Just got an 82 Pantah 600 back on the road - but it seems to have a nasty habit of flapping handlebars, especially on overrun Doesnt make bike unstable, even under braking and not so violent as to be worrying - just bl***y annoying! Any suggestions where to start checking for cause? Thanks in advance Splod PS any other Ducatisti in or near Somerset?
Dunno. But I can offer you this anecdote: In the 80s, I was running slightly oversize Pirelli radials on my Pantah (130s as I recall) and the handling was perfect. Unfortunately, to get the bike through a Swiss MOT, I had to change them for standard size Pirelli crossplies - which weren't even Phantoms. The bike would weave uncontrollably when you rolled off the throttle, but would also weave uncontrollably under acceleration in corners... Needless to say, I fell off after not too long. Junked the tyres, changes back to the radials and all was well in the world. So all I can say is, the bike must be quite sensitive to tyres. That's what I'd be looking at in your shoes. Good luck!
+1 on tyres , are they old too? May have hardened etc. next on my list would be steering head bearings followed by swing arm play or worn rear suspension .
As above, check tyres, suspension settings(although the front is only adjustable if you take it apart and change oil or springs) and bearings. Somethings not right somewhere, my Pantah handled perfectly and I had all sorts of tyres in different sizes on mine!
Eliminate the simple things first, check tyre condition and pressures, wheel balance, steering head bearings, then look at swingarm bushes.......
Hi, I also have a Pantah and it feels the most stable thing on the road. The only thing I can remember upsetting it was riding over a road that was part way through being repaired, you know when tyhe top layer is removed and it is all ridges left underneath.. I cant imagine regular riding inducing a tank slapper. I`m not adding anything new but definitely check the tyres.
As others have said, Steering head bearings.......a lot of people make the mistake of fitting new ones and adjusting them so they are perfect.....but they need a tiny bit of drag otherwise they can induce tank slappers..... ....if yours bike has been laid up, they need checking at least. AL
Splod I had a very scary tankslapper In the first few weeks of riding my newly acquired 749s, frightened the life out of me! it was only the fast reactions of the oncoming driver swerving out of my way that saved a potentially fatal accident. Since having my suspension set up professionally I have never had a reoccurrence. The bike was set up badly, too far down at the rear btw. Informative short video about Headshake/tank slappers here:What are the common causes of head shake / tank slapper? - YouTube
The story goes - that when asked by an up and coming rider about how to deal with some handling issues during TT practice, Joey Dunlop replied "grit your teeth a bit harder".
I have also hear him say when asked how he manages to ride the bike so fast at the T.T- " there's a grey bit and some green bits, I try to keep it on the grey bit"
incompatible tyres would be my guess. I've had a TT2 version that was perfectly stable, and that was lighter and shorter than the standard Pantah it came from. I have had a Darmah from roughly the same era that would wobble while rolling off from 50-60 ish but was o.k if i applied the brakes . Changed the tyres and it was perfect. Bearings, bushes and suspension issues would show up as a problem elsewhere as well, so, if your description is accurate its tyres.
