How to Prevent the Speed Wobble

Today let’s talk about a speed wobble or tank slapper – why it happens, how can we prevent it and what we can to to stop it. Speed wobble, or tank slapper is a shit-brick making event when the handlebars suddenly start shaking like crazy and your bike becomes a rodeo bull, trying to throw you off onto the ground. Scary stuff! Luckily, your favorite motorcycle instructor is to the rescue - let’s learn how to avoid the speed wobbles!

Want to support this channel?

🏍️🏍️🏍️
On Moto Control channel you will find videos about motorcycles, motorcycle riding techniques, tips & tricks and online motorcycle training for beginner and advanced riders!
A little info about me. My name is Andrei Bodrov, originally I'm from Moscow, Russia, and now I live in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Back in Moscow I was a motorcycle instructor and creator of Moto Control Beginner & Advanced motorcycle rider courses, which quickly became the most popular courses in Moscow (well, at least the advanced one😁). My advanced training course makes emphasis on slow speed riding techniques at first (such as good clutch and throttle control, proper riding posture, proper use of vision, etc.), then proceeds to more advanced techniques (such as aggressive braking, trail braking, maximal lean angle). The course incorporates a lot of exercises from DOSAF slow speed riding (similar to police rodeo like motorcycle training in USA), braking and cornering exercises and motogymkhana style riding. And now, since I actively learn English - I decided to post some useful videos for both your and mine practice!😉
🏍️🏍️🏍️
Since everyone writes this, it's necessary, I suppose 🤷, so here we go. Disclaimer: Ride at your own risk, you are responsible for your own safety. Me, Andrey Bodrov and my channel, Moto Control disclaim any liability incurred in connection with the use of riding techniques from this channel. Use common sense, wear full protective gear and ride in a safe and predictable manner!
#motorcycle #motorcycles #moto

[MatiasEspinosa]

Off topic, but I just wanted to tell you, of all the motorcycle youtubers I’ve encountered, you’re the most skilled and your videos are proper classes. Thank you for sharing your knowledge, I hope this channel grows to be as large as it should be, everyone on a bike should know what you teach (and unlearn the misinformation others share).

[kenmcdougall]

You say you are learning/practicing english, but your english is excellent and you're a really good communicator, far better than a lot of native english instructors. You also show a deep understanding of the physics behind how motorcycles work and it's convincing. And please don't ever consider trying to correct your accent - I learnt to ride in London in my 20s, I'm 62 and I'm starting to realise there's a lot more to learn - and when I'm trying to remember it - it's your accent I hear in my head.

[MyLife-ogkr]

I ran into the speed wobble a few days ago, but I remembered that don't panic and release the throttle gradually leaning forward, because the bike is meant to go forward and correct itself. It helped save my life at an intersection that was about to turn red.

[SouthPawArtist]

I was a motorcycle newbie with about 10 months of riding experience when I experienced my first speed wobble. Cost me my 2 front teeth, sadly. Thanks for this video, would really help a lot of new and experienced riders alike.

[circuitmonkey]

I spit coffee. Mama Susan says you have to censor "de*th", immediately says "sh*t" with no bleep. Brilliant! 😆😆😆

[Dangerwiggles]

Worst one that ever happened to me was when I was 2-up, passenger wasn't holding on tightly enough and as I accelerated from a stop light her weight shifted back to the right hard, causing the bike to wheelie and lean right. It came down sideways and slapped full lock 3 or 4 times, I thought for sure we were going down. But she managed to cling on super tight and I stayed steady, relaxed and laid on the tank and we came out of it quickly. Learned a few lessons about 2-up.

[Halicet]

In 2011 I was on a 11000 mile cross country road trip. I was riding my VTX through Az on a dead straight 2-lane highway with no shoulder, and barbwire fence on either side. Was cruising along at around 75mph with a pickup (with tailgate down) about 100y ahead of me and a big rig ahead of him. The two of them disappeared over a rise in the road, and as I crested the rise I was confronted with a locked up big rig with smoke pouring off the rear wheels trying to make a left hand turn onto some tiny dirt road. The pickup was also locked up, and there was traffic in the oncoming lane parallel with the truck.. I applied my brakes and suddenly found myself in a severe death wobble (probably a full on tank slapper, but my adrenaline was spiked and I'm not sure if it was hitting or not). My options were try to hold it together while braking as fast as possible, head into oncoming traffic, attempt to thread the needle and likely hit one of the cars or go under the turning big rig, head off road and get wrapped in a barbed wire fence at speed, or let off the brakes and hit the back of the pickup with a very real decapitation by tailgate possibility. None of the techniques offered in this video were an option. Hold it together while braking as fast as possible is what I went for, as the wobble increased strongly. I was convinced I would high side or hit the back of the pickup and die as it felt close to jackknife with every wobble. I seem to remember tightening my knees against the tank, tightening my hand grip, and trying to loosen my arms and upper body while offering enough resistance to hopefully stop a jackknife. My internal monologue was screaming shit shit shit shit shit shit shit...., as I braked harder while trying to keep it on the road and upright. Somehow, I kept the bike upright and managed to stop about 5 inches behind the pickups tailgate. The severe wobble didn't let up until I was completely stopped. To this day it was the single most terrifying experience I've had on a motorcycle. I am very thankful that I was leaving such a large amount of space between me and the pickup. I put the bike into the shop to find a cause when I got to my destination. It turned out the new tire on the front, had torqued and developed a bulge after being installed improperly about 2k miles prior at a small shop in Wi. The dyna beads I was using for balancing collected in the bulge and exacerbated the issue imbalancing the tire further. The shop was able to correct the issue and save the tire, and it had no further problems. Let's just say that was the last time I used dyna beads for tire balancing...lol

[greggo]

I had the tank slapper happen to me as I passed 298kph.Obviously I instantly accepted the potential fact that I was about to taste the very material in which the roadway was constructed of.
My instant reaction was to keep my hands on the bars but not to fight the violence before me.
What I had not realized until after I had realized that my shorts we warmer than i remembered, was that during the 3-5 seconds that seemed like 3-5 minutes I had not increased or decreased my throttle input.
I don't know for certain if this is what caused the bike to correct itself or not .
Either way, I made it to 322kph before the Rev limmiter kicked in and I began my decent back into the realm of acceptable speed .Needless to say, I'll never do that again.

[VWPirates]

Best bike riding advice on YouTube! I've had two, still crapping myself tank slappers. One at about 200kmph on a GSXR 1100. Only right hand on the throttle and I somehow accelerated out of it. The second slow one was the scariest. On a FJR1200 lane splitting and I hit ripples in the tarmac. The initial slap was so hard I couldn't hold onto the handle bars and then my feet went flying off the pegs! All this while I'm lane splitting among early morning highway traffic. The bike gathered itself perfectly. Ohlin shocks saved me.

[tarouyamada]

That wobble and weave Dunlop video is older than most of us I would guess and it covers pretty much the same points. Being around for so long you would think it would have been incorporated in standard license tests... but nope 😅
More reason to hammer the point home with videos like this 🤙

[gokcemuratozaydn]

You have been one of my favourite channel but in time you have become my most informative and favorite channel.
Congratulations and thank you
Pls keep up your extraordinary work 👏👏👏

[onerider]

Gently let off the throttle, lean over the tank, and gently apply the rear brake. Had a 78 KZ1000, so I had lots of practice at this before I fixed it. (By gusseting the top three frame tubes, under the tank, and installing a fork brace). It only happened between 87-90mph.

[joaofreitas]

As far as is known, misaligned, warped and out-of-roundness wheels, low or high tire pressure, loose steering wheel and a lot of weight on rear wheel are the most probable causes of death wobble. I 100% agree with the solutions sugested. Outstanding videos, thanks a lot.

[shkitch]

Great video, thank you for making and sharing it with the rest of us! I only had a wobble once on my bike. Ironically, it happened when I was on my way to the service shop to change the worn out suspension for a brand new one. :) They replaced the rear shock (according to my weight) and put new springs (again, according to my weight) and oil in the front forks. The bike now rides like a charm.

[TorquilBletchleySmythe]

I copped serious death wobbles at 90km/h when the Pirelli Sport Demon on the front arced up due to high road temps, fouled on the bolts holding the guard on and slowed the wheel during a slight lift due to bumps. This was enough to induce tank slappers and threw me off a very rare and much loved motorcycle.

[msromike]

So high speed 3 minute wheelies on the freeway wearing a tee shirt, shorts and sandals is not advised?

[msromike]

You explained this comprehensively and in an understandable manner.

[sportstours]

The over correction idea makes the most sense to me as the cause at high speeds. Thanks.

[TobiasRieperGER]

If that accures to me, i usually shut the throttle and let her rolling. If that don't reduce the wobble, i use the rear brake smoothly.
If that don't work either, i change to another part of the lane. Often the middle part of the lane is not worn out so much.
I try to prevent bad parts of the road. Patchwork asphalt often is uneven and in worst case sometimes feels like cobblestone streets.

[umangvarma]

Great informative video, I love your channel and content. Keep up the great work :))