Proper braking what tips
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 351
Likes: 18
From:
Oh, you definitely don't want to touch your front brake in a slow turn. Have seen more than a few riders on the ground doing that.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,557
Likes: 6
From: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Shouldn't use any brake in a turn. Lean the bike more. The act of turning causes friction and slows the bike down. If you must brake, to stop for fallen tree or rock, counter your weight on the bike to maneuver it into an upright position first and then brake.
Last edited by Thumper09; Aug 19, 2015 at 03:28 PM.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 959
Likes: 267
From: San Fernando Valley, CA
I brake the way I was taught in the MSF class:
Apply rear brake and front; smoothly increase pressure on the front while letting off the rear. Then slowly increase pressure back on the rear to decrease your stopping distance.
That's a good point on the left leg down only. I need to try that on the way home tonight.
What's interesting is that when I took the MSF course, they did not mention rear brake only for low speed stuff. I thankfully read about that online before I took the course. Might explain why people in the class were a little wobbly!
Apply rear brake and front; smoothly increase pressure on the front while letting off the rear. Then slowly increase pressure back on the rear to decrease your stopping distance.
That's a good point on the left leg down only. I need to try that on the way home tonight.
What's interesting is that when I took the MSF course, they did not mention rear brake only for low speed stuff. I thankfully read about that online before I took the course. Might explain why people in the class were a little wobbly!
It depends on the bike and road conditions for me. In wet conditions I ease on the breaks with more of a 50/50 blend on any bike. In good all around conditions, with the Harley I'm using about 70/30, on my sport bike it's typically 100% front.
It's obvious from the first few pages that everyone seems to have a different method. I just read this article today on trail breaking, it's a good read and something that should be practiced.
http://www.ridinginthezone.com/10-th...-trailbraking/
It's obvious from the first few pages that everyone seems to have a different method. I just read this article today on trail breaking, it's a good read and something that should be practiced.
http://www.ridinginthezone.com/10-th...-trailbraking/
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 592
Likes: 46
From: Connecticut
I should have added in my post, left foot down, right foot on brake, clutch in, first gear. Scanning, front and rear, until I'm sure the car behind me has stopped, and is not trying to time the light and run up my butt. Since I have my brakes set to flash 3 times then solid, sometimes I get off and then back on the brake as a car pulls up behind me.
The other thing I do, although not specifically taught, unless I am the first car at a light, I put the bike at a slight angle compared to the car in front of me. I'm basically pre-aiming my bike for my escape route, which would be next to the car in front of me, in the event the texter behind me is about to make me a hood ornament. Its subtle, I'm not all cocked, but if I need to jam on it, I can go fast, since I don't have to turn much or at all. I never get too close to the car in front of me.
This also makes starting from a stop easier, since my bike is apparently much faster than the cars in front of me, and I don't have to ride the clutch as much to start slow.
The other thing I do, although not specifically taught, unless I am the first car at a light, I put the bike at a slight angle compared to the car in front of me. I'm basically pre-aiming my bike for my escape route, which would be next to the car in front of me, in the event the texter behind me is about to make me a hood ornament. Its subtle, I'm not all cocked, but if I need to jam on it, I can go fast, since I don't have to turn much or at all. I never get too close to the car in front of me.
This also makes starting from a stop easier, since my bike is apparently much faster than the cars in front of me, and I don't have to ride the clutch as much to start slow.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 16,021
Likes: 7,147
From: Sandy Eggo's North County
No front brake? Custom chopper? Crazy, isn't it?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 16,021
Likes: 7,147
From: Sandy Eggo's North County
What's interesting is that when I took the MSF course, they did not mention rear brake only for low speed stuff. I thankfully read about that online before I took the course. Might explain why people in the class were a little wobbly!
Rear brake application can be helpful for slow speed maneuvers. But so can getting your head and eyes up, friction zone and throttle control. There's little time and a lot of information to impart in the BRC. Many students get saturated fairly quickly learning a new skill and there is such a thing as TMI.
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Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 141
Likes: 3
From: Illinois
I use front breaks most of the time apply bank breaks with the front to make a sudden stop.
My safety class tought me (non abs) that you apply both breaks for a emergency stop if your front break locks release them then re apply. If the back breaks lock keep it locked. If you unlock the results will be worse than if you keep it locked and happen to lay it down.
Now let's hear everyone's Internet opinions on that haha
My safety class tought me (non abs) that you apply both breaks for a emergency stop if your front break locks release them then re apply. If the back breaks lock keep it locked. If you unlock the results will be worse than if you keep it locked and happen to lay it down.
Now let's hear everyone's Internet opinions on that haha