How easily does YOUR rear tire lockup
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 274
Likes: 0
From: South Texas
RE: How easily does YOUR rear tire lockup
When I first got the bike I was in a panic stop situation and stepped on the rear and started skidding. I grabbed the front brake and let off the rear with no mishap. I would say that the rear locks up way too easily. Never experienced that on another make of motorcycle.
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
RE: How easily does YOUR rear tire lockup
If your locking up the rear brake on a heavy bike I sugest you go to school and learn not to stomp the brake. Better yet sell the scooter before you get hurt.
People learn to ride first not ride to learn
People learn to ride first not ride to learn
RE: How easily does YOUR rear tire lockup
Harley rear brakes are too large especially in comparison to most other bikes I've ridden. As such, they are too easy to lock up. I'm not sure why they do this unless they still think a large percentage of their owner base only uses the rear brake. I tend to think this may be the case from some of the 'old timers' who still declare the evils of front brake usage. Just by observation, I find there are a lot of folks that still ride their bike like they are driving a car in spite of their 'training'.
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 237
Likes: 0
From: Newport Beach, CA
RE: How easily does YOUR rear tire lockup
I came from riding dirt bikes, and the rule of thumb for dirt bikes is to always jump on the rear brake and be very careful with the front. So my first inclination was to jump on the rear brake in a panic situation. I realized this could be a dangerous problem in a panic situation, so to get over this natural habit, I now ALWAYS grab the front brakes first, bring the bike to almost a stop and then begin applying and switching the braking power to the rear brake. Now, my first PANIC instinct is to grab the front brakes.
Didn't mean to be so long winded, but this worked for me.[sm=yikesomg.gif]
Didn't mean to be so long winded, but this worked for me.[sm=yikesomg.gif]
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 681
Likes: 0
From: Red&Black World
RE: How easily does YOUR rear tire lockup
Sport Bike rear brakes are smaller on the rear with good reason, a 350 pound machine in a hard stop has about 15% of its weight on the rear wheel plus rider weight distribution. Ever seen a stoppie? It would not be possible if the weight stayed on the rear.
Look at a Harley weight lately? 750 800 lbs. It will need more rear brake power!
If you are riding your bike like you drive your car I suggest you stop riding. Every Machine on the Hwy except other bikes are Larger take longer to stop and do not handle as well asyour bike. If you are having such a hard time with the rear brakes, maybe you should get an older bike with drum rear. Adjust the little wing nut so the rear will not lock up. Get used to that then get back on a big bike. Learn how your bike reacts. Go out on a back road and start learning how to emergency brake on your bike. If you do not do this in practice How will you Do it when you have a 4000lb Truck pull out in front of you, then see you and jab on the brakes? Motorcycles do what they are told to do by the rider. It leans how you lean, stops by your fingers and toes, goes by your right hand, and will kill you if you aim it the wrong way with little or no kwnolege of how it reacts to your inputs. A 800lb touring bike should not be your "first Road bike"
Rant over
Look at a Harley weight lately? 750 800 lbs. It will need more rear brake power!
If you are riding your bike like you drive your car I suggest you stop riding. Every Machine on the Hwy except other bikes are Larger take longer to stop and do not handle as well asyour bike. If you are having such a hard time with the rear brakes, maybe you should get an older bike with drum rear. Adjust the little wing nut so the rear will not lock up. Get used to that then get back on a big bike. Learn how your bike reacts. Go out on a back road and start learning how to emergency brake on your bike. If you do not do this in practice How will you Do it when you have a 4000lb Truck pull out in front of you, then see you and jab on the brakes? Motorcycles do what they are told to do by the rider. It leans how you lean, stops by your fingers and toes, goes by your right hand, and will kill you if you aim it the wrong way with little or no kwnolege of how it reacts to your inputs. A 800lb touring bike should not be your "first Road bike"
Rant over
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 572
Likes: 1
From:
RE: How easily does YOUR rear tire lockup
ORIGINAL: Paniolo
Folks here have given some good advice.
In an emergency stopping situation, some ridersrevert back toI call "driving the car". They do on their bike what the do in their car, which is jam on the brake pedal and forget all about the front. Their instincts become more car, than bike. This can lead to rear wheel lock up. So I tell riders they should practice threshold combination braking. The application ofboth brakesright up to the thresholdof imminent lock up. I always use both brakes because the bike has two sets of independant brakes on them. Perhaps the rear only accounts for 20-30% of stopping power, but that's thats 20-30% more than if I didn't use them. And remember, when you apply BOTH brakes, the front, (which has over 70% of the stopping power), will cause the front end to dive andthe forks to compress. And as the front end gets heavier and goes down, the rear gets lighter and comes up. Hence the rear will have a greater propensity to lock up. So you need to be able to modulate your rear pedal to avoid the lock up. Of course the only way to become proficient at this is REGULAR practice. Make practice part of your riding routine. Factor in 10 extra mins before the ride to practice braking and other skils.
And like the others said. If you lock up the rear STAY ON IT AND KEEP IT LOCKED UNTIL YOU COME TO A COMPLETE STOP.
Folks here have given some good advice.
In an emergency stopping situation, some ridersrevert back toI call "driving the car". They do on their bike what the do in their car, which is jam on the brake pedal and forget all about the front. Their instincts become more car, than bike. This can lead to rear wheel lock up. So I tell riders they should practice threshold combination braking. The application ofboth brakesright up to the thresholdof imminent lock up. I always use both brakes because the bike has two sets of independant brakes on them. Perhaps the rear only accounts for 20-30% of stopping power, but that's thats 20-30% more than if I didn't use them. And remember, when you apply BOTH brakes, the front, (which has over 70% of the stopping power), will cause the front end to dive andthe forks to compress. And as the front end gets heavier and goes down, the rear gets lighter and comes up. Hence the rear will have a greater propensity to lock up. So you need to be able to modulate your rear pedal to avoid the lock up. Of course the only way to become proficient at this is REGULAR practice. Make practice part of your riding routine. Factor in 10 extra mins before the ride to practice braking and other skils.
And like the others said. If you lock up the rear STAY ON IT AND KEEP IT LOCKED UNTIL YOU COME TO A COMPLETE STOP.
Gotta practice and get to know your bike. Find the threshold, and practice, practice, practice. If you ride two up, practice solo and then practice two up. If you ride in the rain, you gotta practice on wet roads also...not as much fun, but you gotta know your bike or someone is gonna get hurt.
ALSO, if you change tires, realize that there can be a big difference in traction. When I practiced with the Factory Dunlops, the rear would lock up MUCH easier than it does with the Michelin Commanders I am now running. (For that matter, the front would lock up much easier on wet pavement than the Commanders do).
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 619
Likes: 0
From:
RE: How easily does YOUR rear tire lockup
The 08 tourers even without abs will stop the bike way better. I have hit mine pretty hard, haven't locked the back up yet. I learned with my 01 to never use the rear in a hard panic type stop. I use the rearalot more now with the brembos. The brakes were the #1 thing that sold me on the 08, they WILL STOP!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,893
Likes: 2
From: USA
RE: How easily does YOUR rear tire lockup
ORIGINAL: SCRider
I came from riding dirt bikes, and the rule of thumb for dirt bikes is to always jump on the rear brake and be very careful with the front. So my first inclination was to jump on the rear brake in a panic situation. I realized this could be a dangerous problem in a panic situation, so to get over this natural habit, I now ALWAYS grab the front brakes first, bring the bike to almost a stop and then begin applying and switching the braking power to the rear brake. Now, my first PANIC instinct is to grab the front brakes.
Didn't mean to be so long winded, but this worked for me.[sm=yikesomg.gif]
I came from riding dirt bikes, and the rule of thumb for dirt bikes is to always jump on the rear brake and be very careful with the front. So my first inclination was to jump on the rear brake in a panic situation. I realized this could be a dangerous problem in a panic situation, so to get over this natural habit, I now ALWAYS grab the front brakes first, bring the bike to almost a stop and then begin applying and switching the braking power to the rear brake. Now, my first PANIC instinct is to grab the front brakes.
Didn't mean to be so long winded, but this worked for me.[sm=yikesomg.gif]
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 269
Likes: 0
From: Cornwall, Ontario, Canada
RE: How easily does YOUR rear tire lockup
I suggest you read the excellent advice in these two links:
http://www.msgroup.org/Tip.aspx?Num=029
http://www.msgroup.org/Tip.aspx?Num=030
http://www.msgroup.org/Tip.aspx?Num=029
http://www.msgroup.org/Tip.aspx?Num=030
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,296
Likes: 1
From:
RE: How easily does YOUR rear tire lockup
ORIGINAL: RKKY
Important thing is once you lock them up, stay on 'em til you stop.
Important thing is once you lock them up, stay on 'em til you stop.
Even the most experienced rider will lock up the rear wheel on a panic stop. Just stay on it and let it stay locked - otherwise, you'll high side. The front brake is the brake that needs to be used during a panic stop - but, that's good in theory only. The first instinct is to put your foot into the rear brake since we've been riding cars all our lives. That's why I'm a believer in ABS when it's possible to buy it.