My first real tank-slapper!!

[Krayy]

Well it's taken a couple of days for my hands to stop shaking enough to be able to type proper-like.

So there we were at the top of Old North Rd on 16 and turning right onto Peak Rd for the run to Kaukapakapa. madDuck shoots off, I let Crashe go ahead of me and then follow. Come round the first left hander (a downhill) and start to accelerate. Pass Crashe (and lets face it, who doesn't ) and into the first sweeping right. Now anyone who knows this corner knows that the seal is as rough as guts here and best taken with a wide line to stay away from the lumps in the center of the corner.

So what did I do? Well I was pretty much next to center line after passing Crashe and stayed there when turning in. A word of advice to anyone going down this road....don't take this line!!!

Mid way through the corner with a good lean on, the front wheel hit the tarseal "moguls" and after a second or so of seriously violent sawing from the handlebars, I was through the rough patch and off down the road with an extra 30 or so BPM on the pump and sweaty palms.

Think I'll take it slower there next time

[Fishy]

Oh how I miss a good slapper!. Damn new Honda Electronic Steering Damper, can't even get a little head shake any more.

[crashe]

Yep mate that short section of road sure is as rough as guts aye...

I always slow down (ok slow to a snails speed) at that section of road.


Twas interesting following you around that bit... I thought you would hit the brakes to slow down, but no you fly throu it... or should I say bounce your way throu it....

[Finn]

Fun isn't it? And thanks for the explanation of what a tank slapper is. Here I was thinking all you guys we're dirty bastards.

Thankfully, Honda have engineered this problem out with the electronic steering dampner. It works perfectly - sort of. I rode a Duc 999 on the weekend and the front end felt as light as a push bike.

[Finn]

Oh how I miss a good slapper!. Damn new Honda Electronic Steering Damper, can't even get a little head shake any more.

Hey Fish, do you find the ESD doesn't turn in as sharp as those other less engineered bikes?

[Fishy]

Yep certainly do. Its a bloody good dampner eh!. Wonder what Honda are gonna come up with next? cruise control? ABS? Coffee machine? haha

[Zed]

...Now anyone who knows this corner knows that the seal is as rough as guts here and best taken with a wide line to stay away from the lumps in the center of the corner.

Yep i know that corner very well and have had 1 or 2 moments there in the past. There is a fast line you can take through that section around the bumps and ripped up seal, i think it's to the left side of the lane.

Glad to read it didn't end up worse, those scary moments are all part & parcel of the motorcycling experience!!

[kiwifruit]

ooh yeh!
gotta love a little comminication with the front wheel

[Sniper]

A good old slapper aye. Well done for coming out on top.

[Patrick]

I thought a tank slapper was a disreputable chick lying on the tank... ride for a ride type girl...

[Keystone19]

Yep, know that section of road well and have had a similar experience. I think it was on my VTR too. .

Agree with Zed though, there is a smooth fast line that avoids the bumps and yes, it is to take a very wide left hand line into the corner.

Umm, best to try that line slowly the first time I found!

[ManDownUnder]

You survived, you learned and you had the shit scared out of you for a bit... all good things.

[Arven]

The front end felt as light as a push bike.

Sounds like my R1. it loves to shake when powering out of corners. I really need a Dampner on it.

[DMNTD:Me]

Oooo someone say slapper?

I thought a tank slapper was a disreputable chick lying on the tank... ride for a ride type girl...

Same but you got to watch 'em cuffs on the paint mate!

After owning TL's I know what you're on about as they are the true slappers from hell! Just one of those things we must endure I'm afraid

[sugilite:Me]

Slapper? That sounds more like a patty cake!
Come back to us when the handle bars went from lock to lock with your front wheel twisting so badly in your forks it opened up the front brake pads forcing you to pump the front brakes back up before the next corner, now thats a tank slapper!
Good on you for riding through it though! It is very disconcerting the 1st few times