Has anyone ever had this happen to them while riding the zx-14. Just curious, maybe the lowered guys had this happen ?

Oh yeah. I would not ruin the handling, setting a grip to frame anchor. I've learned to let the bars loose as I cross over the [induced] slapper I have to travel over. Now, was it slapping at a certain speed and not another speed to set the wob? I do not know?

There is some [great footage of a] guy on the salt flats full till, where that tank takes a slap; he can't hold on; the bike is upright and wobbling without him on the bike now.

You watch this as the guy is sliding fastttttttt. But darn if that front end did not settle back and keep going straight as an arrow = Without rider/Without wobble.

Only guy I've heard of doing a tank slapper on a 14 had fitted a set of aftermarket composite wheels, BST's if I remember correctly. Apparently the light weight and lessened gyrocsopic force induces a tank slapper.

Kruz

* Last updated by: Kruz on 6/4/2009 @ 11:25 AM *

i've had one on mine. Lowered but not stretched at the time. In the bikes defense, my front tire is way worn out, and the tankslapper was induced by a 100mph lane change (lanes had a groove cut between them)

I have never even come close to getting a tank slapper on this baby yet.

My 2003 R1 with no steering damper was a different story though... getting on the freeway and hitting the lane reflectors could induce a tank slapper.

Once on my 04 1000RR at higher speeds (100+) going up a tiny hill, down the hill, hit a bump while going down the hill as the front wheel was about to float slightly... and it went into a tank slapper but the OEM kicked in and stopped it from getting violent. I must say I was SO THANKFUL for it.

For some reason, my stock ZX14 seems more stable than my cbr1000rr with its built in steering damper. Amazing. I guess that's what balanced tires do...

I am lowered and has not happened.

I went to several of the Superbike schools locally and Keith Code said that when the front end wheel starts to wobble, to let up or loosen on the 'grip' and the wheel will find it's 'balance' the quickest -n- safest. Apparently part of the auto-correction of the gyroscopic function/force of a spinning wheel seeking balance.

Wobble can be for a number of reasons, one being that the front end has become light, so a little throttle will also help to redistribute the weight from the rear to the front, giving better front end traction and helping the tire 'auto-correct' faster since the wobble is the tires way of searching for center-weight balance. Rider input usually mucks the tires ability to find the balance. Braking, as I get him, locks the wheel up from finding its balance, shoves the suspension forward and down, and requires you have to control the handle bars more during braking - contrary to letting up or loosening on the 'grip'.

I haven't had the wobble to experiment since his instructions, but I did hear a few other guys at the school say, 'Yeah, amazing.. it works!"

* Last updated by: JDC on 6/5/2009 @ 12:46 PM *

I've had a couple of mild tankslappers happen to me on the 14. The first one was my second time at the strip and while hovering the front end in first gear, when the tire touched down it got a little ugly. I was able to ride it out but it surely got my attention. I also had one happen to me on the street when the bike had come down from a power wheelie in second gear, but it wasn't as severe as the one at the track.

I've never had a wobble that didn't correct when I let go of the handlebars. But after watching some u-tube clips I see that it can be a lot worse. Would a steering damper be a good preemptive measure to minimize chances of a bad episode?

Would a steering damper be a good preemptive measure to minimize chances of a bad episode?

I think this question largely depends on the rider. To date I have had not one tank slapper, and I can assure you my first to second speed shifts are sloppy at best. For some reason, when I open my hand to half clutch my body weight pulls hard on the right bar, even with my knees in tight . If there was a tank slapper to be found, I should have caught up to it by now. All the guys I spoke to at the track had damper installed, but then again this is at the track.I will be getting one soon, just not sure it is needed.

* Last updated by: Romans on 6/5/2009 @ 8:30 PM *

Sharkey, How's it going?? You are joking, right? I know, you know that a steering damper would prevent a slapper, you're just tryuing to be funny, aren't ya...

Really though IMO a steering damper on the 14 is not really necessary, unless you are doing stoppies (endos), I have had alot of bikes that needed one, but the 14 is so stable that it really doesn't...If you have the xtra cash to blow, they are several nice ones on the market for the 14, and it never hurts to spend money on something that may save your ass some day..

I am currently planning on buying a GPR for Betty, not really for the slappers, for the stoppies...

ps. did you watch, Ben Spies kick ass last week-end??

Hello Romans,and All.Tankslappers-ah yes....I had no time to even think about holding on OR letting go.It was that fast.Around 8 or 9 oscillations back and forth to the steering stops.In the blink of an eye,it was over-I was running straight again.There was no input from me that I remember.I neither sped up,or slowed down(until it was done).One more jolt either way would have for sure pulled the bars out of my hands.I wasn't "hanging on for dear life" as they say.It was just that fast.No warning.Powering out of a left hand uphill sweeper.Temps were in the low 40's.This was on my zx12,not my 14.I believe my front end got light-I unconsciously cocked the wheel somehow,and all hell broke loose.I learned my lesson THAT MORNING.Keep my weight on the frontend when accelerating.In the turns,stay on the frontend,lean into the curve with my upper body over the tank or to either side depending on which way I'm turning.Keep my head perpendicular to the ground,not angling with the lean.Lead with my inside shoulder.That's one thing I feel confident about with my 14.It's got the weight going for it.I know I've pushed mine through the turns pretty hard and fast,she's held steady so far.I read that the best grip on the bars is a light touch.That's what I constantly work on.I know the front wheel will hold it's axis.I try not to get in the way of it doing it's thing.

I did once on a cold road surface with cold tires - hiked over too far with too much throttle application (stock tires, wheelbase, ride-height). Several oscilations back and forth as was said above. Everything went into slow motion and the old motocross skills kicked in and I saved it, but I was shaking on the way home, lol. It was second or third gear at maybe 30 mph, but the flies-out torque was plenty to break the rear loose in those conditions. Also left quite an interesting pattern on the tire!

* Last updated by: black14 on 6/6/2009 @ 7:06 AM *

I try not to get in the way of it doing it's thing.

2nd that one.

In skiing we call them "snow snakes." They lie in wait, same color as the snow, and just as you go by they grab your ski and pull it out from under you. I've had a few grab me and as a member of the Ski Patrol I've had many face plant victims report snow snakes on the slopes. Like a slapper, if you relax and center your weight you can usually recover. Panic and you're down.
I'm starting to think that getting a custom paint job was a bad decision. I'm getting too worried about scratching it. Never had that problem before. I have no fear whatsoever about my body, just the damn bike!
Yea, minerman, I wish I was joking but now I'm starting to think I turning into a damn Poser myself.
New mantra.....Its only a machine....its only a machine....its only a machine.....Ohmmmmmmmm

* Last updated by: Sharkey on 6/6/2009 @ 11:28 AM *

Its only a machine....its only a machine....its only a machine.....Ohmmmmmmmm

Shhhhhh, she will hear you. If she does your tank slapper may be soon than you think.

I have never had one either. The 14 is a pretty stable platform, best all around performing bike I have ever ridden.

Coming down hard from a badly executed 50 mph powershift wheelie. Showing off. Definitely bad riding on my part, couldn't blame the bike so much, but I did feel a little shimmy once after sudden debris dodge at around 80 mph. Just a couple of oscillations, but it definitely woke me up. My old V65 used to get interesting a lot that way, but that was a very different setup. And the H2......forget it. If you can just relax and try to ride it out you'll usually be okay, but one look at some of those videos is a good wake up. Hub's salt flats video makes a good point.

Taking a good lean into a corner and running over a bump will give me just one quick wup. Never had it bounce back and forth yet.

Rook