<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" ><tr><td valign="top" style="font: inherit;"><P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal align=center><B><U><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">TANKSLAPPER !<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></B></DIV>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><o:p><FONT size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><FONT size=3>by John Del Santo<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoBodyText><FONT size=5 face=Tahoma>What a day !<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In the wind !<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>the sun is shining and you’re rolling down the highway without a care in the world…..and then an evil force grabs hold of your front wheel and starts shaking it like a dog with a bone !!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>You’re in a treacherous “High Speed Wobble” !</FONT></DIV>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">There are a number of things that can contribute to the creation of this attack, including an uneven lane drop;<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>worn steering head bearings, worn front wheel bearings, or worn swingarm bearings or bushings;<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>front or rear shocks that are uneven, under-inflated, or which have leaked;<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>narrow front tires on ruts in the road or on freeway rain grooves;<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>improperly balanced tires;<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Riding a tire which has been under-inflated and which has caused the tire to ‘cup’;<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>handlebars which are not balanced because of
a previous fall;<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>or a sudden loss of air in the tire. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Rear wheel wobbles can happen, too, when a tire goes flat, but they’re usually easier to handle, as long as we don’t hit the rear brake.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">When the front wheel is affected,<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>it can at first feel like the wind is starting to push you around, and then it becomes apparent that something <B>bad</B> is happening….and the front wheel starts to be yanked hard right and left and right, trying to rip the grips out of your hands.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>At this point there is still a chance that you might salvage the day.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Get a good hold,<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>and roll off the throttle gently…<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Don’t ‘chop’ it off suddenly<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>or weight will transfer to the front wheel where you’d rather not have it.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Lean back,<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Don’t touch the front brakes !<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Start applying the rear brakes gently but firmly, but don’t lock them.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This can be a real touchy situation if your bike has an integrated or linked brake system.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If so, you may need to decelerate and let your engine slow you down.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If you downshift,<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>you’ll need to let the clutch out smoothly, which is easier to say than do with the handlebars whacking back and forth.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>That’s an awful lot of decisions to make in a very short period of time,<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>and the evil spirits may decide now to push you through the final
gate…..<o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">If the front end starts slamming back and forth all the way to the stops, you are in the dread<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>“Tankslapper”.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>At this point it would be a good thing if you are wearing clothing that allows you to slide on the roadway rather than clothing which will cause you to tumble,<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>because there is an excellent chance that you and your bike will now part company.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Being relaxed and ready to slide instead of tensing up will allegedly lessen your injuries when you land….that sounds good in print, but I don’t think most riders remember that last couple of seconds anyway.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I guess we could lessen the chances of
being hurt if we stayed home on the couch,<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>but most Riders feel that it’s better to wear out than it is to rust.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So…be prepared,<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>and do your best to handle whatever comes along.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Enjoy yourself,<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Ride Sober,<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>and<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Ride Safe !<o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#80ff00 size=2><SPAN style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,255)"><SPAN style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,255)"><SPAN class=yshortcuts></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV></td></tr></table>