Had my 1st wobble last night

[Nobbylad]

Coming onto the Mancunian way, opened her up to get up to speed and next thing I know, the bikes snaking all over the place in the wet.

Not sure I knew much about it until it had settled down, instinct closed off the throttle and had enough time to momentarily think that the bars were going to keep shaking and that I might come off, but thankfully it calmed down and I slowed down a fair bit!

Not the nicest feeling in the world but I'm looking at it as a great learning experience, I never came off, it served as a warning for me to not get carried away in the wet and I'm a little bit more knowledgeable about how the bike behaves when it's losing it and also how hard it needs to be pushed to start to lose it.

Overall, not nice, but better than hitting the deck!

Oh and shout out to the lady on the '02 silver curvy on the M62 westbound, not sure she even saw me as she was so focussed on riding through the rain!

[DanAbnormal]

Welcome to the "Is survived a tank slapper club".

:D

[G]

Shutting off completely is not really the right thing to do in a rear slide/spin scenario....although it is instinct I guess.

Shutting off completely can cause the rear wheel to re-grip aggresively which will spit you off the bike.

Glad you survived on this occasion, could have been an expensive day :cool:

[ArtyLady]

well done for hanging on to it - nothing to do with tankslappers but I once highsided on a bend in the wet - my IAM observer who was following said that I did all the right things, didnt brake, held the throttle steady and rode through it (I dont know if that is the correct procedure though) - I told him I didnt know what was happening and wouldnt have even known to do that so none of it was deliberate - so I just put it down to years of staying on naughty horses (or not sometimes!:lol:) probably it was just what came naturally! at the time I just saw my life flash before my eyes - the force of it sheered my mirror bolt :shock:

[Nobbylad]

I guess I didn't actually shut right, off, probably just relaxed it although to be honest, like ArtLady, I didn't actually consciously do anything, it was more sub-conscious reaction.....and G, you're right, could have been very expensive (fully faired bike) and painful!

Anyway, I've learned my lesson now, no aggressive accelaration in the wet! Not looking forward to my 'no aggressive braking in the wet' lesson! ;)

[muffles]

I thought shutting off the throttle was bad, but for a different reason - it loads up the front, when you want to unload it so you can straighten it out? Loading it up makes it weave more?

Maybe wrong but that's what I've heard! I've never had the pleasure (!) of a tank slapper.

[yorkie_chris]

A proper tank slapper you won't be able to hold onto bars never mind do anything with the throttle.

I'd advise getting some tyres on it that aren't the stock ones.

[DanAbnormal]

I've had a couple of medium head shakes and shutting off was the only option which solved it. From the sound of it though the rear just spun up in this case, so letting off a bit or a little rear brake applied might help?

[captainsmelly]

i did exactly the same thing yesterday a.m., riding like a willy. proper wakes you up, doesn't it?!

[G]

I thought we were talking about the rear spinning up on acceleration hense the sliding/snaking....not sure what the right thing to do is in a tank slapper scenario.

[DanAbnormal]

not sure what the right thing to do is in a tank slapper scenario.

Panic and hope to almighty that it sorts itself out. Works for me! :D

[Nobbylad]

i did exactly the same thing yesterday a.m., riding like a willy. proper wakes you up, doesn't it?!

Oh yes! And is just enough warning to make you ride properly!

I thought we were talking about the rear spinning up on acceleration hense the sliding/snaking....not sure what the right thing to do is in a tank slapper scenario.

Me neither, although the whole bike was giving it some once the rear went and the bars felt like they were possessed for a second or two, was all I could do just to hang on! Letting off the throttle like I did (whether or not it was a full release or just partial....I can't even remember!) seemed to sort it out, I understand about it putting the weight on the front once the rear regains traction but to be honest thinking about it, the road was absolutely teeming with rain so maybe it didn't get traction as quick as it would if it was dry? Dunno, just glad I didn't come off, there was no traffic but plenty of barriers, kerb, tarmac etc to hit!