A Massive Tank Slapper......

[Steptoe]

I remember the old days when the steering damper on my Triumph was a big black nob on the headstock that you screwed in as tight as fuck, coupled with a swing arm with a centre bush. Cornered like a 50p piece and tank slappers were common.

Identical to the old bmw's from the late eighties, which had a terrible reputation for tank slappers.
And not without foundation, i had one at a mere 20mph which almost threw me off. Just the one in nearly two years of ownership of the bike.

My neighbour had an R100RS which nearly had him off twice without any warning. It spooked him so much he sold the bike.

You've really got to experience a full on completely random tank slapper to appreciate it

 

[HPNer]

Identical to the old bmw's from the late eighties, which had a terrible reputation for tank slappers.
And not without foundation, i had one at a mere 20mph which almost threw me off. Just the one in nearly two years of ownership of the bike.

My neighbour had an R100RS which nearly had him off twice without any warning. It spooked him so much he sold the bike.

You've really got to experience a full on completely random tank slapper to appreciate it

Couldn't agree more, my bike, originally an R80G/S was particularly unstable at 124kph, gave you the proper eibeegeebees. Then for no apparent reason, it did it violently at 156kph: 10 ribs, a collarbone, punctured lung and a crocked knee. When the bike was rebuilt, put a Scott's rotary damper on and changed from Michelin Desert to a TKC up front. That seemed to do the trick.

 

[Nutty]

Looking forward to the outcome of this, but I reckon the outcome will be "rider error" or just an accident, and nothing to do with the bike. If the safety of the bike was in question, new bikes would have been fitted with a steering damper, or something similar.

We'll see.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

New bikes would have been fitted with a steering damper, or something similar.

Err
Haven't they just started fitting them
Or am I dreaming ?

 

[Nutty]

Err
Haven't they just started fitting them
Or am I dreaming ?

I was being ironic.

 

[Steptoe]

Identical to the old bmw's from the late eighties,

Sorry, just noticed my mistake.. I meant the late seventies early eighties.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I was being ironic.

Good job you've bought a new 'safe' 2014 one then

 

[Marquez]

I've had my BMW R1200 GS TE for nearly a year and haven't had a tank slapper situation yet. And sometimes I push hard.

I agree with the BMW response by saying internet is not regulated. I once had a massive headache and went online worried it might be something else. I ended up with an even greater headache than before as I thought it could be a brain tumour....

It seems to me self-diagnostic is never a good idea. But having said that, the letter is there for us all and if in the future something happens we can refer back to it, so from my point of view it's a well done job. So thank you for sharing


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[Jumblemo]

Stand on pegs, drive over rutted or pot-holed surface, grip tank with knees and remove hands from steering Titanic style. She will tank-slap.

 

[Bails]

In Australia people from Britain are often referred to as , "Whinging Poms " ! Now I don't care if people want to Whinge but of all the BMW boards I visit this one seems to have an abundance of naysayers and Whingers. What is it ? Is it the fact that you have a very short riding season and are locked in doors in the dark for the rest of the year and need to vent ?

I suggest when the sun is out next you get out and ride and enjoy life, it's to short to spend all your time being negative !!

 

[JayC]

In Australia people from Britain are often referred to as , "Whinging Poms " ! Now I don't care if people want to Whinge but of all the BMW boards I visit this one seems to have an abundance of naysayers and Whingers. What is it ? Is it the fact that you have a very short riding season and are locked in doors in the dark for the rest of the year and need to vent ?

I suggest when the sun is out next you get out and ride and enjoy life, it's to short to spend all your time being negative !!

You're correct, in part, but predominantly because we're British, it's what we do!

 

[Giles]

Yeah .... Casey never whined did he .....

 

[pistole]

In Australia people from Britain are often referred to as , "Whinging Poms " ! Now I don't care if people want to Whinge but of all the BMW boards I visit this one seems to have an abundance of naysayers and Whingers. What is it ? Is it the fact that you have a very short riding season and are locked in doors in the dark for the rest of the year and need to vent ?

I suggest when the sun is out next you get out and ride and enjoy life, it's to short to spend all your time being negative !!

and this place is the useless throwaway one liner capital of the world too.

.

 

[Eunuch]

Couldn't agree more, my bike, originally an R80G/S was particularly unstable at 124kph, gave you the proper eibeegeebees. Then for no apparent reason, it did it violently at 156kph: 10 ribs, a collarbone, punctured lung and a crocked knee. When the bike was rebuilt, put a Scott's rotary damper on and changed from Michelin Desert to a TKC up front. That seemed to do the trick.

Ouch. Good to see it didn't slow you down.

I totalled a GS T-boning a Deer almost at that speed and came off more lightly. Still, hospital food isn't great.

Maybe the GS has a Deer Slapper problem too?

Only 6K on my LC and it's been a peach. No problems. Lovin' it.

 

[Nutty]

So, it was an accident after all.

 

[Engineer]

So, it was an accident after all.

Seems so.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Seems so.

In the light of the lack of evidence and a witheld report from BMW, on a legal technicality and the subsequent inclusion of a steering damper on all the 2014MY GS and GSA bikes

One might draw another train of thought

 

[Georgeeboi]

Why no recall for 2013 bikes then?

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[Popell]

that would be tantamount to an admission........

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Why no recall for 2013 bikes then?

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Cost v Risk