tank slapper

[Freddiebigfoot]

i have only done one tank slapper in my life and tat was when i was a kid on dirt bikes and i have a friend on a 600 and he did the the damn thing both times i rode with him (he said they were the only times. my question is what is a tank slapper by that what causes it and how do u avoid because they look sketchy as anything

[Crazyninja]

From what I understand it is when the front tire gets light or is off the ground. When it comes down and the bars are slightly turned or a road surface is irregular it causes unwanted harmonic vibrations to make the bars oscillate back and forth.

Not fight the bars is what I understand to be the best way of getting it under control.
Improperly inflated tires, bent rims, suspension problems etc can all cause it from what I have been told.

Never had one (knock on wood).

[MTizzle]

I had a friend tank slap he drifted across the highway almost hit a truck thankfully he got control of it, that was a scary thing to watch. He said because the of the back forth motion it kept causing him pull on the throttle therefor keeping from gaining control so said had to force his arm so close the throttle.