| Author | Message | ||
     Tikiman1 |
I just read the stories of the tank slap last night. I came to the conclusion that it was from the aggressive fork rake on the xb's. Well, today I experienced it for the first time. She went into slap over a bump when I was getting on it at about 25. All I could remember thinking was HOLY S**T, here's the slap, and I can't stop her. She went into a skid and I rolled to a stop. The damage wasn't to bad though, as you can see from the pic. My arm is road rashed pretty good, but that's all I got. I picked her up and beat the hell out of it the rest of the way home. I guess I'm more pissed than anything. I do need a new brake lever and pedal though. I planned on tearing her down this winter and repainting her anyway, so the frame scratch don't bother me. Anybody else had the slap get to them yet? | ||
| Tikiman1 |
here's a pic  | ||
| Darthane |
I sincerely doubt it's the rake angle. In any event, I've ridden some pretty shitty roads (hey, I live in Michigan) and never had anything like that happen in 15,000 miles. Bryan | ||
| M1combat |
See, now I'm REALLY worried. The fastest bike I've put any amount of time on somewhere other than a racetrack is my '82 CB750F-SS. It tops out higher than the Buell XB12R I'm about to buy but it seems pretty stable. I think its a combination of the rake and the LIGHT front wheel... Not enough centrepital (SP?) force??? edited by m1combat on October 10, 2003 | ||
| Brucelee |
Never had slap on my xb9s | ||
| Chainsaw |
Rutted roads, road construction, gravel roads, dirt roads, potholes, railroad tracks, dips, grooved concrete highways and poorly patched asphalt, my bike has been rock solid. Never come close to a tank slapper in 9500 miles at any speed. Can a "tank slapper" be confused with "rider error"? (not passing judgement here, just asking) | ||
| Englishman119 |
The only time my XB has slapped was coming off corners hard on the gas or when flat out. I have always found the causes to be; a death grip on the bars, steering stem bearings too tight or suspension set-up incorrect. With correct suspension set-up and the steering stem bearings correctly adjusted, the wobble went away. If the cause is the death grip, do what the brain tells you not to……relax the grip. Its you causing it. Not the bike. Mark | ||
| Dbensavage |
I've had it happen twice. Once on my XB9R when doing a rolling burnout (about 200 Feet long!) holding the front brake and giving throttle at the same time and as I eased off the front brake to roll out of the burnout it started tank slapping. I almost lost it but some how the bike straightened back out. The second time was on the XB12R about a week ago. Pulled out of work making a left turn and nailed it. The tire broke loose. I tried to collect it up and the bars started slapping... as all of this was happening I stuck my leg out to try and save the bike from going down. Well lets just say that it worked but the right footpet hammered my right calf. My lower leg is bruised from my calf down to my ankle. Important thing is that I kept the bike shiney side up. Both times when It happened I was messing around so it wasn't a fault of the bike. The only other times that I have ever had the front end wobble much is when coming out of a corner shifting hard. In other words pulling the front tire while turning..not a good combo. | ||
| Tedk |
A tank slap can happen on any bike under the right circumstances. Check your suspension setup if you feel something is wrong. An XB is very stable even with this aggresive rake. | ||
| Bubabuell |
Add a steering dampener. | ||
| Easyflier |
Tiki, Just to satisfy my curiousity check your tire pressure at the earliest opportunity and let us know what it's reading. | ||
| Dynarider |
The bikes do seem to have a very steep learning curve, you have to learn to corner & ride the way the bike wants not the way you want. I remember last year at the Brag gap deal & we had something like 6 of the 9 XB's there crash at some point. | ||
| Brucelee |
"The bikes do seem to have a very steep learning curve, you have to learn to corner & ride the way the bike wants not the way you want. I remember last year at the Brag gap deal & we had something like 6 of the 9 XB's there crash at some point." No offense but if we are talking the xb9s, I think you need to be a retard to not be able to ride this bike. I have been riding for over 35 yrs and never found a bike this stable and predictable. | ||
| Timbo |
Bruce, That may be part of the problem IMO. The bike is so planted it inspires confidence...which can lead to faster speeds and steeper angles. Then BOOM...before they know it, somebody is in over their head. Timbo | ||
| Blake |
I'd say that riding a motorcycle has a definite learning curve, one that many riders will find themselves exceeding. Been there, done that. Had NOTHING to do with the bike I was riding. | ||
| Sarodude |
Amen. Look, it's in the make up of most males to think that they're good (Hell, the BEST!) at whatever it is that they're doing - especially when vehicles are involved. That causes us to generally look at the machine as the greatest source of problems. It ain't usually that way. Fix your riding. This is not an attack on us. We were never designed to do this type of thing. You must override the instincts that try to fix problems we're not necessarily experiencing on the bike. -Saro | ||
| Bubabuell |
I am curious about low speed tank slaps as I've never encountered this. Causes? I've only (thank God) encountered high speed wobbling. Which of course, subsided when I let of the gas. Terrifying nonetheless. It seems odd to me that there would be such a thing at low speeds. | ||
| Darthane |
"No offense but if we are talking the xb9s, I think you need to be a retard to not be able to ride this bike. I have been riding for over 35 yrs and never found a bike this stable and predictable." <~~Bruce Well, first off, no, the XBs he mentioned were of the 9R variety, the 9S had not yet been released. Second, that's all well and good, but 1) you've got 35 years experience and 2) it doesn't matter. There is still a learning curve to any new vehicle, whether it be one, two, three, four, or more wheels. I'll say again, though. My Firebolt is rock steady on any road, at any speed. Check your tire pressure, suspension, steering head bearings, etc. and if they're fine check yourself. Bryan | ||
| Johnbranxbr |
I justed picked up my XB12R about a week ago. I had an XB9R before that. I never experienced head shake on the XB9R in all types of riding situations including 10 track days. However, I am experiencing head shake on the XB12R on the same roads I road my XB9R. I have talked to the dealer about it and they went over the bike however, it is still doing it. Does anyone have any experience with a steering damper on an XBR? The additional power is awesome however, I do notice that the bike has more vibration and the fan seems to run more often than on the XB9R, especially since the weather is cooler I would not have thought it would come on as often. Still the bike is awesome. | ||
| Usapitbullz |
I think the XB certainly has a learning curve. When I picked up mine almost 2 years ago, I was suprised at the difference in the way I had to ride the bike. I have never, "knock on wood" had a steering wobble I didn't produce myself. I have at times, just to figure out the motorcycle, messed around with the steering at low speeds to see how the bike reacts. If you are traveling at a higher speed and your steering starts to wooble, it can be scary, and this is where everyone differs in their ability to handle the "Oh Shit Situation" Road Conditions, Suspension, Tire pressure and throttle control during particular riding sequences can all affect steering control. How you react is generally, but not always(just to cover myself) what affects the outcome of the situation. L8R, JM | ||
| Easyflier |
John, Have you tried increasing rear preload? I think that the XB12's increased power tends to unload the front wheel easier and can induce wobble or head shake more than on an XB9. | ||
| Blake |
If the rear preload is within the specified range you would increase rear conpression damping and possibly front rebound damping. Definitely check and record ALL your suspension settings. Unfortunately you just cannot trust the dealership to know how to properly adjust your XB's suspension or even set tire pressures or steering head preload. | ||
| Hippo888 |
Tikiman, What were your suspension settings and rider weight when you had the tank slapper? The XB series has massive suspension adjustablility. Unlike most bikes, fiddling with the suspension adjusters can change the handling of the bike dramatically. The factory specs for suspension, in my opinion, create a really heavy steering bike that constantly wants to center itself in turns. I think this acts like a built in steering damper. I've been able to get rid of most of the self-centering in turns, which I think will make my bike more willing to wobble/slap, but I ride so sedately I don't think it'll be a problem for me. Also interesting to note is that Sport Rider says the XB12's have less self-centering effect than do the XB9's. I think that, combined with more power, will make the XB12's more likely to wobble or slap. I'm glad that you didn't get seriously hurt. Take care, Paul in MI | ||
| Glitch |
Check your suspension setup!Check your suspension setup!Check your suspension setup!Check your suspension setup!Check your suspension setup!Check your suspension setup!Check your suspension setup!Check your suspension setup!Check your suspension setup!Check your suspension setup!Check your suspension setup!Check your suspension setup! | ||
| Tropicana69 |
Heck, even my old 74 Guzzi Eldo had a problem once with that kind of wobble. Suspension adjustment was the KEY to what was wrong then and I would assume that could be a problem on any cycle. Also, different cycles tend to have a different feel to them. So, it is mportant for the rider to adjust their riding to how the cycle seeks to take a turn or come out of a turn.. This also can be a factor in Braking systems too. Each cycle may have a different set up or feel to it and you have to adjust to what the bike is capable of. I think there are a lot of younger riders who just jump on their cycles thinking somehow they are invincible and gun it and go. It is important to realize that some of the mistakes we have are rider related and not always machine related. I will say again though that Suspension adjustments are critical on any cycle. IF you change them you better make sure they are correct or you can end up with an unwanted problem Even an experienced rider can be thrown from a bike with an incorrect suspension setup. The XB's appear to be designed with a sport/racing design. As such it should be treated with that respect or else it will surely get you into trouble. Careful boys on crossing wet railroad tracks etc. YOU could find yourself sitting in the middle of the road! Hopping on and gunning it can get you into a situation you may not like. (ask a rider who knows from experience) Of course I am just preaching to the choir here...ha! | ||
| Frankielewczak |
A few weeks ago I experienced a small tank slapper while riding my xb9r. The 4 lane road (2 lanes in each direction) was under construction, one lane was surfaced about 2.5 inches above the other. I was passing a car, (accelerating quickly) and hit the bump. the tank slapper was very small, and over very quickly. the bike straightened it out with out any input from me. I didnt do anything, I didnt really have a chance to. But the bike was able to correct it self. | ||
| Tikiman1 |
The suspension is setup for my weight. And I've been riding for 17 yrs. The tire pressure was right where it should be. I recently rode it down to South Padre Island through some of the worst road imaginable without a hitch, 3500 miles in a week. Must have been right place, right time. I was getting on it and the front end was light though when the slap started. | ||
| Grufflie |
Heck, maby it IS the bike's design.... I for one am gonna have a good go at powering over a few ruts etc to se if I can unsettle the front end in a CONTROLED situation before it encounters me when I'm not ready. Do you think a steering damper will totaly eradicate the problem? PS. I've had a look through Trogen Horse and couldnt find a steering damper that is specificaly for the XBs. Anyone know of any? Gruffs | ||
| Tikiman1 |
I think a steering damper would eliminate the problem. As for me I'll be looking for on this winter. As it's supposed to start getting cold this weekend here in Wisconsin, I'm bringing the bike indoors to start tearing it down for a new paint job on the frame and swing arm. Anybody have any idea's on what might look good with the factory yellow plastic scheme? P.S. I wouldn't try to induce the slap thing. I didn't have time to hit the front brakes, I was fighting the bars. But the back brakes didn't seem to do anything. | ||
| Tikiman1 |
American Sport Bike( www.asb.com ) has a steering damper for the xb9s for $319. Seems a little high to me. |
