Head Shake

Head shake is a quick side-to-side shaking of the handlebars and front wheel. It typically starts when the front wheel goes light under hard acceleration or hits a bump, then lands slightly out of line. In mild cases it dies away by itself; a violent version is called a tank slapper.

Contributing factors include worn or loose steering head bearings, incorrect tyre pressures, worn tyres, unbalanced wheels, wrong suspension settings, a low front end or heavy luggage at the back.

If it happens, keep a light grip, do not fight the bars and ease off the throttle smoothly so weight returns to the front. Check bearings, tyres and setup afterwards; a steering damper can help on sporty or off-road bikes.