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REVIEW: Precision Racing's Steering Stabilizer For The Brute Force

28K views 112 replies 21 participants last post by  NMKAWIERIDER 
#1 · (Edited)
REVIEW OF THE PRECISION STEERING STABLIZER FOR THE BRUTE FORCE

Product First Look

Clean, smooth, well crafted, no burs, cast marks or imperfections. So nice, one would hate to get it dirty! Check it out!




Installation

Installation was easy and straight forward. All parts fit perfectly as expected. It is critical that tork specs be followed to the letter as per instructions. Also, double check that the stabilizer control arm and the stem clamp arm are in the proper position prior to torking. About fifteen minutes and you are ready for the trails!!
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Initial setting

Direction includes settings that professional racers use in various conditions as a baseline. I decided on the rough trail riding as a starting point. The center and sides operation are 100% adjustable for any condition or desire a rider may have.
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Conditions

The initial ride was only four hours long, but included four basic types of riding conditions.

-Desert trails that include woops, hard corners, sand, rocky climbs & malpye fields (rocky open fields & trails)

-Hill Climbs that include sandy 47-50 degree 3-700 foot climbs, hard pack with ledges & gravel covered 48 degree short 100-200 foot climbs.

-Arroyos which are like dry creek beds cut in to open areas feeding rivers in most cases. They are narrow with steep walls, switchbacks, hairpins, small drop-offs and are usually loose or soft bottomed. Sport quad riders love them. I rolled mine clipping a wall once.

-Simulated Drag Racing Just as it sounds, from zero to top end fully pinned on a dirt road. Simulated because I was alone. No matter, none of my buds will run me any more anyway.

I started out on the Desert trails, which wind out of some small hills onto the desert floor. Noticed it was better behaved over the whoops and off camber conditions right off the bat. In fact, I had to push it a bit to get the tail to swing while playing. George said it would control fishtailing, and boy he was right. Woops had far less impact on the arms as the stabilizer caught the wheel impacts at the stem. On one I stuck it a little on the way out and up she went, however she noised down into the next one on angle. Prepared for a bar snap as she hit…but didn’t happen. Wheel stayed straight and landed just fine. Excited about this I started picking up the pace. The bike now naturally wanted to keep a straight line and it was now the rider that would cause the bike to whip around, not the trail. Steering and cornering in sand was positive and well behaved. The act of over correcting seems to have been reduced drastically if not completely eliminated.




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I made it out of the hills to the flats in record time where I let her graze over open rocky fields. The faster I went, the more the stabilizer held on. I found I could ride with one hand over very rough fields of clumps and rocks. I found it very strange the amount of reacting we do from input we get from the trail, and when much of that is taken out, that leaves more time for action…or increased aggressive riding. This could get one into trouble. The Brute behaved so differently that a couple of times I thought to myself “Who’s bike is this?” I became more fearless and started riding it more like a sport bike. In short, the control gain was unbelievable and one might find himself pushing it harder to get back closer to that “edge”. You know about the "edge"...right? That's the point where a rider feels his toes are just across the line between in and out of control. Pushing the limit or envelope you might say.

The next condition was Arroyos, where agility and control counts. With the sway bar off, there were some limitations as to the power turning but it still didn’t slow me down to the most part. These are like little canyons with twists & turns, hairpins and in my case this day, one collapsed canyon wall just around one blind turn. With no time to stop I did a full lockup and fully expected the back end to come around and impact this wall of dirt as it has in the past, but no.. she stayed straight and I was able to twitch the bars enough to line up on a spot that would take me over the top, clicked it in FWD and headed over it like a pro. Wow. I think the only explanation is that the bike uses the stem as a pivot point and when a steering stabilizer is bridged between the frame and stem, it works both ways. The pivot point now has a damper on it, so it can’t start to pivot around without your help. That’s cool…most of the time. If one wanted to play he/she could just adjust this stabilizer a few clicks looser and it would act like it was off. Anyway, even with this blockage, I ran the Arroyo in record time and no feeling of tightness in my shoulders or forearms. I then headed back to the hills for some climbing tests.

On the hill climbs I first off found that what I call “Torque-Steer” was almost eliminated in FWD and in full diff-lock. In just FWD with this initial setting I couldn’t feel any torque steer at all and was able to run a straighter line up to the top then ever before. In fact, I found I used the diff-lock much less. Even on rutty hills with outcropping ledges, the line to the top was much straighter and the bike deflected almost not at all by these bumps and ruts. I then decided to see if I could take the “Torque Steer” out completely and set the stabilizer two notched tighter. This is when I discovered that you really do want some of this to get to your hands. The best way I can describe it is first, what I call “Torque Steer” is better classified as “Traction Steer” for us. In full lock, when one tire looses traction, the other pulls in that direction turning the steering in that direction. You turn it back quickly to maintain your line and before the frame changes course much. Well, I can tell you that two-notch tighter setting will in fact take out 100% of the effect this has on the bars. You will feel no torque/traction steer. But because it was stopped at the stem, and the front wheels did not move, something has to happen, so the bike will jump in the direction of the tire with the traction. It’s like someone picked up your front end, moved it over 5-10 degrees, and set it down. That meant the whole bike is now off your line and you have to turn it back. So, this setting is not good for use with the diff-lock on hills. It’s still OK in just 4WD or 2WD and it will take out more bump-steer and a lower speed, so rough trail riding will be better, but not hill climbing in full lock. That was the only time all day that I felt any pucker factor…and it was a dozy. Did it three times just to confirm that’s what it was doing.

One last test was the simulated drag race. All three takeoffs were smooth and straight, no fishtailing in 2 or 4 wheel drive. You guys that drag race should like that! On up to 55+ smooth as glass except on mine, I have some wobble from my tires that used to come through to the bars and shake, but not any more. I can still feel it in the frame, but its stopped at the stabilizer at the stem. Very cool.


So, in summary, I love it! I liked the ability to either be way-in control or adjust it off if I wanted. The adjustability is fantastic. It was only a four-hour ride, but I needed no breaks and just wanted to hit more stuff. I think any stabilizer will greatly increase a rider’s control and remove lots of the input that causes stress & pump to the upper body. I also think there are those out there that like living on the edge, and for those, maybe a stabilizer shouldn’t be in their future, nor for those that mostly mud and just ride trails to get to the mud. It wouldn’t be worth it. But if you take long rides in the back country, travel over rough areas and want a better, less pounding experience or want to be taken to a new level of control so you can ride more aggressively and confidently, well a stabilizer is for you, and I do highly recommend this one. George and his staff at Precision Racing Products period. And… it’s the only one specifically designed for the Brute Force… and not just some....all of them! A great product, built right here in the USA</ST1:p


Precision Racing Products
Tel 209-365-1850
Fax 209-365-1692
Email SALES@PRECISION-RP.COM
 
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#69 ·
I've ridden street bikes over 100 many times. I've ridden sport quads in the 70's and 80's with no fear, but when the Brutes get in the upper 60's and 70's, I start loosing my stones real quick ....lol. I think it's because you sit up higher on a utility quad. It just doesn't feel as stable to me and it always feels faster in the dirt! ..maybe if I had a steering stabilizer, I'd feel different.
 
#70 ·
I've ridden street bikes over 100 many times. I've ridden sport quads in the 70's and 80's with no fear, but when the Brutes get in the upper 60's and 70's, I start loosing my stones real quick ....lol. I think it's because you sit up higher on a utility quad. It just doesn't feel as stable to me and it always feels faster in the dirt! ..maybe if I had a steering stabilizer, I'd feel different.
When I was young I too hit the pavement pretty hard and fast...literly. :(...was taken out a few too many times. Now I have those memories flashing through my head at ..well...anything above 50 on the Brute. Being unloaded HURTS !!!! :D...and I don't heal like I did back then. But the stabilizer does help a but up there.
 
#74 ·
I probably put that comment in thinking I was quoting. I cleaned it up

They were tough to make. George and I worked together on them for several months getting position, angles, measurements, heat data and so on. When you get it, you will see its different then any other mount. I am sure George had to set a pretty good price for it.. Even for me the complete setup was 580 bucks. Hay, here's an idea, Email George and tell him you ride with me and ask him wjat he could sell a mount to you for. I got John a deal on that Stabilizer through George.
 
#80 ·
heck, if I knew these mounts were that high priced I wouldn't of bought the Precision and George is no help w/his lousy online ordering page.
So that being said, I'm staying with my Gibson, the Precision and the Suzy mount is now up 4Sale.
 
#82 ·
If I had bought one when I thought about it I might have saved myself a chiped bone on my elbow and a torn tricep muscle a year ago. I was plowing through a deep red clay mud hole and hit something hard underneath, never saw what it was, and it ripped the handle bars hard right forcing my arm back in a 90 degree while I was holding and forcing the bars to go left. Something snapped and the pain shot all the way to my toes and took my breath. My whole arm went numb. I was in front of about 20 people watching cause they all bet my brute couldn't make it through it with out getting stuck. I manged to hold on and finish the run collecting my $50 but I was about to pass out. Only a couple of them noticed I was in a bind and ask me about it later. That sucker swelled up to the size of a basketball with in a couple hours. I never went and got it fixed so I'm missing a chunk of my posterior tricep muscle, it retracrted down to my elbow and I have a knot there where it stayed. I ended up cutting the bone chip out myself and stiched it up afterward cause it kept moving around and would get on the funnybone nerve and make my arm fall asleep. I got about two six packs in me and got rid of it. Somewhere I got careless and must not have sterilized everthing good enough cause it got infected and made me sick, ended up haveing to go to a doctor afterall. Had to get on a extreme antibiotic through IV which he let me do at home cause I told him I aint going to no hospital and he knew I could start it myself. I think I got a couple pics of some of it. So moral of this story is You don't have to be a racer or ride extreme all the time to need one of these. I was just going through a deep mud hole and got bit.... I didn't spend enough on this incident to have bought one but if I had gone to the doc to get it fixed I prob could have bought a doz of them. The doc said surgery was needed to remove the bone chip, reattach the muscle, and then a few weeks of rehab. estimate was 12 to 18k.... I spent $40 on the IV antibiotic. already had the sutures, scaple and beer.....First pic is the mud hole but not me, another guy stuck in it before I tore it up and made em bow before me, then my arm about an hour after the pop, then my cut and stich handywork and the bone chip I pulled out...
 

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#86 ·
Ok, same results. I enter my credit info but it doesn't allow me the next step, just request's a "Shipping Method", Dead End again.
So go ahead and order it for me NMK and thanks. It will be interesting to compare the Precision to my tube type Gibson and let others know the results, as you know how I ride.
 
#91 ·
Thanks, sent you a email.

I look all over for other outlets who carried the Precision Stabilizers, found a decent price too on the mount only But they would only sell the mount with the purchase of the Stabilizer But would sell the Stabilizer w/o the mount.
 
#89 ·
Dang, so I missed a steal on that one and didn't even know it till it was done....
 
#93 ·
Hopefully we can do the switch of monies to the precision mounting hardware on Tuesday.
I need to get my wood permit and a trip to wal-mart anyway and I hate going into Santa Fe, so for now I am planning to hit the wm on Southern/Unser and get a few other things done while in the Big City.
 
#97 ·
I'll toss that around for a bit, that may work.
I can stop in Jemez Springs on the way down and get the wood permit there, I think they open around 8 or 9, I can be there at 9, then head down to Albuquerque to walmart. What does it take to install the Precision, can we do it there on the end of Southern?
 
#98 ·
Best to have a 3/8 torque wrench but a 1/2" will work, some sockets for all the bolts . you can get the sizes from the one you have. The stem mount bolts may be 5mm allens but they too need to be torqued and the stem lock/set is also allen I believe.

So, just bring enough sockets to torque all the bolts including the ones the mount the unit to the mounting bar.
 
#99 ·
Ok, no work on Tuesday. Decided against on bringing down the Brute, looks to be just as windy as it was Today plus I have way too much to do.
I can meet you at hOOter's for Lunch on the West Side when you get out of your Dr appt, just give me a call. After hOOter's, I'll be heading back. hOOter's opens at 11.
 
#100 ·
Ok, no work on Tuesday. Decided against on bringing down the Brute, looks to be just as windy as it was Today plus I have way too much to do.
I can meet you at hOOter's for Lunch on the West Side when you get out of your Dr appt, just give me a call. After hOOter's, I'll be heading back. hOOter's opens at 11.
I'll actualy be done at the docs at 10:10 and I can meet you after. It will take me about 18 minutes to drive from here to the west side.

Yeah I just sent you an email on the wind. Not a fan of hot blowing sand.
 
#105 ·
Damnit, OK I"M IN! Ya'll gonna cost me a fortune in gas and vacation....
 
#106 ·
Back to the Precision Racing Steering Stabilizer/I am Sold on it..
I haven't put allot of miles on this Precision unit but I can say this much about it, outstanding. Blows away the Gibson I had before, I felt "Zero" kick-back on the trail, at any speed. I set it up as instructions stated plus I turn the notches two more clicks, perfect.
The Can am with us on this ride also had one installed, a 800max 2-seater, after helping him adjust his settings, he finally was able to say he was happy with the results.
But, any steering stabilizer is better than none at all/they add safety to your riding/a must have upgrade.

btw, Tork traded in his 08BF750 for a used Polaris rzr.
 
#108 ·
After messing around and figuring out my Voyager GPS unit I re-set my adjustments on my Precision Steering stabilizer, seemed a little stiff in turning when I drove the Brute around and into the Garage this morning. I noticed those adjuster screws are a bit loose, thinking they may turn by themselves on rough trails. Now that I re-adjusted it, it feels perfect.
 
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