Has anyone seen or posted a side-by-side photograph of the stock vs the aftermarket swaybar?
Photos like what you ask for probably exist. But they are of little practical use. Visually, the stock bar and my bar look nearly identical. I even had a customer return his 2008-2012 RS, GS, RSS bar kit after simply looking at it because 'It was identical to the stock bar he already had'. Amazing that someone would think I could get away with selling an identical product to what comes stock.
My custom bar kits are very unimpressive in the box. They are only slightly larger in diameter than the stock bar. Holding each in your hand you can tell the difference in size and weight. But with a sway bar this short and this small (diameter), a very little bit of change in the right areas will make a great deal of difference in handling.
Another misconception is that you have to be a crazy race fiend to appreciate a sway bar upgrade. While it is true that the harder you ride, the more you will appreciate a sway bar upgrade. Any riding style will benefit from a more stable, planted platform. Many who do not feel the need for a better sway bar have never tried one. I understand the skepticism. I appreciate a discerning customer. It is just that much more rewarding when I get the email or phone call saying; 'I should have done this a long time ago!'.
The tendency when comparing sway bars is to consider only the diameter in judging what you might expect in improvement. This would hold true if the other 2 parameters of sway bar design were the same. However, quality and characteristics of the spring steel and arm length also have a great deal to do with the final result. My bar kits employ changes in all 3 aspects.
For example. Many are installing take off, OEM RT bars on their F3 Spyder. Being a larger diameter bar using the same spring steel compound and arm length, you will get a noticeable improvement in handling on your F3. And, the diameter of the OEM RT bar is the same as my F3 bar kit, leading people to believe that they are getting the same benefit my bar provides. However, because I am using a different spring steel and arm length. My bar will give you about 50% more improvement than the OEM RT bar option on your F3, even though these bars are the same diameter.
Sway bars don't look like much. Pretty simple component. I thought the same thing when I started my sway bar project. But I found that there is much more to a sway bar than what meets the eye.
My sway bar kits are not impressive in the box. But that is OK because where you want them to impress, is on your Spyder.
