let me explain the whole thing...i went out last night to break my wheelie record (11 miles) but this time with a new set of D207, i was doing really great untill i landed the front wheel after i did 7 miles then it happened..the worst tank slapper ever in my whole life, my friends who were ridding next to me told me that its a god damn miracle that u stayed on the bike, the bike was dancing like hell, **** man it was bad!!
i was doing a 85 miles wheelie
here the thing now this the first i had a "real" tank slapper i never, i repeat i never had one when i was running on dunlop sport touring tires....do you think its the tires? wat did i do wrong?!!
any tips thats would stop any future ****ed up tank slappers would be great

 

.....get a good steering damper. It will save your life.

 

A steering dampener would be a tremendous help. My personal opinion those tires didnt help much. I never have heard anything good about the 207s and have seen some pretty bad tank slaps from those tires. One just like you described I am suprised he made it too.

 

Dude, riding a seven mile wheelie leaves you way out of my relm to give much advice to. I have noticed though that when I get in a good side wind the bike tends to stay a little sidways when I'm riding a wheelie. When I get down the road a ways it's easy to forget that I'm in a slight side wind, and I have to remind myself to try to have the handlebars squared up as much as possible when I set the bike down.

Also, I sit down on the seat just a tad before the front tire hits the ground, and reinforce my grip with my legs.

Still, the best advice I've seen on here is the steering dampner, and of course look for something soft to land on if you get a tank slapper. Congrats on making it seven miles though, I wish I had a road that long and straight, I'm lucky to find a 2 miler, and that's putting up with hills.

 

From riding in that position for 7 miles, you probably had the wheel tilted a bit and didn't know it until you put it down... I'm gonna go with what everyone else says... damper first, and a good front tire

 

DAMPNER! Oh and why would you be going that fast anyway? Here in NY we really don't have open roads so about 3 miles is my longest, but I like to stay around 45- 50 mph in second gear- you won't have as much chance of going into a slapper at lower speeds

 

ive never had a problem with tank slapper on my bike. never had one on it. i got in one on a 600rr though but that was in some bumps on the road

 

not much for giving advice but keeping your wheel straight, not leaning too much to the front when you land, and not letting go of the throttle too fast are all things i think about when im doin 90 mph wheelies from one exit to the next!

 

I heard 5mph wheelies were safer than 85 mph wheelies it's not about distance it's about time the tire is in the air

yea a kick *** damper is mandatory for any kind of speed.

 

it happens to all of us at least once and scars the **** out of you

 

and then you go and buy a damper, or you learned from others mistakes and get one before it happens.

 

CBOdmi! Holy SH*T! I watched you in Des Moines awhile back when you were stunting in the rain! I was the guy with the DIGITAL camera taking pics! Never thought to get your email address in case you'd like some of them. Heres one of them!

Oh, Mac1 you one crazy SOB doin wheelies that fast without a damper! A very good friend of mine almost lost his life after losing control from one at that speed.

 

I've seen some dirty tank slappers and 99% of them where on bikes that didn't have dampners

 

never had problem with the 207's, get good damper...

 

The Bad slappers that you describe don't happen below 70 mph.

 

the only other thing that i can think of other than needing a dampner, did you break in the tires first? for the first 100 miles or so, a tire might as well have oil on it. They are slick as hell, gotta put some miles on it to get it broken in.

but ya, get a dampner.

 

I've never had a damper.....and I've never had a slight tank-slapper even(knock on wood). I've even been rolling endos(not the best, but taking my paces). I'll get one when I can afford one, or have an experience that says otherwise. My 2nd/3rd gear wheelies I set down 77/90mph and never had problems.....but I've always been good about having the handle bars straight also. Anyone got a cheap damper for a 95 YZF-600R?

 

Good Damper, oh and if your doing wheelies with your knee in the seat for distance, be sure to get both feet back on the pegs before you come down. I've had a couple of headshakes coming down with my knee in the seat, but my damper straightened it out. My suggestion don't ride again until you get a damper, resist the urge, lol

 

im gona try again in 30 mins ........finger crossed!!!!!

 

Wish i had a steering damper when i wrecked. set down a wheelie at 95, speed wobbled like no other then ran off the rode and ate ****.. busted my arm and had to have surgery.. now i cant ride til i move out.... and im still depressed about it.... fukk my life