The SXC design has been around for a few years now, but development has continued, hence the ‘4’ in the name. The original idea was to raise the bar for dampers, adding to both the appearance and functionality. To that end the smart mounting kit features your bike’s name (unless you call your bike Freddie, or Mildred, or something) etched into the bracket and the clamp design is tidier. Uniquely, the SXC has a service indicator to let you know when it needs some loving. All dampers need servicing at some point, but we usually only notice when it’s too late and it has vomited its fluid all over the tank.
Fitting is an easy five-minute job. If you have a GSX-R, don’t forget to remove the standard damper from under the bottom yoke or you’ll never get out of your driveway.
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I was really pleased to find that this newer version performs even better than the early model I used on my ’05 longterm test ZX-10R. My race bike is twitchier than a paranoid schizophrenic after twenty-seven espressos. It doesn’t do long lock-to-lock slappers, just kicks back sporadically under acceleration because of the extra power and steeper geometry compared to the otherwise well behaved standard K4.
The damper was one of the few remaining stock parts on the bike, and I didn’t want to change it for the sake of it. After all, the idea of this bike was to build and race a fully capable Powerbike for the least amount possible. After two races and two tests spent hanging on for dear life, it was clear that an aftermarket adjustable damper was needed.
The Sprint unit made an immediate tangible difference. This newer version doesn’t need to be done up as tight to tame the flapping bars. The steepness of the rising rate feels a lot more suitable now. Because it only needs to be halfway through its range to calm the bike, it doesn’t interfere at low speed.
At Mallory, where the K4 was scary on the stock damper, I could now get on the power harder and never have to roll off to stop a slapper. I can also move around on the bike while at full throttle with setting it off. This was especially noticeable climbing out of the Esses towards the Hairpin where you have to move across from left to right, prepare to brake like a fighter pilot landing on an aircraft carrier, deal with loads of bumps, and contend with an obscenely powerful bike trying to power wheelie in third gear and land crossed up.
All in all, this is exactly the solution I needed and a quality product that I can wholeheartedly recommend. The price has dropped too, so it
