Linked braking
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,439
Likes: 884
From: 'Noke, VA
Trail braking (as your link says, did you read it?) is all about compressing the front suspension to reduce effective rake and increasing the size of the front tire's contact patch. If all you're doing is dragging the rear brake, you're not doing either of those things, which is not trail braking.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,532
Likes: 132
From: SoCal
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 12,986
Likes: 715
From: NE Philly
I'm a guy that's been riding since the 90s (not including dirt bikes and mopeds as a kid) and know that I'm not boasting to brake better than a bike with ABS. You haven't shown your skills are superior to a bike equipped with them. But anyone can make those claims. If it makes you happy, so be it. I'm sure you're superior and a highly trained professional that you can beat ABS even with drum brakes. Mazel tov.
Last edited by baka1969; Nov 12, 2013 at 05:44 PM.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,766
Likes: 16
From: Roseville, CA
Again, you didn't read my post. But if Nick Ienatsch is claiming that trail braking is done with the rear brake only, he's dead-assed wrong.
Nope, there sure isn't unless it's the only brake you're using.
Trail braking (as your link says, did you read it?) is all about compressing the front suspension to reduce effective rake and increasing the size of the front tire's contact patch. If all you're doing is dragging the rear brake, you're not doing either of those things, which is not trail braking.
Nope, there sure isn't unless it's the only brake you're using.
Trail braking (as your link says, did you read it?) is all about compressing the front suspension to reduce effective rake and increasing the size of the front tire's contact patch. If all you're doing is dragging the rear brake, you're not doing either of those things, which is not trail braking.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,439
Likes: 884
From: 'Noke, VA
Actually you didn't read the link. What he and I are saying, and we're both correct, is the rear brake can also be used with the front brake in trail braking. If one were to expand on your last sentence, it implies using the rear brake with the fronts, or rears alone, doesn't allow the front suspension to compress, which is incorrect.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 11,224
Likes: 3,049
From: St.Louis Mo.
where has motorcycling gone? been riding since the 60's and never had ABS or linked braking or even helmet laws. EFI? who evens really needs that? disc brkes were the biggest improvement ever made to motorcycling. way to much high tech crap on thee new bikes. 
When talking to riders who go down under a panic braking, their famous words are I had to lay it down. What they are really saying is, I lock the brakes until the bike turned sideway and it fell down. Linked ABS is a must on any bike I buy. I've had it on the last 4 bikes and want ride without it. It works, and could save your life !!!!!!!