What tha heck is a Tank Slap?

[Monsoon X]

I see that all the time. Tank Slap. I know what a low side/high side is.

Any other terms out there?

[Swamp Donkey]

It's when the bars shake violently back and forth, usually ending in a fall. I have been luck to pull out of a tank-slapper. It's scary! Usually the best thing to do is to accelerate hard if you feel it happening. The only other way to help avoid it is to buy a quality damper, like Scotts or Ohlins.

Here is a video demonstrating...

http://www.sbcdesign.net/bikesite/movies/BusaTankSlap.mpg

[GARS04]

I see that all the time. Tank Slap. I know what a low side/high side is.

Any other terms out there?

When the handl bars start shaking back and forth hard enough to hit the tank at high speeds (Head shake). Your R1 will have head shake, they all do. You need a steering damper.

[ScottJ]

Your riding an R1 right :D

[runin90lx]

I see that all the time. Tank Slap. I know what a low side/high side is.

Any other terms out there?

what is a lowside adn highside?

<--bike newbie as well

[chas01cobra]

A tank slapper is a real party when your moving pretty good. Way back when the 16" front wheel became the thing on sportbikes it was a huge problem. The first time it happened to me I didn't know what to do and chose the wrong thing, I hit the brakes hard and paid the price. That was some serious road rash.

You'll know what it is when it happens, it's very exciting.

[Monsoon X]

When the handl bars start shaking back and forth hard enough to hit the tank at high speeds (Head shake). Your R1 will have head shake, they all do. You need a steering damper.


what causes it?

[Swamp Donkey]

what is a lowside adn highside?

<--bike newbie as well

High-side crash
This is the name for the type of crash where the motorcycle over-balances, flinging the rider off by pivoting around the tires. It usually happens in turns, or as the final phase of a tank-slapper. Crashes of this type commonly leave the rider injured or dead, due to the impact of hitting the ground after being flung off.

Low-side crash
This relatively benign crash occurs when the tires lose traction in a turn, and the motorcycle slides away from the rider. Assuming the rider is wearing protective gear and doesn't hit anything solid, there's an excellent chance of getting up completely unharmed from a low-side. The motorcycle will usually suffer abrasion damage, such as scratches on the fairing, or a broken turn signal or hand lever. This damage is commonly minor enough that the bike can be ridden safely afterward.

[Spritle]

Your riding an R1 right :D


Haha, R1's are some headshakin mofo's. Scott's dampner will help/eliminate the problem.

[Swamp Donkey]

what causes it?

Usually the cause is the front wheel not being exacly straight under acceleration, bring down a wheelie or hitting a pothole. That's why a steering damper is a good idea!

[Jedi]

what is a lowside adn highside?

<--bike newbie as well

Imagine taking a sweep left hand turn...

Lowside: When the rear wheel (and the bike naturally) slides out from underneath you towards the right and you fall.

Highside: When the rear wheel starts to slide out to the right but catches traction. The bike will immediately snap upright and send you over the bike knowing that this is gonna hurt.

If you are gonna wreck, lowsides are always preferable.

[ScottJ]

Actually by asking if he was on an R1 I was implying that he should already know the answer to that question :) Just playin though.

A damper is a great investment, I can't believe I've put off buying one for so long for my R6. Everyone that has one that I've ever talked to loves it.

[GARS04]

what causes it?

Hard accelleration= light front end = head shake if it's not perfectly balanced is my observation. uneven forks clamped at the triple will cause it as well. R1's are notorious for it. My ZX10 has deveolped a minor one, I think it's because it's accelerating even faster since I dropped two teeth in the front....

Best thing to do is let out immediately, but don't let go.

[runin90lx]

thanks for the info.......hopefully if/when i get a bike i wont be experience either...i shoudl just get a moped lmao..all i plan on doing is putting around town on it anyways :D

[GARS04]

thanks for the info.......hopefully if/when i get a bike i wont be experience either...i shoudl just get a moped lmao..all i plan on doing is putting around town on it anyways :D

seriously, it's easy to be very safe on these things. You just have to remember a few small things and it's easy. Always be aware of your surroundings, always ride like the car beside you doesn't know your there.....meaning make sure he knows by either riding in front or behind him, not directly next to him! and don't do things you don't know how to do on a public street, that's what parking lots are for.......and white swan.....lol. Keep it safe and save the fun for the tracks.

[Last5oh]

If you are gonna wreck, lowsides are always preferable
hahaha - if only it were that easy to pick how to wreck . . .

[runin90lx]

seriously, it's easy to be very safe on these things. You just have to remember a few small things and it's easy. Always be aware of your surroundings, always ride like the car beside you doesn't know your there.....meaning make sure he knows by either riding in front or behind him, not directly next to him! and don't do things you don't know how to do on a public street, that's what parking lots are for.......and white swan.....lol. Keep it safe and save the fun for the tracks.

good advice.......im lucky too that where i live is a smaller town(only 80k people...thats not counting the small surrounding towns but its still alot better than DFW).........but i plan on staying on the small traveled roads and hitting the country roads up near the lake so i dont hae to worry about traffic as much.

[spankustang]

Get a gixxer, then you don't have to worry about it!!!!! :p :p