I've written some pretty strong opinions on the current "Tank Slapper" thread. That seemed to make it incumbent on me to test the accuracy of my opinions. Could I be just another old guy stuck with an out-of-date POV? Or were the opinions I had expressed sound? I had to find out. And on this subject at least, I believe I did.
The Test:
About ten miles from my home there is one very, very, bad patch of road. For those not familiar with how roads 'go bad' here in New England let me explain.
Secondary roads here are black top. When they are new they are wonderful. They twist and turn following the natural landscape, often undulating up and around streams and tumbling brooks, over hills and thru deep woods. But winter kills 'em and kills 'em fast.
What happens is a simple example of the powerful forces of nature. Heat, settling and the weight of large vehicles (everything goes over these roads, from bicycles to over-laden semis) develops small cracks in the black top. Come winter a cycle of freezing and melting expands those initially small cracks and turns them into fissures. Water gets in and under the blacktop and every night it freezes. Freezing expands the water which swells the road directly above it. Sun during the day melts the ice which then fills with more water, and that too then freezes enlarging the swelling more. The roadbed then starts to break up. The outer areas are pressed back down by the weight of passing vehicles, but the center keeps swelling and cracking. By the 2nd or 3rd season that center area has the shape and appearance of an aged alligator. "Rough" isn't the word for it. Cars and trucks try to ignore it. Wise motorcyclists work hard to avoid it. But not me. Not today. I searched it out and rode directly on 'The Alligator' at speed. This wasn't fun, but, for the reason given above, I thought it necessary.
The area I chose for this test has, in simple terms, the worst pavement I know (and I know plenty of them!). It is on the outskirts of an area almost totally devastated by flood several years ago so every cent of road money has been diverted to rebuilding the flooded plain. This road was due for a repave about three years ago. Its 'use by' date is long past. Everyone who can avoids it.
When decently paved the Subarus and mommyvans on this stretch of road typically go the speed limit of, in most places, 55mph. (Tighter turns are posted as low as 15mph) Pickup trucks - the majority of the vehicles in the area - typically go faster: About 65. Sport motorcyclists go the fastest of all, typically 75, or, on the few straight sections, a bit higher. In its present condition the few folks - generally local farmers - who are forced to drive it keep their speed down to about 35 or 40mph. Note: They ride on the "smooth" outer portions, not the 'alligator' in the middle.
When I arrived on this stretch of road, which runs between NH routes 9 and 10, there was only one vehicle using it: An older guy in an '80s vintage pickup. He was doing the expected (and reasonable) 40mph with both his hands locked on the steering wheel. The truck's tires skittered over the bumps and potholes.
I passed him at 60mph, accelerated to 65, and then did something no sane rider would be expected to do: I rode up onto the 'alligator.' Let me tell you this was not fun.
The Gt1000s front forks were stuttering and chattering like a frozen drunkard's teeth. Larger extrusions of broken blacktop sent the bike almost airborn. The occasional "pit" bottomed the forks and the rear springs with a deadening jolt. I rode this way for over a mile.
My Riding Technique:
I kept my grip on the bars loose. (If a matchbook had been inserted between my palm and the rubber grip it would have fallen out.) My feet were where they should be with the the pads of the foot between the toes and the arch on the pegs. My back was arched and my head erect. My torso was held up by my back and stomach muscles (such as they are). My elbows were properly bent.
As the bike jarred, pulsed and vibrated I could feel the handlebars moving slightly within my grip. They did nothing untoward. I accelerated to 70 and a bit beyond. (It was hard to see the gauges or anything else due to blurred vision) Still the GT held its line. Indeed, though the ride was very uncomfortable, the bike felt very secure. Secure enough for me to push the experiment a step further: I started swerving on and off the alligator. This, I must tell you, was unnerving. For me at least. The GT didn't seem to mind all that much. It still did just what it was asked to do. It never 'shook its head.'
I rode for more than a mile getting on and off the alligator. I applied the brakes (gingerly). Still nothing. I twisted the throttle. I leaned and twisted. I leaned and braked. Never did the bike wag.
As I approached the turn at the end of the road I saw the familiar "15 MPH" sign, got off the alligator (for good!), and braked hard. I was glad the test was over.
Details:
Conclusions:
So what did I learn?
That my GT1000 is very uncomfortable on such a a bad road but, that said, that it did not shake its head. Indeed, it did not do anything except go where it was directed to go.
Is there any way I could foresee my GT going into a "tankslapper" under the circumstances of this test? A real "Tank Slapper," no. But the steering gyration that some seem to call a "tankslapper," yes, possibly, under two possible circumstances:
My own conclusion is that the GT1000, when ridden with reasonable skill and judgment, is a sound and safe motorcycle.
If I had the experience of wide steering occilation that some have described as a "tankslapper" I'd first look at my own riding reaction leading up to the experience and if that was 100% clear I'd tear down my forks to make sure nothing is amiss.
-don
The Test:
About ten miles from my home there is one very, very, bad patch of road. For those not familiar with how roads 'go bad' here in New England let me explain.
Secondary roads here are black top. When they are new they are wonderful. They twist and turn following the natural landscape, often undulating up and around streams and tumbling brooks, over hills and thru deep woods. But winter kills 'em and kills 'em fast.
What happens is a simple example of the powerful forces of nature. Heat, settling and the weight of large vehicles (everything goes over these roads, from bicycles to over-laden semis) develops small cracks in the black top. Come winter a cycle of freezing and melting expands those initially small cracks and turns them into fissures. Water gets in and under the blacktop and every night it freezes. Freezing expands the water which swells the road directly above it. Sun during the day melts the ice which then fills with more water, and that too then freezes enlarging the swelling more. The roadbed then starts to break up. The outer areas are pressed back down by the weight of passing vehicles, but the center keeps swelling and cracking. By the 2nd or 3rd season that center area has the shape and appearance of an aged alligator. "Rough" isn't the word for it. Cars and trucks try to ignore it. Wise motorcyclists work hard to avoid it. But not me. Not today. I searched it out and rode directly on 'The Alligator' at speed. This wasn't fun, but, for the reason given above, I thought it necessary.
The area I chose for this test has, in simple terms, the worst pavement I know (and I know plenty of them!). It is on the outskirts of an area almost totally devastated by flood several years ago so every cent of road money has been diverted to rebuilding the flooded plain. This road was due for a repave about three years ago. Its 'use by' date is long past. Everyone who can avoids it.
When decently paved the Subarus and mommyvans on this stretch of road typically go the speed limit of, in most places, 55mph. (Tighter turns are posted as low as 15mph) Pickup trucks - the majority of the vehicles in the area - typically go faster: About 65. Sport motorcyclists go the fastest of all, typically 75, or, on the few straight sections, a bit higher. In its present condition the few folks - generally local farmers - who are forced to drive it keep their speed down to about 35 or 40mph. Note: They ride on the "smooth" outer portions, not the 'alligator' in the middle.
When I arrived on this stretch of road, which runs between NH routes 9 and 10, there was only one vehicle using it: An older guy in an '80s vintage pickup. He was doing the expected (and reasonable) 40mph with both his hands locked on the steering wheel. The truck's tires skittered over the bumps and potholes.
I passed him at 60mph, accelerated to 65, and then did something no sane rider would be expected to do: I rode up onto the 'alligator.' Let me tell you this was not fun.
The Gt1000s front forks were stuttering and chattering like a frozen drunkard's teeth. Larger extrusions of broken blacktop sent the bike almost airborn. The occasional "pit" bottomed the forks and the rear springs with a deadening jolt. I rode this way for over a mile.
My Riding Technique:
I kept my grip on the bars loose. (If a matchbook had been inserted between my palm and the rubber grip it would have fallen out.) My feet were where they should be with the the pads of the foot between the toes and the arch on the pegs. My back was arched and my head erect. My torso was held up by my back and stomach muscles (such as they are). My elbows were properly bent.
As the bike jarred, pulsed and vibrated I could feel the handlebars moving slightly within my grip. They did nothing untoward. I accelerated to 70 and a bit beyond. (It was hard to see the gauges or anything else due to blurred vision) Still the GT held its line. Indeed, though the ride was very uncomfortable, the bike felt very secure. Secure enough for me to push the experiment a step further: I started swerving on and off the alligator. This, I must tell you, was unnerving. For me at least. The GT didn't seem to mind all that much. It still did just what it was asked to do. It never 'shook its head.'
I rode for more than a mile getting on and off the alligator. I applied the brakes (gingerly). Still nothing. I twisted the throttle. I leaned and twisted. I leaned and braked. Never did the bike wag.
As I approached the turn at the end of the road I saw the familiar "15 MPH" sign, got off the alligator (for good!), and braked hard. I was glad the test was over.
Details:
The bike: 2007 GT1000. 5,500 miles. Stock except for bar end mirrors and modified cans.
Tires: Stock Michelin. 33/37 lbs.
Me: 61 years old. Bald. Hungry. Well caffeinated. 245 lbs.
Tires: Stock Michelin. 33/37 lbs.
Me: 61 years old. Bald. Hungry. Well caffeinated. 245 lbs.
Conclusions:
So what did I learn?
That my GT1000 is very uncomfortable on such a a bad road but, that said, that it did not shake its head. Indeed, it did not do anything except go where it was directed to go.
Is there any way I could foresee my GT going into a "tankslapper" under the circumstances of this test? A real "Tank Slapper," no. But the steering gyration that some seem to call a "tankslapper," yes, possibly, under two possible circumstances:
1) If 'the alligator' had caught me unaware, and I had tensed up and fought the bike. My inputs then would have been behind the curve, preventing the bike's steering from self correcting. Each input then, could, I imagine, have made the bike arch further and further from its intended course. If that led into oncoming traffic or onto a soft shoulder the end would have been swift and painful.
2) If upon being surprised at the bikes sudden gyration I had swiftly grabbed the brakes it could have been catastrophic. And if I had suddenly grabbed the brakes and then released them it could have started a cycle not unlike the one above.
2) If upon being surprised at the bikes sudden gyration I had swiftly grabbed the brakes it could have been catastrophic. And if I had suddenly grabbed the brakes and then released them it could have started a cycle not unlike the one above.
My own conclusion is that the GT1000, when ridden with reasonable skill and judgment, is a sound and safe motorcycle.
If I had the experience of wide steering occilation that some have described as a "tankslapper" I'd first look at my own riding reaction leading up to the experience and if that was 100% clear I'd tear down my forks to make sure nothing is amiss.
-don
