Questions you're too embarrassed to ask

[Phenoix]

damm the looks freaky

[Goblin]

Thats one helluva tankslappa!! OUCH! If you ever get a wobble on like that, dont put your feet down. Keep your feet on the pegs and grip the tank with your knees and slowly roll off the throttle.
Years ago I had a huge tankslappa on my Impulse. Hit one of those knobbly lumps of seal on the center line and got very ugly very quick. Was doing about 130km/h but managed to hold onto it and ride it out. My petrol tap dug into my knee and nearly took my knee-cap off. My last big wobble was earlier this year on my mates ZZR1100, worn rear tyre, bumpy left hand corner over a small bridge. Amazed myself as I held on and didnt end up like the dude in the clip. Slowed me down for about 10 kms.

[Dadpole]

Some of the older bikes seemed to have tankslappers built in. EG. the GSX1100 ESE/ESF with the 16 inch front wheel. Both of mine had low speed problems, as in 50km and take hands off bars. If they hit a matchstick the front end went wild (seat stain time). At speed they were fine (one finger on the bar on 180 km corners)

[Phenoix]

Well to add onto this then then, what and how do the dampeners on the larger bikes work then, arnt they there to stop tank slapping ?

[SlowHand]

2much - dropping it front of a hottie, you could always pick yourself up, and say, damn! almost had it. then if she asks what you were trying, you could always make some shit up! you could be the man or the excuse making bitch tho.

Krayy at the mystery ride told me of Pyrocam executing an awesome skill from a bitchslapper at a group ride- you about Pyro? willing to share?

[SlowHand]

Just saw the vid - GULP!!! That takes care of my Ego Bank (tm)!

[sunhuntin]

anyone got tips for riding on gravel/fist sized stones? not overly confident on either. a close friend has the fist stones for a drive way, and also gravel at the end of his road. i know enough to relax my grip on the bars and let them go where they need rather than try and control them, but what else is handy to know?

[sefer]

Go slow in 1st or 2nd, don't brake hard, look out for for deep patches of gravel (usually where cage tyres have pushed it to the side/middle), and pratice somewhere.

I've got a long gravel driveway and that's where I praticed riding my bike before I took it on the road, I find that gravel in general doesn't bother me too much anywhere now because I've had pratice slipping and sliding down the driveway.

I must admit I've dropped my bike on the drive twice now though pps: once going under 5k and hitting a deep patch, and once when I had just cleaned my bike and had the bright idea of testing the brakes, in the dark, on one of the deeper areas of the drive.. Slamming the front brake on on deep gravel when you can't see what's in front of you isn't one of the brighter ideas you can have

[flash]

just thought ild add another tank slapper

edit: oops, same clip (it took me like 30 mins to download the other one on dial up)

[2much]

Experience on a dirtbike is invaluable. keep your weight on the pegs, look far ahead in the direction you want to go. Don't make make any sudden changes of direction, follow the wheel tracks if there. And keep in a fairly high gear so that any small change in throttle doesn't do too much.

No 1 tip:
practice, practice, practice

[avgas]

Pretty much what everyone has said is correct, its the classic, practice makes perfect thing - i got to the point where i could drift the RG up dads nasty driveway (it made pikes peak like wide open smooth corners)....classic case of wanting a road legal trail bike....and only being able to afford the rg

[SlowHand]

Do you stand on the pegs? I did this the other day, with relaxed grip, and was amazed that I didnt fall over even with the bike squirming the whole way. I was real tempted to give it more throttle and try and get the back out, but hotties were around so I just decided to pop a wheelie, and hang off the back with my feet to stablise. (not!)

[sunhuntin]

havent tried standing on the pegs....will remember that next time. the road im thinking is about 30 mins out of town. will definatly head that way once the weathers cleared up some.

cheers :spudwave:

[SlowHand]

shit, sorry sunhuntin - I wasnt suggesting - I was asking. I didnt really see much difference, but I thought if off-roaders do it, I shud try it

[sunhuntin]

not a worry. actually could be a good idea. saw it on that long way round program once and have tried it going over speed bumps. find it harder to keep the throttle even, but balance isnt too bad. will try it next time i visit my friend with the fist stones and see what happens.