| Author | Message | ||
     Midnightrider |
Quick and Dirty - 2006 Uly, 9K+ miles. Took my hands off the handlebars last week at relatively low speed ? 25-30 mph to zip up my jacket and experienced a mini-tank slapper. Mini in that it didn't actually go from lock to lock - maybe about 30-40% of the distance. I do this nearly every ride and never had it happen before. Since then, I can find the right speed (slow) to make it happen at will. Simply putting my hands back on the grips calms it right down. I've tried to do the research here and read a ton on what is or is not a tank-slapper, but I haven't seen anything on what causes it or how to "fix it". There have been no changes to the bike, the suspension, or the tires in the last 5K. I thought maybe excessive or irregular wear on the tires, maybe, but there is still lots of tread on the front and everything looks "normal". It's nearly time for the 10K service and the back tire is still legal but ready for replacement. Any other suggestions? | ||
| Erz |
I am sure this must have caught your attention. Any change of clothes needed? Ride safe | ||
| Motornoggin |
Steering head bearings, tire pressures, front tire wear (even though it looks good), hidden tire damage, wheel bearings, fork adjustment, cargo loading, road surfaces can all cause this kind of reaction. Start with the quick and controllable items and work from there. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I believe Eor had something similar during the beginning of his ownership ordeal. Do you still have the stock D616? I believe it is the beginning of the problem. Add to that uneven brake drag, loose head bearings, suspension adjustments front and rear, rider weight, rider position, luggage, speed, wind, road surface, etc. And you can create the magical cocktail and make one happen. They aren't common, but for folks that have them, they're difficult to eliminate. Simply avoid what you know makes them happen or add a damper if you want the added protection. | ||
| Hooliken |
Or do like Rainey use to do.....if it starts to shake....PIN IT!!! | ||
| Reepicheep |
Don't rule out road surface either. I had an old Yamaha Radian that would do that every time if you let off the throttle at about 35 mph on a slight downhill grade and loosened your grip on the bars. Never had the nerve to see if it would stay at the "mini tankslapper" or go into a full blown "event". | ||
| Birdmanrh |
First of all, you should lose the habit of zipping up you jacket that way. It is a good way to end up on your face. (once and while OK, all the time....asking for it) Second, if it was a one time deal (the tank slapper) I would think it could be a rock or something. Since you were concentrating on your jacket and not riding it could have been a multitude of things on the road. | ||
| Lovehamr |
That would happen all the time with the stock Dunlops on mine, it all went away with the Pilot Roads. Steve | ||
| Jlnance |
It's the front tire. It's cupped. Mine used to do this, fortunately the bike is still fairly stable with the bars oscillating back and forth like that. I tried to film it shaking like that once. I quickly determined I would kill myself trying to work a camera while this was going on. So I put my g/f on the back of the bike so she could work the camera, but it wouldn't do it with her back there. | ||
| Etennuly |
That front Dunlop tire has done that to just about everyone. Mine does the exact same thing at about 35-45 mph. My steering head bearings became noticeably loose at about 8000 miles. My front tire is not cupped or worn unevenly and is at the correct pressure. It is not a "tank slapper", it is a "wobble", it is described on the last page of the new 'Fuell' magazine. Change the front tire and it will go away.  | ||
| Jackbequick |
And don't forget, when you let go of the throttle to do the zip up, you are shifting the weight to the forks and front tire. That might be part of the issue. Try a couple of wraps of heavy cord between the flange on the grip and the throttle housing sometime so that the throttle does not self close and it might not do it. But I'd be suspicious of the front tire contributing to the problem too. Jack | ||
| Stevem123 |
My bike would do that and it even did it with a different tire of which I can't remember at the moment. But once I went to the Metzeler Roadtek Z6 the problem has never re-occured. I have since changed the rear shock since it began to leak and the bike seems to sit a little taller than before. Still no wobbles at all so all is good. On another note, I had the same sort of no-hands wobble on another bike when the front tire was out of balance. I had the tire re-balanced and the wobble went away. Basically I believe your problem is most likely front tire related. BC Steve | ||
| Jmhinkle |
I just replaced my Dunslop with the MT-60 front at 4500 miles. I never quite had what you're describing, but I definitely had a constant wobble that was more noticeable above 55MPH. I no longer have it at all, but I not only changed the tires, I went to the '07 springs because I was one of the few with massive brake dive and I also rerouted the main cable at the head that was causing tension issues in the steering. See the Full lock left thread. | ||
| Adamd |
I zip my jacket with pir scorps and no problems. My ninja would do that until I changed the front tire | ||
| Beachbuell |
That is what stearing damper's are for. That tank slapping problem will non existed. | ||
| Thunderbox |
No I think that's what the brake is for. Stop the bike and do it right. I think Birdmanrh hit the nail right on the head. | ||
| Midnightrider |
Thanks for the suggestions. Next open slot at the shop is June 20th so I took it and I'll have the 10K service a little earlier than needed, have them check all the mechanicals listed above, and have new rubber (Pirelli Scorpion Syncs front and back) | ||
| Birdmanrh |
Oh, the P's are SOOOOOOOO much better! | ||
| Slowride |
A recent test drive.... I took a TT out for a demo ride off the showroom floor and under WOT merging on the highway it started a Tank Slapper. I managed to replicate it 3 times more under WOT. Seemed it would lighten the front wheel then start to wiggle. Now I didn't check the dealer settings on the bike, but it was a freaky experience to get it to do over and over. (Message edited by slowride on May 30, 2007) | ||
| Birdmanrh |
Slowride, That sound like a suspension setting deal there. Adding more rebound to the rear would probably be a good start. | ||
| Slowride |
Bird, I figured it was most likely the suspension as well, but seeing it was a test ride I just told the Buell Tech about it and he said he would check the settings. Yeah right! Anyway, I had the D616 with the uly stock bars and had a lot of front end wobble from time to time. I switched to the Mich Pilot Roads and my bars to the Cityx/TT bars and the I noticed the wobble get even worse... I started checking my front forks settings and my right tube was 4 lines and my left 2 WTF? I had just received the bike back from the dealer after they did the 10k service. Sounds like they did me a bang up job on the fork service. I adjusted and all is well again (3lines on both sides). No Tank Slappers...... Yeah! | ||
| Birdmanrh |
Yea, gotta have the preload the same!  As far as the settings on the other bike, it would be different for different people, so the setting would depend upon the rider. (Message edited by BirdmanRH on May 31, 2007) | ||
| Bearly |
I have experienced< with my Uly and 9k, a dramatic change when I went to the P Sync scorpion tires. The Dunlaps were nice and I got about 4800 miles from the back tire, but that Front... what a pain. That front swimming around at cruise speeds felt like you were riding in sand. ( something that I was used to) Not to mention that "Mini Tank Slap" every time I decelerated below say 45mph. I have about 4000 miles on my P Sync's and the front has been great. The back is nearing replacement after just one short 3500 mile ride but was absolutely sticky at Deal's gap. |
