| Author | Message | ||
     Avalaugh |
Had the mother of all slappers today, I know people say they have them when really it's just a bit of head shake, I get that often, this was my first proper one, and it will be my last. What have you guys done to prevent it ? Does a damper really work? And what's the best thing to do should it happen again ? I was going at a fair pace today, let's call it 3 figures, with my mate just next to me set back a bike length, when out of no where it started. Uncontrolable flicking, it went on for quite some distance leaving black lines over both sides of the road. I was very very lucky aside from some minor cosmetic damage and some bruises on my ankles. Just look at my Tyres, this was taken 2 mins later     The bike was skidding broadside and then flicking back again . Those are not chicken lines, I hope I never experience it again, but will be looking into fitting a damper very soon. | ||
| Tougelabs |
The dampener will help you out a lot but most likely and I'm sorry to say it's caused by improper input 80% of the time. Sometimes it can also be suspension setup or tire pressure. Do yourself a favor and get to the track and into a class or two in novice. With going to the track you can ask questions and also get your suspension setup proper "usually a guy in the paddock charging 40-50" Be safe though ! | ||
| Mcrbuelligan |
id look at your suspension first, set it up to your weight and go from there, if you need to adjust do one thing go for a quick blast come back and as see if you can improve. Are your tyres up to pressure , are they the same compound. Did you hit any thing. Id go from there if your not get a damper. | ||
| Rt_performance |
Glad your ok.. Get a damper. I was having issues skipping the front tire on hard throttle and inducing a head shake. Since i put the gpr on it it is way easier to ride without the worry | ||
| Tougelabs |
A dampener would be the last resort since it will not stop this from happening again. Rider input will always be the first and foremost thing to cause tank slap Second as I said is suspension setup, especially on the Buells because of the chassis ergo etc. | ||
| Dannybuell |
Add rear preload. Additional spring pressure from the rear will slow-stop the weight transfer to the rear. when weight goes from front to rear the front end up lightens up enough for a tank slapper. | ||
| Court |
A damper does for a tank slapper what a brown paper bag does for an ugly date. Study the suspension. | ||
| Geforce |
Tougelabs +1 Mcrbuelligan +1 Court +1 The old tank slapper can be scary. Don't let it scare the money out of your pocket too. Heed the advice of these experience riders above and setup your suspension properly. Be easy on the grips and grip with your core body. You could just go out and buy a damper and call it a day... it won't fix the real problem though. Look at it like a life jacket... it will HELP keep you afloat but it cannot prevent you from drowning. You still need to be able to swim. Overall, glad you are ok and I'm sorry to hear about your mess. | ||
| Kinder |
So if this was a tank slapper (which I've not had yet) whay the pics of the rear tire? Does it buck the rear around? | ||
| Jdugger |
> A damper does for a tank slapper what a brown paper bag does for an ugly date. LOL! +1 | ||
| Duphuckincati |
Your event certainly sounds a whole lot worse than anything I'd had happen, and the above suggestions are certainly valid and should be attended to. I can only offer that my high-bar CR would have the bars flapping about starting at about 90 and get more pronounced to a point at 135/140 that I'd call it quits. After adding the GPR damper it's perfectly fine at those speeds now. And I use setting #5 of 20. So I'd say check the other suggestions AND get the damper. | ||
| Sharkytattoo |
When a tank slapper occurs, you need to loosen your grip on the bars and accelerate. The rear is trying to overdrive the front. The tighter you grip, the worse it gets. Accelerating will transfer the suspension load back to the rear. Heed all the advise about suspension and trackdays. Glad to hear you're ok. | ||
| Sprintst |
Looks like it was a hell of a ride! | ||
| Avalaugh |
Thanks all for your comments. I think the problem lies with my grip on the bars, I do tend to be a bit ridged and have tried loosening up but find it hard on this bike ! I have done my fair share of trackdays and run with the front group in inters but the fast group is a tad hectic for me. I'm very happy with my suspension set up, any bike I ride doesn't handle as well as mine and all that have rode mine say the same, the problem is me for sure. But in saying that could having too much weight over the front be a problem ? It would make the bike handle well but would it encourage a slapper ? | ||
| Tougelabs |
First of all advanced is hectic for sure even for the most seasoned rider...I feel as you go up in "level" the ego becomes more and more abundant. I like Intermediate myself and I consider myself a pretty fast rider. Have you had the chance to go to a pro school ? They will really focus on body positioning/transfer and race line. I was invited to one by Ducati at Monticello "greatest place on earth RIP" and I spent 50% of my day walking the track then several hours on a rig that would allow the bike to transfer back and forth. My next track day was an incredible step up. How big are you ? It's hard for me to listen to some guys since I'm 6'3 225, simple physics of some stuff just can't apply. | ||
| Avalaugh |
I think some instruction would be a great idea, never had any and i'm sure i have far to many bad habits. Rode back to the slapper site today and took some pics. Looks like as i came up the hill the front lifted and it started when it came down again, and got worse as i went over the brow of the hill as no doubt i would of been braking. Blue arrows were the direction of travel, red lines are highlighting the tyre marks.        | ||
| Albert666 |
you nutter  | ||
| Bigblock |
A steering damper is no replacement for proper riding technique, suspension diagnosis and set up. That being said, (I experienced a full lock to lock high speed slapper on my 1125, induced by a blown rear shock and TOO MUCH throttle over a rise on very bad tarmac, actually easing off the throttle, relaxing and praying saved me! Or was it just dumb luck?) -You couldn't pay me to own an 1125, or in fact any motorcycle, without a damper at this point. Steering dampers are mandatory safety equipment in many racing classes, there's a reason for this, and it's not because they don't add to safety! Find and fix the problems with your suspension parts, set- up and riding technique, then get yourself a damper! It's cheap peace of mind, and it might keep you from falling off if your shock blows in the middle of a ride. | ||
| Freight_dog |
+1 Big. Technique, setup or whatever the cause, a damper will save your ass when it happens a lot better than no damper. There is a reason the pros race with them and they are standard on all race reps anymore. To suggest that working on your technique or getting a professional setup will prevent it happening again is ridiculous. (Message edited by Freight_dog on April 30, 2011) | ||
| Avalaugh |
Tougelabs I'm 85kgs about 5'10 | ||
| Nm5150 |
Ohlins damper from Erik Buell Racing set to #5.I ain't no expert but if I get it all wrong(I know it is hard to believe I can still ride like I want and not get a tank slapper.I have brought this up before and to me it is just a great piece of safety equipment.If I am a puss than so be it but two slappers were enough for me.I continue to try to get my suspension right and work on my riding but too many things change on the street for me to be perfect all of the time so I rely on my damper.YMMV | ||
| Echo15 |
Those pics from the road were an eye-opener! I would have wet myself for sure. | ||
| Fast1075 |
What kind of front end is on your bike??? Has it had a front end transplant?? If so, who knows how imbalanced the chassis is. | ||
| Therealassmikeg |
Any time I feel the steering get funky I ease off a bit and accellerate a little less aggressively. In your case coming over the crest of a hill, at high speed, a little too heavy on the throttle, and your front tire losing contact are all a recipe for disaster. The only thing you did wrong was get yourself into that situation by riding a little over your your head. (Message edited by therealassmikeg on May 01, 2011) | ||
| Badlionsfan |
Your grips never did anything to you, stop trying to strangle them, loosen up your arms and use your torso "core" muscles to hold you up, not your arms. It takes so getting used to and you'll be sore at first, but you'll see and feel a difference in your riding. Gotta keep everything loose. | ||
| Gemini |
bingo fast. he is running a dual brake rotor setup for his front brakes (based in his first pics). need to be sure the spring weight is correct for you AND the bike. make sure the valving is correct too. when we take long ride, we often get lazy and tired and support our upper body with our arms. this puts improper input into the steering head. then things really so south. bad oscillation transfers most of the energy into the rigid arm that is supporting your upper torso and now throws it and the rest of you around further upsetting the bike. agitate and repeat. | ||
| Usanigel |
It just might have been a poor landing. Front wheel leaves the ground, bars get turned a touch, land with the wheel off line and it kicks back. Looking at the road you were on, you did well not to have ran out of road! Shaken and not smashed, glad you're ok! | ||
| Nillaice |
i wonder if the axle sits differently in those forks than the buell forks ... proper riding technique should keep you free and clear. ...unless you crest a hill going too faster than you probaly should and happen to have a tighter grip than you should at that particular moment in time. oh, wait. you know all about that so; if you got the $ spring for the damper. or stabalizer. i love my GPR. | ||
| Azxb9r |
Looks like as i came up the hill the front lifted and it started when it came down again, and got worse as i went over the brow of the hill as no doubt i would of been braking. That is a scenario that can induce a tank slapper...especially if you turn the bars a little bit while the front wheel is in the air. The wheel comes down pointed the wrong way and tries to straighten itself out which starts the process. Braking during this would make it worse. | ||
| Imonabuss |
Put on a damper! This bike has a bunch of modification, and a lot more mass in the front end than a stock bike. Since the extra mass is really a bad thing for wobbles and weaves, and the damping and springing incorrect, I would definitely stick on as many safety bandaids as possible! |
