Recovering from a tank slapper

[Cheese]

Rather than pollute an incident thread with coulda, woulda, shoulda posts I though I'd ask in a separate thread; What is the best course of action to take during a tank slapper?

A quick Google search shows things like:

1. Grab the tank with your knees
2. Get on gas
3. Loosen or let go of the grip

Is there more NESR experience that can add or subtract from this list?

[BLACK SQUIRREL]

1. yes
2. maybe (in theory yes but its really hard to do)
3. yes.( loosen not let go) if your grip was loose to begin with, the movement of the front would not become a tankslapper (again easier said then done, when the front gets wild its almost reaction to manhandle it)

1 and 3 will 90% of the time will keep you from getting into a tank slapper (esp #3)

[Paul_E_D]

I had one truly out of control tank slapper and rode it out. I could do nothing except hold on loosely. It pulled me right up outta the seat and on top of the gas tank. I was in a corner, but lost steering, so I was lucky there was some runoff. The slapper stopped only when my speed dropped below 30 or so. I came to a stop in the grass.

It's situational, but in my experience, the best response to a bike losing control is to do as little as possible. Whatever action you take is likely to be exactly opposite to what the bike wants.

[slammp]

Haven't experienced many (2 I believe) In both cases I backed off of the gas, eased up on the grip, and tightened my knees (in 1 of the two my legs were actually thrown up into the air and off the pegs. Saved both - not really sure how BUT I tell everyone who ever asks to purchase a Damper.

Now, I know there will be 20 people chiming in to say that if I knew how to set up suspension properly I wouldnt need it and Im just giving bad advice, blah, blah, blah...


Thats all well and good but its like gun ownership. 99.999% of the time you dont need it and I agree, but in the .00000001% youll thank God, Allah, Buddah- whoever, that you had it and it saved your ass.

[butcher bergs]

There is no right answer as it's definitely a situational thing as Paul has stated.

[Cheese]

So, what did you do? And how did it work out? (Or was this a hypothetical question?)

Preventative hypothetical

[G21forme]

Scott's with the high speed set to 50% ftw.

[OreoGaborio]

Yeah... it's kinda situational, but the answer that covers most tank slappers is: Nothing.

Don't brake, don't accelerate, don't grip the bars in an attempt to stop the wobble. Given enough time & space, the bike will generally recover by itself. In most cases, the only thing you can really do is weight the pegs, loosen up your grip and hope you're not pointed at something hard and stationary when it comes out of it.

[Chippertheripper]

1,3, and then buy a damper.

[OreoGaborio]

Dunno if I'd even grip with my knees... Don't see any added benefit to it. I generally just let the bike do what it wants.

[scubasteveRR]

so how much does a damper actually prevent a tank slap though... you see it happen in race bikes, I would only assume they have dampers in them?

[Cheese]

Good info here. Thanks and keep it coming!

BTW, my 2K6 750 has a stock damper and when people ask me what the difference is between my previous 2K8 848 and my new 2K11 848 I tell them that adding the damper was the most noticeable change for me.

[CBR929RE]

Dunno if I'd even grip with my knees... Don't see any added benefit to it. I generally just let the bike do what it wants.

same here. just wait till its done its thing and keep on going. I don't think there's a lot you can do if its a real bad one as it rips the bars out of your hands anyway. when its calmed down pump your brakes and put your head down and slowly merge back into the race line.

so how much does a damper actually prevent a tank slap though... you see it happen in race bikes, I would only assume they have dampers in them?

you still have to compromise with your damper setting. set it too hard and the bike is hard to turn, too loose and it won't do much. I have mine set where I still get a little headshake, usually when shifting on the front straight which I always thought was kinda weird but I just keep it pinned and don't even think about it.

[OreoGaborio]

so how much does a damper actually prevent a tank slap though... you see it happen in race bikes, I would only assume they have dampers in them?

Dampers can't prevent ALL tank slappers, but it helps eliminate the small ones and minimize the big ones.

[RyanNicholson]

Anytime the bike is upset its the rider screwing it up, let the bike do what it wants and it'll fix itself. Such a weird concept to wrap your head around but it certainly works.

Only bad one I ever had was exiting T2, turns out my damper mount was loose... I hit the cement wall hard, that stopped it

[OreoGaborio]

Hit a wall..... Solid advice!

[RyanNicholson]

Hit a wall..... Solid advice!

haha just doing what I can

[njsrikar]

found this when searching on this topic ...
Insane Tankslap Recovery - YouTube

[darkduc7]

yeah, just do that

[njsrikar]

[CBR929RE]

found this when searching on this topic ...

except that's a high side not a tank slapper.

and we can't all be Rossi