What's a tank-slapper?

[Ericthejet]

Does this even pop up on the radar anymore or are they a thing of the past?

Is it something that'll happen to a particular design of bike as I see some come with steering dampeners.

Just wondering.

[Wishbone]

Hit a huge pothole and you will see all to clearly.
Get on the gas and you will be good

[jcbell1007]

dpends i guess.

supposedly the 848 doesn't have as sharp a steering angle at other sport bikes, hence why ducati didn't include a damper on it.

my gsxr on the other hand, came with one.

not sure what seperates the two, just what I have read. never had experience with a slapper, just a little headshake on the gsxr while cresting a small rise at speed.

[Pigman]

Still happens, just not as much since Dampeners have been used....

[Pigman]

dpends i guess.

supposedly the 848 doesn't have as sharp a steering angle at other sport bikes, hence why ducati didn't include a damper on it.

my gsxr on the other hand, came with one.

not sure what seperates the two, just what I have read. never had experience with a slapper, just a little headshake on the gsxr while cresting a small rise at speed.

Early SRADS were notorious for them...my bud got bit by it.

[Paul_E_D]

It's an out of control oscilation of the handlebars. It happens for various reasons. Bumps in the road that overwhelm the suspension for whatever reason, hard acceleration combined with an attempt to change direction, bike geometry flaws (lack of trail), etc.

Steering dampers can quiet things down, but good set-up helps a lot and has other benefits to going fast.

[Wishbone]

It's an out of control oscilation of the handlebars. It happens for various reasons. Bumps in the road that overwhelm the suspension for whatever reason, hard acceleration combined with an attempt to change direction, bike geometry flaws (lack of trail), etc.

Steering dampers can quiet things down, but good set-up helps a lot and has other benefits to going fast.

FTW

[DucDave]

This is the 'poster boy' for the classic 'tank slapper'....when violent enough the handle bars will 'slap' the tank....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUBwCX_Mv2Q

...yeah...of course its a repost, repost, repost, re-fucking post...

...but given the question, it was worth puttin up so eat me...!

[LoudAccord]

I never knew of this... I thought it was about slapping your balls on your tank if you hit a bump or stop to fast.

[nt650hawk]

I thought it was about slapping your balls on your tank

That is what Noel calls it now.

[Kitt]

It's when KB makes a funny when you're leaving for grid...

[slammp]

I had a serious slapper two summers ago on my RC51 when someone cut me off and I had to jam the front brake (no stabilizer at the time). It literally threw my feet off the pegs and had me bouncing around. Thankfully I pulled it through, sat down so I didnt shit myself, and cooled off.

I have since, and will always ride with a scotts bolted to my bike.

[BCT748]

supposedly the 848 doesn't have as sharp a steering angle at other sport bikes, hence why ducati didn't include a damper on it.

Than why would they put one on the 1098? They have the same geometry. Ducati can claim whatever they want for the reason they didn't put it on the 848 but I'm pretty sure it all boils down to money.

[GixerJockey]

That is what Noel calls it now.

Ohhhhh... Gino with the zinger!








(I am never going to live that down... Thanks Omar. Fucker!)

[KB]

Still happens, just not as much since Dampeners have been used....

I bet your mother has a nice dampener Trebeck!!

KB

[KB]

It's when KB makes a funny when you're leaving for grid...

Oh fuck I'm laughing!! Kinda like when I yell "Hey Denno did you tighten your clip on" or "Hey Kitt you running gp shift?"

Good one Kitt!!

KB

[The Snowman]

I bet your mother has a nice dampener Trebeck!!

KB

you too, eh?

DAMPER!!!

[breakdirt916]

has everyone here had one?

the closest I've ever gotten was a little headshake, and it was my fault. I was *trying* to do wheelies on a 1989 Ninja 600R, but all I got was a very light front end with the tire lightly touching the ground and the handlebars twitching side to side

[Doc]

Check. Been there done that, got the road rash.

[beet]

Check. Been there done that, got the road rash.

[a13x]

supposedly the 848 doesn't have as sharp a steering angle at other sport bikes, hence why ducati didn't include a damper on it.
.

The 848 has the exact same geometry as the 1098. The 848 doesn't have a damper because they needed to price the 848 2-3k less than the 1098, even thou they cost the exact same amount of money to build. Therefore the 848 got wet clutch, no damper, no monoblocs, and a few other changes.



I had my best tankslapper at Barber. Coming out of Turn 5 on a 1098R you are hard on the throttle from 2nd thru 4th gear pinned. There is a slight rise and over that rise the front end always gets light. Well one laps it not only got light and off the ground but went into a tankslapper banging the bars back and forth off the steering stops.

Fun time when going 75mph+ and on a 40k bike you don't own. Just loosen up your grip on the bars and pin the throttle. BRAAAPT

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UV5zARoEd8[/youtube]

[DucDave]

...noice...veddy noice...

how do you like that Bell Helmet???