CBR600R - 'Tank Slapper'?

tiger777 · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 01 Jun 2006 Karma :

I had my first heart stopping moment yesterday!

Overtaking two wagons on a dual carriage way, got passed the first but was coming rapidly up to the hatched area as the dual lanes go back to a single lane.

Hesitated for a moment then decided to go for it put the power on and just as I was passed the lorry (i think! was bit of a blur!) the bars felt like they had been snatched from my hands.

It must have only lasted a few seconds but they were the worst few seconds! I actually thought I was coming off.

I kept the power on, more luck than judgement I think! and drifted off the hatched lines and the front straightened up almost immediately.

I had to pull over in the next lay-by to catch my breath and ponder what had just happened.

My husband was following and thought that maybe I'd caught a cats eye just as I put the power on and then the hatched area accentuated the problem.

He said 'it looked like a bit of a wobble' Thats not the description I'd use!!!

Has anyone had any experience of the CBR doing this? its not known for 'tank slappers' like some bikes are.

Should I get a steering damper on it?

Hubby thinks it was just a one off, wrong place, wrong time thing.

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

MattEMulsion · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Aug 2004 Karma :

Well I can't tell you about a CBR but my R6 used to suffer from tank slappers terribly. I bought an ohlins steering damper to combat the problem and it is 99% solved. I can still sometimes get the occasional twitch but nothing like it used to.
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Yamaha YZF-R6

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

What year CBR?

The first RR's with RWU Forks didn't come with a damper, but they are probably flighty enough to warrant one if you ride hard.

The latest USD fork models come with the Honda electronic damper widget afaik.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

tiger777 · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 01 Jun 2006 Karma :

Its a 55 plate so its got the USD forks.

Electronic damper widget afaik???

Bit technical for me!

tiger777 · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 01 Jun 2006 Karma :

Quite possibly thats what I did, it just all happened so fast.

The hatched areas were on me pretty quick and I did hesitate before making a decision to go and put the power on pretty hard.

The same situation happened at the next dual carriage way, closing on a wagon with the hatched area coming up. Needless to say I backed off pretty quick!!!

Like you say, lesson learnt!

craigs23 · Mr Muscle Joined: 08 Jun 2005 Karma :

Heard this from a few RRs, maybe look into some pro suspension setup/work, or invest in a steering damper?

Blade does it from time to time, never full lock-to-lock, but a couple to take the control of the bars away for a couple of seconds - especially as the thing has no damper on it anymore Shocked