Tank Slapper Thunderhill 09-13-09

Tank slapper happens at around 1:00

Keigwinz @TT - B+ (First time with B+)
6th Session of the Day (Fourth lap in)

Cliff Notes: Thunderhill Turn 9, 1st tank slapper experience, extremely lucky!

Borrowed my friend's laptimer to see what laps I was able to pull my first time running in a B-equivalent group (Keigwinz' B+). About 4 laps into the 6th session of the day, I was feeling on pace to do better than what I already felt was my best lap the previous one by. Coming up on Turn 9 at Thunderhill, I take it how I normally did. Upon exiting and preparing for the slight right hand correct down the hill, I must have put in just an ounce more of throttle than I did the last time 'round. Surely, it was enough to lift the front wheel just high enough for the counter-steering input on to change the steering angle of the wheel. A quick second later the bike lands and all hell breaks loose on my clip-ons as wheel violently tries to correctly. Scared shitless, I really didn't have much thought going into the whole situation. All I knew was that I needed it to stop ASAP as I was running off the road and so I just kept my arms stiff to counter the force of the tankslapper in hopes that it will subside. Miraculously, just as I was thinking in my head, "Alright I am officialy FCK'ed!", the tank slapping ended.. Completely taken by surprise with the whole incident, I called it quits for the day! Haha.

Just so happens, one of the riders behind me had a camera mounted and recorded the entire thing! They ended up reviewing the tape and then looking at the day's photographer's photos to track me down! Now I have this copy of the video to share with you all and keep as memories!

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• tank
• slapper
• thill
• thunderhill
• keigwinz
• at
• the
• track
• k@tt
• b+
• group
• 2009
• kawasaki
• kawi
• zx6r
• zx
• 6r
• day
• trackday
• turn
• close
• call

[MaGicMik3z]

another quickpoitn the fella with the camera fixated on you as he pretty much followed your line without a tank slapper thats not good for him although fixation happens to the best of us every now and again

[jhu1986]

@MaGicMik3z Yea, I think the camera guy did fixate on me. Perhaps because he was possibly preparing to pass me coming down the hill since you can tell he wanted to pass before the turn but couldn't. Or.... he just wanted to catch me on camera in case I crashed :P haha

[b33p]

Upvote so future viewers see this: skip to 1:00 for tankslapper

[jhu1986]

@b33p added in info box.

[NoobInaCan]

when that happens dude...your logic and thinking goes straight down the chute.

nice save...

[jhu1986]

@NoobInaCan Oh I agree! The only thinking about was... "Awww man I just got this bike a month and a half ago..." Which was true too. It was a new bike.. Not my first bike though!

[MaGicMik3z]

nicely saved just before you would of been gras tracking your way round

[Knightlore10]

If you read Twist of the Wrist, Keith Code suggests the way to deal with a tank slapper is 1) loosen your grip 2) raise your COG by sitting up 3) don't shut off the throttle but reduce slightly. Personally I don't think I will ever tame my survival reactions to do the wrong thing.

[JMEthesituation]

I rate the guy at the end of the clip who blows past both bikes like it was nothing!

[houstonpromotion]

Can someone explain why the guy in this video went into a tank slap?

[TheeDrunkunMunky]

I had one on them on my bike test, as told to just carry on =O nice save tho =)

[CosmoxYRik]

@MaGicMik3z Nah motorcycles may kill you, smoking definitely will. I quit then bought a motorbike, my life expectancy is a whole lot better that way.

[therealslimgamey]

That was serious I had one really bad today...on the road with 2010 ZX6R. Front goes light over hill and bumps....I have turned my steering damper up.

Luckily I held on keeping the throttle slightly open more by luck than judgement. A split second longer I would have let go and let the bike throw me off but it settled down keeping a really tight grip. Glad have been doing alot of lifting.

[therealslimgamey]

That was serious I had one really bad today...on the road with 2010 ZX6R. Luckily I held on keeping the throttle slightly open more by luck than judgement. A split second longer I would have let go and let the bike throw me off but it settled down keeping a really tight grip. Glad have been doing alot of lifting. Do not do over 100mph on bumpy roads unless you have a steering damper turned up high ive learnt.