I had a big trouser browning moment while out last night .....severe enough to pump the caliper pistons back causing me to have a second moment at the next roundabout when the brake lever came back to the bars! Note to self.... Remember to pump brake after tank slapper. How do you guys deal with severe head shake/ tank slappers?
I'm fortunate to have completed numerous courses as part of my former work... All the advice has always been consistent with every course I've done... OK, so 1st of all, your riding style should be relaxed in that you don't grip the bars tightly. That way, it allows for some movement as the bars will move due to the surface underneath it. Following a tank slapper, the bike will want to come back onto a straight line itself without intervention from the rider, so... If you grip the bars too tightly and a tank slapped develops, your grip will be the thing that stops the bars from bringing themselves back straight. Basically don't fight it. Now, the braking bit... If you close the throttle instantly, it's just like putting the brakes on and your front end will load up which increases the forces that the front wheel is trying to sort out for itself, so, just a gentle throttle reduction and a relaxed grip on the bars is the best recommendation I could give. One of the courses I did had us going over obstacles, stood up, not holding the bars. The bike straightened itself out without any rider intervention. Also, going in a straight line, stood up, we would get hold of the tank and yank it to one side. Yes the bike will initially move, but then you leave it alone and it wants to come back onto a straight line. Try rolling a coin along the floor, once it's rolling give it a gentle nudge from the side, it'll wobble and then straighten up. Hope that helps.
You shouldn't be getting tank slippers on a modern FB. It has an electronic steering damper. I know I've used mine. Maybe you should get it checked out, judging by your icon pic it should still be under warranty.
What he said. The damper on my RR sorts out a fair bit. Not that I make a habit of having tank slappers, but I've had one or two.
Yes that was my thoughts too as I can't ever recall having one on my RR7, had a few on my zx6 though until I fitted a damper. I wonder how good/ efficient the Honda damper really is as the racers seem to junk them in favour of a traditional hydraulic type?
Had a Huge one on a 90's Gixxer 600 SRAD about 15 years ago that seemed to go on for ever!! i done what was mentioned above (release throttle and relax) and it settled itself, since then i've been lucky enough not to expierience one ever agin as that was enough for me!!!
Hopefully it was just a one off I'm used to head shake, it goes with the territory of riding a sports bike but this was a proper "oh sh.......t" moment! Maybe have to have a word with the dealer this Is a brand new 2 week old Blade on std settings.
I went into the last corner at anglesey when they had the old pit lane. Lost the back after too much throttle while lent over to much. My fault. Result was almost a highside and very brown pants. Some how I managed to keep it upright after the front and rear leat go resulting in a huge tankslapper, feet off the pegs and me trying to make sweet love the tank with my nuts. All my fault
Tank slappers happen because you're being a little girl with the throttle. Man up and use the throttle as it was meant to be used, your front wheel should hover approx 1 inch above the ground thus meaning theres never a chance of a tank slapper.. My front wheel even hovers when the bike is parked...
Only ever had one tank slapper on a 99 CBR600. Completely pooped myself as I was just a rag doll along for the ride,. The only part left touching the bike was the hands on the handlebars, the rest was thrown side to side in the air, and sorry guys and girls, I didn't have a light grip on the bars, more like a grip for dear life itself. I was fortunate enough that was my only one other than a few minor head shakes. Mr R6 never suffered with that problem as I learnt to let the clutch out faster and after that the wheel never saw the ground till 70mph (ish). Yes I can admit that as its on my record and justice has been served many years ago . I admit with the blade I prefer both wheels on the ground these days, maybe I am just getting old but at least I don't worry that I am going to bin the bike every time I pull away lol I would get that steering damper checked out right away
HAHA i know your kidding but now when your leant over with your knee on the deck. then it's not fun or cleaver
