My turn
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,817
Likes: 116
From: Raleigh, NC
I bring my bike to a halt in parking lots all the time with the wheel turned using my front brake.
Do you guys not know how to use a brake other than jerking on it?
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 290
Likes: 1
From: LI NY
Stuff happens. Glad you are ok.
My first bike was a Shovel with squeaky squeally back brakes....couldn't get them to shut up. So I stayed off the back brake in parking lots cause the squeak was embarrassing. Guess it was a good way to learn how to use the front brake. Only thing is now, I am always using the front brake. I am now guilty of not using enough back brakes....it's a hard habit to "brake"
My first bike was a Shovel with squeaky squeally back brakes....couldn't get them to shut up. So I stayed off the back brake in parking lots cause the squeak was embarrassing. Guess it was a good way to learn how to use the front brake. Only thing is now, I am always using the front brake. I am now guilty of not using enough back brakes....it's a hard habit to "brake"
Thread Starter
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Advanced
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: ohio
I must not know how to use it but I think boomer is on the right track.
reading every ones reply is interesting I think my front wheel was turned slightly right and both feet on the ground. touched the front brake and I tried to hold it up but my fat *** couldn't.this is my first touring bike came off a sportster and my front brakes are touchy
keep replying hope we can educate so it does not happen to someone else
reading every ones reply is interesting I think my front wheel was turned slightly right and both feet on the ground. touched the front brake and I tried to hold it up but my fat *** couldn't.this is my first touring bike came off a sportster and my front brakes are touchy
keep replying hope we can educate so it does not happen to someone else
Club Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 6,905
Likes: 4,877
From: Midwest
I can understand the trepidation of using the front brake at low speeds because of fork dive. If you have a bad experience it also might condition you to not use it. But I think once you stop using either brake or prefer one over the other, you get into a habit and this can possibly cause trouble in the future.
These aren't bicycles we are on and we can get messed up pretty quickly. These are 600 pound pieces of metal, and given the vast majority of our stopping power comes from the front brake(>=75%), I think we should be conditioned to use it by instinct. But thats just my thought and also based on what we were taught in MSF. Using one brake over the other will probably work for many applications, but when the day comes and it's emergency time and a panic stop is neded ASAP, I can see how you find yourself up sht creek without a paddle if you are instinctualy conditioned to just go for the rear brake.
These aren't bicycles we are on and we can get messed up pretty quickly. These are 600 pound pieces of metal, and given the vast majority of our stopping power comes from the front brake(>=75%), I think we should be conditioned to use it by instinct. But thats just my thought and also based on what we were taught in MSF. Using one brake over the other will probably work for many applications, but when the day comes and it's emergency time and a panic stop is neded ASAP, I can see how you find yourself up sht creek without a paddle if you are instinctualy conditioned to just go for the rear brake.
Club Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 6,905
Likes: 4,877
From: Midwest
I stop with the front weel turned all the time using the front brake. I had it happen twice yesterday in a crowded parking lot in a roundabaout at the park. I had no issues at all. Just don't mash it and make sure you are sitting upright on the bike and not leaning from one side or the other. The forks won't dive and it won't fall over. Never had an issue and don't understand why other people do. And I am a newb.
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 264
Likes: 15
From: Calmar, Alberta
To the OP. I feel your pain. I did the same many years ago. Dropped my FZ750 in a parking lot. Early spring, still kinda dirty/sandy, pulled in to park, tapped the front brake and found myself straddling my bike like a sumo wrestler as it lay on its side. Talk about feeling like a dork. I'm not afraid to use my front brake, never have been, I'm just really vigilant as to what is on the pavement when making slow speed maneuvers.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,817
Likes: 116
From: Raleigh, NC
Already mentioned...don't be leaning over when you come to a stop. That's not a problem when using the rear brake because aware of it or not, you're likely not leaning when you use the rear.
Being upright does not mean that your front wheel has to be straight.
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Tourer
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 395
Likes: 28
From: Dallas, TX
Yep. The front brake IS your friend. Monitoring conditions of the surface your riding on is a major piece of importance.
Traction pie. Learn it. Put it into practice.
What's a traction pie? If you haven't taken the MSF Experienced Rider Course in the past 2 years, you need to. If you've NEVER taken it, you definitely need to. At some point, the classroom learning and the range skills you practice WILL save your life.
Grumble.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 395
Likes: 28
From: Dallas, TX
Simply amazing. People don't know how to properly use something, so rather than learn how, just advise others not to use it.
It's the use of the front brake that was the problem, instead of the rider being aware of what he was riding on and adjusting his riding accordingly?
LOL
It's the use of the front brake that was the problem, instead of the rider being aware of what he was riding on and adjusting his riding accordingly?
LOL
Suspension loading during cornering (or why one should NEVER unload a suspension when cornering...)
"Proper" brake application in corners (i.e. never. Brake BEFORE cornering and accelerate in the corner to load up...)
Evasive maneuvering
Cornering UNDER 5mph (Slow-speed bike manipulation)
ALL part of the MSF Experienced Rider Course...
Man there's a lot of bad advice being tossed about.