That Busa has a factory stabilizer on it.http://youtu.be/XkJwMtxE9PI

Tankslapping big time on a zx14 at the drag strip...

Hub said it never happens on this bike...

One of my all time favs. blues vid>>>to 0:37 busa eats ass phalt.

IDK how good that factory electronic, self adjusting damper on the busa is. I have had absolutely NO shake on the busa, ever (but ridden far fewer miles than the 14 and not pushed it as hard in cornering as the 14). The busa guys sometimes upgrade to a Brocks/Ohlines damper on top of the triple tree but they tell me that is more for looks. They claim the factory damper Suz puts down in there is reliable.

There's no getting around the fact that sportbikes with their geometry are prone to tankslaps.I have a certain amount of safe feeling riding my bike....I'm thinkin if Kawasaki thought their big azz sport-cruiser needed a dampner,they'd have put one on there.Apparently Suzuki was attempting to eliminate any possible problems out the gate.Personally...if you look at it in a different light....installing a factory dampner COULD be a sign to "stay away from me...I'll buck yer azz off if I can"... Haven't had any problems YET with my big bird and frontend squirreliness.Couple of quick,small wiggles sometimes comin through the apex and out,but only on a rough road.Never on good pavement.I would guess it was just the tire tracking the road,bumps and such.Maybe a tad of traction loss for a smidgen.Didn't really scare me...but made me think a bit more about HOW I was taking certain curves.

* Last updated by: blue07 on 4/28/2011 @ 6:16 PM *

Tankslapping big time on a zx14 at the drag strip...
Hub said it never happens on this bike...

That is freaky. Twice in a row. There has to be more going on there than a lack of damper. He is a pretty large guy and he looks like he is riding a stock bike. I bet he has the suspension set for the 165 pounder. Still , just goes to show, it can happen and if you have a good damper, you have reduced the chances of it to just about nil no matter what conditions you ride in.

I guess IF I'm loading the front tire to such an extent as causing it to break free or somethin,I'm probably on thin ice.You know...one o' those "warning deals" we sometimes get.I'd hate to tankslap and crash on my beloved bird.Now I'm thinkin....IF I had a steering dampner on there...would I want it to "eliminate" the coming slap(if it actually did),or would I rather "risk" not "feeling" it coming,and loose traction completely at the front?HHmmmmmmIDK.

* Last updated by: blue07 on 4/28/2011 @ 6:22 PM *

You know...one o' those "warning deals" we sometimes get.I'd hate to tankslap and crash on my beloved bird.

One of my favorite clips is my front wheel skimming the pavement in first gear and then the steering doing a nice wup as I rip it open in second. That was a little warning, I guess. Not to scary but I guess if I do that 100 times, one of them is going to develop into an oscillation.

IF I had a steering dampner on there...would I want it to "eliminate" the coming slap(if it actually did),or would I rather "risk" not "feeling" it coming

Good question. You would still experience some shake if the damper was set on a weaker setting but then, if you are doing riding that invites a tank slapper like that busa in the vid, you might be wishing you cranked it all the way up.

Tankslapping big time on a zx14 at the drag strip...

Show me a hing that does not tank slap, I'll show you mass distort the facts if he didn't hear me tank a slap over an expansion joint and Rook made comment on the next post or later down that time frame.

Big difference between installing one on a bike and owning a 'man card' that exempts you from the accessory catalog.

* Last updated by: DogoZX on 4/28/2011 @ 7:26 PM *

Big difference between installing one on a bike and owning a 'man card' that exempts you from the accessory catalog.

You must have very limited experience (if any?) with steering dampers to use the word "accessory"...

This video at the drag strip doesn't tell us if it is bad tire, bad steering head, or strap problem, or what. You can't tell from the limited video footage, and angle, what actually caused it.

Notice the first video, all the bikes road racing that shook and crashed. They all have stabilizers. It didn't keep them from crashing. But it might keep them crashing more. It makes sense when you are racing.

If you want a stabilizer, go ahead and put one on.

Mine still isn't shaking, never has, never will. I'll be the first to admit it if it does. My H1 and H2 shook. My H2 had a stabilizer, and it shook so hard sometimes it finally broke the stabilizer free of the mount. But it never bucked me off. LOL.

Ya...the vid is very "iffy".It looked like to me anyway,if you notice just before he actually gets the serious slapping going on,his right foot is OFF the peg...hard to notice it at first...it's only a clip of a few frames.Then the cam kinda moves or something,and you see him wigglin all over the place.It looked to me like MAYBE his right foot(not after he's already losing it)slipped off the peg and hit the ground,maybe freaked him out a bit,IDK.They are haulin azz....a tire slip could cause that real quick.

Ya...just around half way(as he's passing under the shadow of those trees)...his foot is on the pavement...then there's a real fast jolt of some sort,and he throws his leg out again.If you look at the position of his heel as he initially takes off and down the track,something doesn't look right about how his foot's "on there".Maybe he lost the footpeg?

* Last updated by: blue07 on 4/28/2011 @ 9:54 PM *

The '14 has never exhibited any bad behavior. I have heard so many this bike NEEDS a dampener stories I lost count. I owned a CBR 900RR that everyone swore I had to have one on it to make it rideable. Guess I was imagining all the miles I ticked off on it.

I think it does depend on the chassis geometry, but rider technique plays a big part also. Seeing as how most folks on a bike are in-experienced, or have not really learned to ride. They know how to sit on one, and get through basics. I read somewhere, may have been Twist of the Wrist, that most ride with a "death grip" on the bars which makes any bad behavior worse. Ride loose, and less chance of problems.

Kind of typical, lets apply technology to "fix" lack of skill, knowledge, etc.

My .02

Gotta agree with ya.Loose grip...let er track.Works for me anyway.I have always thought of my hands on the bars as....well....steering dampners.Light touch,just enough to allow frontend movement.A bit more on the deep sweeps an stuff...but never stiff or binding.I'm usually pushing with my palms in the direction I want to go.I don't really "grip" much.Lots of times,I set my throttlemiester,and rest my hands on the clipon attachment bolt area.I've got some "no-slip" material stuck on the forward side of my helis.Makes resting and relaxing very easy.Lean into the tank,forearms on the tank top there.Very nice for "taking a break" while cruising.

* Last updated by: blue07 on 4/29/2011 @ 12:22 AM *

Shoulda had a stabilizer!

Edge:

Can't quite read the shadowed red text in that picture, but frankly I'm more interested in what the words under "BOOBS" are in your avatar <grin>... -bg

What more motivation do you need?

Edgecrusher acording to your pick im half squid.

* Last updated by: COOTER on 4/29/2011 @ 5:11 PM *

stock bike

Bike looks lowered ?

I'm going with privateer on the worn frontire. Lots of funny mix and match tires is the assumption if priv brought up that point. My point is that yes, I've used an 'accessory' on a few bikes. Last bike, no. I had a 'man card' back then too.

I'm am no 'development rider'; if I can ride the crap out of a stocker and not complain about the sprung handling or wiggles. I think I developed an anti-MASSectomy so as to collect the prize.

Do you sell a dewobbler for my little red wagon?