Gordon Bennett

He was so lucky he didn't end up under the truck!

 

As a newbie that’s terrifying

What caused the wobble, and how the heck do you avoid it

 

Don't know what caused it in this case, during some training many years ago when bikes were far more prone to tank slappers, I was told NOT to shut the throttle but to shift weight by lying on the tank ... can't say that I have ever used it in anger.
I did crash a Ducati Monster S4R test bike in similar fashion a few years ago, but that was due to landing a wheelie badly coupled with a really bad road surface, that was so violent a tank slapper that it just went full lock to full lock and then off so not chance to try the saver as described above.

 

You know how a supermarket trolley wheel can wobble? An unweighted wheel on a single axis (i.e. independent of another pivoting wheel) can oscillate at the ‘wrong’ speed. On motorcycles it is mostly one of, or a combination of, tyre deformation/hard acceleration/weight bias/the rider......coming down from a wheelie crossed up!

A ‘death grip’ i.e. riding with a vice grip inhibits then exaggerates the natural serpentine flow of any two wheeler loading up the front tyre on each micro curve and usually causing the rider to freeze even harder with predictable consequences. A steering damper can help but not if the rider seizes up in panic.

Prevention is about steering lightly but not heavy handedly. A bike’s geometry only needs a nudge to steer. You counter steer instinctively and release to effect a turn. Cure requires quick, calm presence of mind. Remember it is an oscillation and speed dependant, just gently roll off the throttle and apply light back brake .......if nothing else, you will be going slower when you go down....

 

It has just come to me that one section of my route into Edinburgh could always set up an oscillating wallow as I accelerated out of a bend but I have never experienced it since fitting new tyres......

 

Depends on what sort of bike you ride as well, I found my KTM Superduke and my Aprilia Tuono were prone to a gentle wagging of the bars when riding hard especially over bumpy roads.
As you quite rightly said earlier a 'death grip' on the bars would have that waggle developing into a full on tank slapper, I had several years MotoX experience so riding 'loose' kind of comes naturally, riding dirt bikes gives you a good idea of how far to take things and when you go too far and come off it is a softer landing than tarmac!

 

The most instructive thing from the video is the speed with which it occurs and the need to fight instinct.

 

You should watch this
\\\\\\\\\\testing tyres

 

You should watch this
\\\\\\\\\\testing tyres

 

He did slide through the truck, didn’t he... ffs, they’re gonna be surgically removing his underpants from his ring piece, he’ll have been chewing so hard!

I did enjoy the second video though... more pies n mash for me please!

 

Problem solved.........eat more pies!!!