Braking Basics
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 240
Likes: 1
Braking Basics
Ok.I know motor cycles 70% front and always use coordinated braking and get in the habit of more front braking and all. Why is it that the regular pedal bikes, you brake rear mostly and hardly use front brakes. Regular bicycles have rear brake on right handle bar. Should i get front brake handle on the right handle bar of my new bicycle to stay in habit for right brake/front and should I also start using more front braking when i ride my bicycle. what is the basic physics of braking in a motor cycle vs bicycle.?
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 44,848
Likes: 3
From: South of Utica New York
RE: Braking Basics
bicycles don't have aclutch.
Sounds like you understand braking. As you start to get on the front brake weight will transfer forward, allowing you to get on the front brake progressiving harder until you stop. At the same you will be easing off the rear brack.
If you lock up the rear, just leave it locked until you stop. If you lock the front , ease off to unlock it. A locked front brack will take you down.
Sounds like you understand braking. As you start to get on the front brake weight will transfer forward, allowing you to get on the front brake progressiving harder until you stop. At the same you will be easing off the rear brack.
If you lock up the rear, just leave it locked until you stop. If you lock the front , ease off to unlock it. A locked front brack will take you down.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 899
Likes: 0
From: South Carolina
RE: Braking Basics
ORIGINAL: Dancemax
Why is it that the regular pedal bikes, you brake rear mostly and hardly use front brakes.
Why is it that the regular pedal bikes, you brake rear mostly and hardly use front brakes.
ORIGINAL: Dancemax
Regular bicycles have rear brake on right handle bar. Should i get front brake handle on the right handle bar of my new bicycle to stay in habit for right brake/front and should I also start using more front braking when i ride my bicycle. what is the basic physics of braking in a motor cycle vs bicycle.?
Regular bicycles have rear brake on right handle bar. Should i get front brake handle on the right handle bar of my new bicycle to stay in habit for right brake/front and should I also start using more front braking when i ride my bicycle. what is the basic physics of braking in a motor cycle vs bicycle.?
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,200
Likes: 5
From: Currently the pig country of Arkansas
RE: Braking Basics
On a motorcycle I always start my braking with the front and then lightly add the rear as needed. I tend to use my rear brake more during the last portion of a stop (15 mph and below). Unless you are getting up to big speeds on a pedal bike you are below the speed needed to generate problems. I'm lazy so my pedal bike rarely gets over 20 mph so if I do skid the rear I'm fairly slow. If you are running a pedal bike fast you could have the same problems with skidding that a motorcycle does.
As you apply the front brake, weight shifts forward and increases the amount of down-force on the front tire. This make the front tire "stick" to the road better which allows you to increase the amount of front braking. Assuming you are on dry pavement and have good tires, you will have to grab a huge amount of front brake to make the tire skid. Like it was said above if the front skids, slowly release to get it rolling again and then re-apply.
The rear tire gets "light" as the weight shifts forward during braking. This makes it easier to skid the rear with increased braking. Here is the problem: When the rear tire skids the rear of the bike will try to slide left or right and will tend to get you sideways. If this happens make sure you DON'T release the rear brake until you are stopped. Unlike releasing the front, if you release the rear tire while skidding sideways the bike will violently twitch as the rear tire begins rolling again and the bike attempts to straighten. It can be violent enough to toss you from the bike in a "high-side" ejection.
I hit gravel in a turn and highsided on my Heritage as the rear tire slid through the gravel and then regained traction on the other side. The results of this 45 mph accident were a broken collar bone, 4 broken ribs, a dose of road rash, and a concussion. Lesson learned for me was watch out for gravel and don't brake through it.
Edmo
As you apply the front brake, weight shifts forward and increases the amount of down-force on the front tire. This make the front tire "stick" to the road better which allows you to increase the amount of front braking. Assuming you are on dry pavement and have good tires, you will have to grab a huge amount of front brake to make the tire skid. Like it was said above if the front skids, slowly release to get it rolling again and then re-apply.
The rear tire gets "light" as the weight shifts forward during braking. This makes it easier to skid the rear with increased braking. Here is the problem: When the rear tire skids the rear of the bike will try to slide left or right and will tend to get you sideways. If this happens make sure you DON'T release the rear brake until you are stopped. Unlike releasing the front, if you release the rear tire while skidding sideways the bike will violently twitch as the rear tire begins rolling again and the bike attempts to straighten. It can be violent enough to toss you from the bike in a "high-side" ejection.
I hit gravel in a turn and highsided on my Heritage as the rear tire slid through the gravel and then regained traction on the other side. The results of this 45 mph accident were a broken collar bone, 4 broken ribs, a dose of road rash, and a concussion. Lesson learned for me was watch out for gravel and don't brake through it.
Edmo
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 569
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From:
RE: Braking Basics
I'm surprised no one mentioned that a bicycle will be prone to doing a "stoppie" too.... Not likely you're going to get that 800 lb Harley's rear end in the air, but too hard on the front of a bicycle and over she goes....
I suspect that's why they recommend using the rear brake more....
I suspect that's why they recommend using the rear brake more....
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,273
Likes: 7
From:
RE: Braking Basics
If I were you, I'd sell the bike now! it's all ready got you confused.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,942
Likes: 2
From: LAKESIDE CA.
RE: Braking Basics
sorry folks but I don't understand if the rear wheel skids keep on it till stopped
is that what you are saying - Personnelly if my rear starts to skid at all I instantly back off
on it to allow the bike to regain it's normal attitude
otherwise by the time you stop you will be on the ground
one finger on the front brake is all that is needed in most cases and gentle on the rear
also you do have a gear box for slowing I use mine...
[IMG]local://upfiles/5757/DA5652B3FCAF4F04A9EF4F1370203025.jpg[/IMG]
is that what you are saying - Personnelly if my rear starts to skid at all I instantly back off
on it to allow the bike to regain it's normal attitude
otherwise by the time you stop you will be on the ground
one finger on the front brake is all that is needed in most cases and gentle on the rear
also you do have a gear box for slowing I use mine...
[IMG]local://upfiles/5757/DA5652B3FCAF4F04A9EF4F1370203025.jpg[/IMG]
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Road Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 899
Likes: 0
From: South Carolina
RE: Braking Basics
ORIGINAL: redscout
I'm surprised no one mentioned that a bicycle will be prone to doing a "stoppie" too.... Not likely you're going to get that 800 lb Harley's rear end in the air, but too hard on the front of a bicycle and over she goes....
I suspect that's why they recommend using the rear brake more....
I'm surprised no one mentioned that a bicycle will be prone to doing a "stoppie" too.... Not likely you're going to get that 800 lb Harley's rear end in the air, but too hard on the front of a bicycle and over she goes....
I suspect that's why they recommend using the rear brake more....
Like I stated in my earlier post...bicycle/motorcycle braking works the same way (use mostly front with some rear brake). Unless you're riding down a steep decent, there isn't much worry about doing an "endo" over the bars. Well, unless you're leaning forward overthe bars while riding.
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Braking Basics
ORIGINAL: grumpy irish again
sorry folks but I don't understand if the rear wheel skids keep on it till stopped
is that what you are saying - Personnelly if my rear starts to skid at all I instantly back off
on it to allow the bike to regain it's normal attitude
otherwise by the time you stop you will be on the ground
one finger on the front brake is all that is needed in most cases and gentle on the rear
also you do have a gear box for slowing I use mine...
[IMG]local://upfiles/5757/DA5652B3FCAF4F04A9EF4F1370203025.jpg[/IMG]
sorry folks but I don't understand if the rear wheel skids keep on it till stopped
is that what you are saying - Personnelly if my rear starts to skid at all I instantly back off
on it to allow the bike to regain it's normal attitude
otherwise by the time you stop you will be on the ground
one finger on the front brake is all that is needed in most cases and gentle on the rear
also you do have a gear box for slowing I use mine...
[IMG]local://upfiles/5757/DA5652B3FCAF4F04A9EF4F1370203025.jpg[/IMG]
Ride Safe.