Rear brake in corners
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2007
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Rear brake in corners
My commute to work takes me on nice 50 mile jaunt along Route 45 here in PA. There aren't a ton of corners on this road, but you get a few real nice turns when you travel through Harry John State Park. A few of these corners are slightly off camber. Over the last few months I have been using a little rear brake (both brakes on entry) while in the corners. This really seems to help with a few things.
The wobble that folks talk of virtually disappears. The bike seems to turn better and you can accelerate out of the corners much sooner (while still applying the rear brake). My friends that I ride with wondered while we were in WV earlier this year "How do you take the corners so quick riding two up?" First off, my wife is a great passenger. But after explaining this technique to them they have both began using it and have noticed a huge difference in their cornering abilities.
In auto racing we used this technique to keep the suspension pre-loaded, so I assume that it does the same thing on the bike.
Anyone else ever try it?
The wobble that folks talk of virtually disappears. The bike seems to turn better and you can accelerate out of the corners much sooner (while still applying the rear brake). My friends that I ride with wondered while we were in WV earlier this year "How do you take the corners so quick riding two up?" First off, my wife is a great passenger. But after explaining this technique to them they have both began using it and have noticed a huge difference in their cornering abilities.
In auto racing we used this technique to keep the suspension pre-loaded, so I assume that it does the same thing on the bike.
Anyone else ever try it?
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Joined: Jul 2008
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From: Eastern Washington state
Just be careful to not apply too much pressure to the rear as it will have a tendancy to stand the bike straight up and ruin your line.
Besides, your friends should know that black bikes are just faster!
Besides, your friends should know that black bikes are just faster!
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Retired and living in the mountains of NE PA
jcbpa's comments describe the best technique for braking (front brake, then rear), but only for straight line stopping. When in a curve or anytime you are leaning and/or your front wheel isn't pointing straight ahead, do not use the front brake or you'll be having a close and personal encounter with the pavement. If you must stop while in a curve, lift out of your lean and straighten your front wheel before braking hard.
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Joined: Aug 2008
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Bingo! As stated above, it's called trail braking and is a very effective technique in curves.
jcbpa's comments describe the best technique for braking (front brake, then rear), but only for straight line stopping. When in a curve or anytime you are leaning and/or your front wheel isn't pointing straight ahead, do not use the front brake or you'll be having a close and personal encounter with the pavement. If you must stop while in a curve, lift out of your lean and straighten your front wheel before braking hard.
jcbpa's comments describe the best technique for braking (front brake, then rear), but only for straight line stopping. When in a curve or anytime you are leaning and/or your front wheel isn't pointing straight ahead, do not use the front brake or you'll be having a close and personal encounter with the pavement. If you must stop while in a curve, lift out of your lean and straighten your front wheel before braking hard.
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Joined: Apr 2008
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I think any MSF course will tell you that you do not apply your front brake in a turn as it will have a tendency to straighten the line and make your bike level up. That being said, the back brake still allows you to brake in a corner without losing your frictional steering in the front. Racers almost always use a combination of rear brake and downshifting in high speed turns. I used it a lot in my younger sport bike days but have applied a modified technique with rear breaking by applying it sparingly if needed. In those slow parking lot turns where you have a little too much speed while cornering, I use the rear a lot until I have the opportunity to true the wheels up and use the front.
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