DEATH WOBBLE Control???

[Adrenalin_Junky]

Hey all, just Wanted to get some info on controllin this beast in an emergency situation?
Needless to say, I broke the rear loose shiftin into third bout 140km/h.
held in the Clutch and the bike straightened out but continued to wip left n right insanely?
now, im 6'2 200lbs built, so i was givn it hell tryin to muscle it straight, but nothing was helpin. I was along for the ride, after bout a block, and thoughts of bailing out, i managed to get on the brakes enought that i muscled out the violent shakin.
Anyway, that was the end of the ride that night. After getting home, i was tryin to recall the events and couldnt think of anyway i could have done to stop the Death Wobble before it got krazy?
Any info would be great~ Cheers All ~ Chase

[inspiron]

Maybe try to avoid doing 140mph on the streets, so that you don't get into the situation to begin with?

[prekarious1]

Gently roll on throttle. If you try to muscle the bike you will just end up making everything worse and highside for your troubles. Throttle control is paramount in when something goes wrong.

Do a track day or if you can afford it go to a race school. The more experience you can get the better off you will be in future pucker factor inducing rides.

[Ride-or-die]

Originally Posted by inspiron

Maybe try to avoid doing 140mph on the streets, so that you don't get into the situation to begin with?

140km/h, by the way

[Clint]

Which "beast" might that be? Your signature isn't very helpful.

Generally, loose steering input and a bit of throttle are the answer.

[wafflehouse]

i love when counter intuitive logic is the answer to things

as much as it sucks when its happening to think what you instantly want to do and reverse it

its so fun to think about why it works and whatnot

maybe thats just me

-wafflehouse

[Louis]

We've had thorough discussion before on tank slappers. Use the "Search".

[SDSUsnowboards]

Funny. I recall I asked the MSF instructor this question and he said let off the throttle.

[007]

The thing is - nobody knows for sure how to handle a tank slapper. Some say accelerate, others say decelerate ....so, WTF are we supposed to do?

[inspiron]

Don't get into the situation to begin with ... ? The throttle is like a woman ... you have to be gentle with it, not slap it around! Caress it!

The only time I was near doing a tank-slapper, I pulled the clutch to avoid having the bike do anything drastic (I didn't want to have a positive or negative thrust by changing the throttle position). Once the gear was disengaged and the rear wheel could roll, I got off the throttle and let the bike roll out until I had it back under control. I don't know if that is the proper procedure, but it worked once for me.

[Clint]

Yeah, it depends. If the shimmy was started by a heavy front end in a braking situation, you'll need to get some weight off. If it's on hard throttle coming out of a curve, you'll need to drop some weight back on. It's a strange phenomenon.

[Adrenalin_Junky]

Thanks for all the info guys. For Rowdy- its a lil 97 GSXR600 (first bike, gimme a lil)
For Louis- sorry, but being knew to this whole street scene I had no idea it was called a "Tank Slapper"? Ill be sure to search before postin next time~thanks
To Ispiron~ thanks, you pretty much summed it up for me

I do plan on taking a track course, as Ive heard nothing but rave reviews from them. Also, itll be pretty cheap as my mate Greg races~
Chow~ Chase

[plasticweld]

Originally Posted by 007

The thing is - nobody knows for sure how to handle a tank slapper. Some say accelerate, others say decelerate ....so, WTF are we supposed to do?

The common thread in all of the advice I have heard is not to panic, the bike will most of the time straighten out.

I have had only one real bad tank slapper when I thought I was really going to crash, steering stop to steering stop. it was on a old GS 1100 and I had run it up to over 120 mph and it was smooth as silk, I backed it down to quickly and the bike went from one lane over to the other,in a wicked wobble in an atempt to throw me off. I thought for sure I was done for, all I could thing of was that no one would be able to figure out why I lost control on a straight strech of road. I just relaxed and let the bike have its way with me for minute and then it came out of it, it was the last time I rode that bike fast

[Hardware]

Originally Posted by 007

The thing is - nobody knows for sure how to handle a tank slapper. Some say accelerate, others say decelerate ....so, WTF are we supposed to do?

DO NOT [I repeat] DO NOT accelerate if you get into a tank slapper.

Tank slappers occur within specific speed ranges. You can accelerate out of the slapper, however now you're traveling faster and you will now have to decelerate back through the speed range at which the slapper occurred. When decelerating the slapper may be even worse.

Roll off the throttle, keep your head up, look straight ahead and coast to a stop - getting off the roadway as soon as possible.

If you've had a true tank slapper, park the bike. Do not ride it again until a competent mechanic corrects the problem.

[SoCalMike]

Just something i noticed about his initial post. You said you broke the rear end loose, which im assuming caused the "tank slapper." According to MSF "RiderCoach" (what a dorky title) if the rear tire loses traction and then GAINS it, its almost an instant highside. Now i don't know what locking up the rear brake would have done in YOUR situation as you were accelerating, and CERTAINLY don't lock up the rear brake in the middle of a tank slapper, but its just something to think about. He said that if you do lose traction, ie lock up the back brake, hold it locked until you skid to a stop. If you don't, again he said almost instant highside.

Just what i picked up at MSF class, hope it helps.

[themeatmanlandry]

Originally Posted by Hardware

Tank slappers occur within specific speed ranges. You can accelerate out of the slapper, however now you're traveling faster and you will now have to decelerate back through the speed range at which the slapper occurred. When decelerating the slapper may be even worse.

That sounds like you are assuming that a slapper will occur everytime you pass through that specific speed range. Once it's over, it shouldn't return just because you're trying to slow back down. What am I missing?

[themeatmanlandry]

Originally Posted by SoCalMike

According to MSF "RiderCoach" (what a dorky title) <snip>

"Ridercoach" is dorky, huh? Sounds like a coach taht tags along on your honeymoon . . . "Get your butt a littel higher . . . put your knee down firmly and don't move it until you plan to change positions . . ."

[SoCalMike]

haha

It just reminded me of one of those hyped up names people make in order to appear different. Instructor would have been fine with me.

[Adrenalin_Junky]

Thanks again for updated info.
to SOcal~ I broke the tire loose shifting into third(causing the bike to slide out to the right), so i immediately got off the throttle and held in the clutch. It seemed that the bike quickly retained traction and straightened out right away. I think this kinda of whip to straighten out started the Tank Slapper.
From what im getting, seems that you should try to decelerate (even if holding the clutch is best you can do), and pretty much let it straighten itself out!
Thanks again ~Chase

[Hardware]

Originally Posted by themeatmanlandry

That sounds like you are assuming that a slapper will occur everytime you pass through that specific speed range. Once it's over, it shouldn't return just because you're trying to slow back down. What am I missing?

There's something "not quite right" with the bike if it goes into a true tank slapper. Slappers occur within a certain range (the exact speeds involved and the size of the range could vary) - let's for discussion purposes call it the, "problem range".

There is a real possibility that if you decelerate back down through the problem range you're going to experience another slapper. Because you're decelerating, it could be worse, it could be less severe or it may not manifest itself - HOWEVER it's not a sensible risk to take. You're essentially stranding yourself at speeds above the problem range.

If you've just started your take-off run in an airplane and discover a problem, (early in the run) you'd rather abort the landing and get it stoppped on the ground as opposed to continuing with the take-off. You don't want to take off - you still have to land it and get it stopped.

If there's a handling problem at a certain speed range, there's also the chance that it can manifest itself at a separate but higher speed range - and be far worse.