rider is it suited for?

We've summarized the advantages and disadvantages of Performance Dampers based on user reviews. Although people's impressions of the Performance Damper vary, we have selected a few out of the many reviews that we have received, which we hope will be helpful.

Advantages

• Reduction in shaking of the handlebar (noticeable at speeds over 100 km/h)
• Improved straight line stability
• Increased cornering stability
• Stability when riding over a gap
• Decrease in vibration when idling

  Since the Performance Damper is a part that provides damping force to the vehicle body, as expected, reduced shaking when riding and increased stability are some of the advantages mentioned. This is especially beneficial when riding at high speeds, such as on highways. For a slightly unexpected comment, some said that they feel like the front tire has more ground contact, so it has a similar effect to changing the suspension. It also seems to have the effect of gently absorbing the forces applied to the vehicle body while riding, such as yaw, roll, and pitch, and making it easier to keep the load on the tires. It is recommended for those who want to improve the handling stability of their motorcycle, such as reducing vibration and fatigue during long tours.

  Disadvantages

• Handling feels heavy

  It may look like the disadvantages are far fewer than the advantages, but there are a variety of situations that should be considered when the handling becomes heavier. For example, when riding on the street, making turns at intersections may become heavier, making it difficult to make small turns, or it may be harder to stay on your line when riding on winding roads. However, these are side effects of the stabilization provided by the Performance Damper. For those who want straight line stability, this may not seem like a big disadvantage.

  Recommended Bikes

  YAMAHA: MT-09

  ■Performance Damper / MSRP:33,695 JPY

  The MT-09 is relatively light and powerful among large motorcycles, and the Performance Damper meets the demand for a calm ride on such a monster machine. There are many Performance Dampers available for different models of motorcycles, but the MT-09 Performance Damper is the best-selling among large sportbikes. If you like to ride winding roads, but also want to relax a little and enjoy long tours, why not try out a Performance Damper for your MT-09?

  YAMAHA: TMAX

  ■Performance Damper / MSRP:31,623 JPY

  The TMAX, a model representative of maxi-scooters, gained more power in 2021 when its displacement was changed from 530cc to 560cc. However, even sports-type scooters are not always aggressive. In fact, many people probably enjoy a more relaxing ride. The TMAX is equipped with cruise control and other luxury features, and it is also possible to install a Performance Damper for even greater comfort.

  HONDA: GB350S

  For the GB350S, the sports model of the GB350 line, ACTIVE offers a lineup of Performance Dampers. One of the common problems with single-cylinder motorcycles is the annoying vibration when the engine is running. As the length of your ride becomes longer, the vibration causes fatigue. For some people, this vibration is part of the flavor of the bike! However, there must be more than a few people who would like a milder ride. We recommend this product for those who want the best of both worlds: the pulse of a single-cylinder engine and the quality of ride provided by a Performance Damper.

  Reviews from customers who have used Performance Dampers!

  So, what are the impressions of owners who have actually installed these Performance Dampers? We have carefully selected reviews that were posted in an easy-to-understand manner from among those received by us. Since opinions regarding custom parts vary from person to person, it's good to get a few different perspectives!

  Review of installation on a SEROW 250

  I installed this product on a 2013 SEROW. I was considering purchasing the Power Beam because the previous model had good reviews and I discovered that it had been upgraded. I was surprised to see how much difference it made to my ride. Although the SEROW is a bike that gives you a nimble ride, I felt uneasy when cornering and riding at high speeds, and I was easily fatigued. This is a great improvement and I don't want to ride without it anymore. It is also more compact than the previous model, and I think the design is better looking. I highly recommend this product to other SEROW owners!

  Review of installation on an MT-09 TRACER

  First of all, compared to before installation, the handling has lost its wobbly aspect at low speeds and riding straight has definitely improved. Vibrations from the engine seem to have almost disappeared, as has the slight shaking of the handlebar. Even on long day trips of 500 km on side streets, I feel less fatigue in my hands. High speed riding becomes wonderfully stable and small unevenness in the road becomes less noticeable (this is particularly noticeable when you ride on a road with a lot of speed bumps). There is no problem for straight lines on ordinary roads, but the flex between the front and rear is greatly suppressed by the damper, so while the body becomes more unified, the feeling that it is harder to corner becomes more noticeable and it's harder to turn the handlebar when turning at intersections. The suspension also feels firmer, and I can now feel the bumps pushing up against me.

  Review of installation on a Rebel 250

  First of all, the ride is more comfortable. You might think it's not much, but it actually changes the feel quite a bit. There were some places where the torque wrench didn't fit the way it is described in the manual, and there were some places where I couldn't tighten the bolts to the specified torque, but in general, I was able to assemble it as instructed, and I think it is working the way it should. The rattling vibration of the engine at low speeds might be a lost cause, but the vibration is reduced when the speed picks up, and I think it works well for those who are concerned about a bumpy ride. I have not been able to ride at high speeds yet, but I am looking forward to doing so.

  Be informed before installing a Performance Damper!

  The Performance Damper has various effects as we have introduced. It is a patented product packed with YAMAHA technology. However, some users have installed it and then removed it later because the feeling was not right. We recommend it for those who want a high quality feeling in their ride and want to have a relaxing time or those who enjoy long tours but don't want a tiring bike!

  ■View a list of Performance Dampers for different models at Webike