i was going about 70-90mph around this big oval turn and suddenly my handle bar started wobbling. soo i let off the throttle a little bit and it stop. what the cause of that??? thanks!

You mean a hard shake or a slight vibration? Could be a lot of things...tire, wheel, damper, pavement, rider input...

You mean a hard shake or a slight vibration? Could be a lot of things...tire, wheel, damper, pavement, rider input...

its a slight wobble

If you don't notice it in other corners, maybe it was just a ripple in the pavement that you couldn't see.

Its called a tank slapper! It can start from a number of things, bad roads, cchassis geometery, bad tires, low air tire psi, bad dampner a lot of factors. You just have to know how to ride them out. Do not panic and stay on the throttle if possible, you want the front end to lift up if possible. If you can get the front wheel up you will be fine. Remeber the saying " when in doubt throttle out"

what he had was NOT a tank slapper... he had a little bit of head shake and that is it. A tank slapper is a fast violent movement from steering lock to steering lock... with the steering head pivoting all the way to one side, then all the way to another.


My guess is that either your tires are not inflated properly, it is a slightly bumpy road, or your suspension could use a slight adjustment...


but just to re-iterate, this was in no way shape or form a tank slapper... a good way to tell, is if you have to think afterwards "was that a tank slapper" then it is a 98% chance that it was not a tank slapper... if you have one, you will know it and there will be absolutely no doubt about what it was... A little head shake is very easy to control, just ride it out and you will be fine. But I would check your tire pressure and your suspension settings.

At high speeds the bike is going to wobble at times, if you're scared of it then don't be going that fast (I'm assuming you were doing it on the streets). You just need to keep loose and let the bike wiggle under you; and don't death grip the bars.

And I agree with beaker.... a tank slapper is actual lock to lock. Most people experience head shakes which in some cases would still be enough to scare the shit out of you. A tank slapper is in its complete different realm, I experienced one at almost 100mph when my front wheel came off the ground and landed crooked because I was trying to countersteer away from the grass. Afterwards the PC3 in my trunk came loose from its velcro, my front pads were knocked back, and my steering bumps were dented/bent. Now that's a TANK SLAPPER!

this could also be known as front end chatter. there are various reasons for it but look into getting your suspension adjusted by a pro.

this could also be known as front end chatter. there are various reasons for it but look into getting your suspension adjusted by a pro.

Thats what I'm thinking. What is the condition of the road and what were you doing "exactly" when you noticed the problem?

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At high speeds the bike is going to wobble at times, if you're scared of it then don't be going that fast (I'm assuming you were doing it on the streets). You just need to keep loose and let the bike wiggle under you; and don't death grip the bars.

And I agree with beaker.... a tank slapper is actual lock to lock. Most people experience head shakes which in some cases would still be enough to scare the shit out of you. A tank slapper is in its complete different realm, I experienced one at almost 100mph when my front wheel came off the ground and landed crooked because I was trying to countersteer away from the grass. Afterwards the PC3 in my trunk came loose from its velcro, my front pads were knocked back, and my steering bumps were dented/bent. Now that's a TANK SLAPPER!

I had a similar one on an on-ramp at about 90mph. I felt like my arms were getting ripped off at the shoulders. My knees beat the shit out of both of the fairings, bad enough to have to buy new plastics. The frame also got scratched up pretty bad. Fortunately, I stayed upright (still don't know how) and it settled down. I spent the next week limping around. There is NO doubt when it's a slapper...

I would agree tank slapp is nasty.It happend a lot more back on the 1980s and 1990s bikes before dampers.but you know when it happens.no dought.