First tankslapper

**ninja ll** · 10th April 2007, 16:56

i just went for a ride and was thorouly enjoying myself. i was on a straight piece of road so i gave a twist of the wrist then before i kew it the bike was wobling violently and so of backed of on the gas and then it stopped. It all happened so fast and i know i could have been on my back before i even had time to blink. lol no time to be scared when these things hapen aye! dunno what i did wrong, maybe i hit a bump... i dont think i did?

**Boob Johnson** · 10th April 2007, 17:19

Tank slapper?

Are you suggesting you were wheel spinning?

**ninja ll** · 10th April 2007, 17:28

no. lol i must have the definition of tankslapper wrong. i thought it was when the handle bars woble violently left to right. i wasnt wheel spinning.

**Steam** · 10th April 2007, 17:41

Originally Posted by ninja ll

no. lol i must have the definition of tankslapper wrong. i thought it was when the handle bars woble violently left to right.

You got it right, that's what a tank slapper is. Scary!

**warren35** · 10th April 2007, 17:44

Originally Posted by ninja ll

i just went for a ride and was thorouly enjoying myself. i was on a straight piece of road so i gave a twist of the wrist then before i kew it the bike was wobling violently and so of backed of on the gas and then it stopped. It all happened so fast and i know i could have been on my back before i even had time to blink. lol no time to be scared when these things hapen aye! dunno what i did wrong, maybe i hit a bump... i dont think i did?

aka shit your daks,lay a load,.spooky shit those slappers aye.a steering dampner is worth its weight in gold and will let your confidence grow.

**ninja ll** · 10th April 2007, 18:12

yea i thought tankslappers only happened when going around corners. i was doing about 140 so it was pretty scary- only lasted about a second, probably less

**Ixion** · 10th April 2007, 18:22

Tank dented? Thumbs broken? Fork stops smashed off ? If not, it's just steering wobble, not a full monty tank slapper. If it reoccurs, check your tyres - pressure and condition.

Received wisdom is, in the case of a genuine tankslapper (don't worry, if you encounter one you'll KNOW it's the real thing. Then worry. Lots), do NOT back off the throttle. Keep the throttle steady and move weight gently forward untill the slapper dies down, or you are thrown off and killed. Whichever comes first. That way you have (some) chance of getting away with it.

I've only experienced a genuine one twice in 40+ years. I survived both. Just. I don't EVER want another.

Yes, they can happen on a straight road, and yes, bumps are (usuaully) implicated.

**HDTboy** · 10th April 2007, 18:36

I've found that keeping the throttle on and relaxing your arms is the best way to ride them out.

Hehehe, tanked slappers are fun

**klingon** · 10th April 2007, 19:11

I'd like to see someone manage to keep the throttle steady in the middle of a genuine tank-slapper. Go to youtube and do a search - some very scary videos out there. (Not recommended for easily-scared newbies... ie me

) I challenge anyone to even FIND their throttle in the middle of all that slapping.

**warren35** · 10th April 2007, 19:18

Originally Posted by klingon

I'd like to see someone manage to keep the throttle steady in the middle of a genuine tank-slapper. Go to youtube and do a search - some very scary videos out there. (Not recommended for easily-scared newbies... ie me

) I challenge anyone to even FIND their throttle in the middle of all that slapping.

amen there bro im with you on this one.ive had afew on my oldar bikes and found backing off has worked best for me.i dont really care so long as i dont eat stones

**breakaway** · 10th April 2007, 20:57

Originally Posted by HDTboy

IHehehe, tanked slappers are fun

I see what you did there.

**M1CRO:Me** · 10th April 2007, 21:12

Originally Posted by Ixion

Received wisdom is, in the case of a genuine tankslapper (don't worry, if you encounter one you'll KNOW it's the real thing. Then worry. Lots), do NOT back off the throttle. Keep the throttle steady and move weight gently forward untill the slapper dies down, or you are thrown off and killed. Whichever comes first. That way you have (some) chance of getting away with it.

Good words of wisdom from Ixion

I have only ever experienced two... The first was a little while ago - maybe 20 years ago

and the advice is to keep the throttle steady and to lower the centre of gravity (namely leaning forward on the tank)..

The second.. Well, that was interesting and self created - see attached.. Make sure you put the front wheel down STRAIGHT when you decide to ride on the back wheel for a while