How do you do emergency stops at highway speed?

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TheReaper · Fri Jun 17, 2005 7:42 am

Don't have any experience with ABS on bikes, but the concept is a rapid pulsing of the brake piston to prevent locking up the tire. Maybe they figure that constant on/off of the brakes upsets the chasis and prevents some stability? Or maybe it's just not something they're familiar with so they don't like it. Not sure really, curious what everyone else has to say.

BuzZz · #12 Unread post by **BuzZz** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 7:22 pm

I have never ridden an ABS equiped bike, and have no plans to... ever. I even disabled the ABS on my cages. I WANT to be able to lock up either wheel when I want, for my own reasons. But that's just me. Lots of poeple like ABS. I'm just not one of them.

Itzamna · #13 Unread post by **Itzamna** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 10:56 pm

I like to leave the bike in gear as well while stopping. Your engine can slow you down fast, at least mine can. Might as well use all braking power that you have. They probably don't want you on ABS bikes, since if you're taking the course, you're probably new. If your first bike is ABS, you won't learn how to emergency brake without it, and when you buy the non-ABS bike, you might be in trouble.

#14 Unread post by **Sev** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 11:31 pm

BuzZz wrote:I have never ridden an ABS equiped bike, and have no plans to... ever. I even disabled the ABS on my cages. I WANT to be able to lock up either wheel when I want, for my own reasons. But that's just me. Lots of poeple like ABS. I'm just not one of them.

I'd sort of like to know what those reasons are... and the legality of doing so. For my own personal amusement of course.

Loonette · #15 Unread post by **Loonette** » Sat Jun 18, 2005 4:57 am

Stopping hard with ABS brakes in a cage is a strange experience - especially if you're used to standard brakes (and pumping them). If you pump your ABS brakes, the computer won't work correctly, and you can cause a worse situation. Once you slam down your ABS brakes, you have to remain committed until you stop. Also, the brakes do a crazy little chatter dance that, if you're unfamiliar with it, seems wrong. I'm used to it in the cage now, but I just can't imagine braking with ABS on a bike. But to each thier own...

I use both brakes practically all the time - 70% in the front and 30% in the rear. Thus, I don't have to put a lot of pressure on the rear brake, but I know how to add a little extra if needed for fast braking without a lock-up. I've had to do fast braking a few times, and haven't locked 'em yet. Practice, practice, practice. And like someone else said, that includes fast braking at slow speeds with little distance. The more you practice, the more prepared you'll be for many different situations.

Cheers,
Loonette

#16 Unread post by **sv-wolf** » Sat Jun 18, 2005 8:59 am

The idea of using the clutch up front strikes me as scary. Like Niblett says, over here we are taught to leave the clutch alone until the very last minute. I've always practised that way and I guess that is what I would do in an emergency. It makes sense to stablise the back and make use of engine braking - of which my bike has a shovel-load. I've used the method for a couple of fairly unscary emergency stops, but the one time I seriously needed to stop fast everything I was taught went out of the window. I just reacted by grabbing as much brake as I could get hold of. The bike was a write off and I think I was very lucky.

The way we're taught here is all very well in theory. It goes like this: light front brake; back brake; then progressively hard onto front; clutch in and stop, look over right shoulder and walk bike to nearside. (Can you just see yourself going through this routine when your bowels have suddenly decided they need a little exercise?) And sometimes you just need to stop NOW. I'm not sure how the niceties of this practice would stand up in a real fast emergency.

Loonette · Sun Jun 19, 2005 12:32 am

sv-wolf wrote:(Can you just see yourself going through this routine when your bowels have suddenly decided they need a little exercise?)

Thanks for keeping it real, Richard.

Cheers,
Loonette

#18 Unread post by **sv-wolf** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 7:04 am

Loonette wrote:
sv-wolf wrote:(Can you just see yourself going through this routine when your bowels have suddenly decided they need a little exercise?)
Thanks for keeping it real, Richard.

Cheers,
Loonette

Ummm... err.... ?

#19 Unread post by **sv-wolf** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 7:06 am

Loonette wrote:
sv-wolf wrote:(Can you just see yourself going through this routine when your bowels have suddenly decided they need a little exercise?)
Thanks for keeping it real, Richard.

Cheers,
Loonette

Ummm... err.... ?

FZrider · #20 Unread post by **FZrider** » Tue Jun 21, 2005 5:51 pm

[quote="Buelligan"]I think it's a good idea to find somewhere to practice your emergency stops, because the shortest stop requires that you brake to a maximum just short of a skid, and that takes some skill.

Practice makes perfect. And if you forget or don't bother, heck - just take comfort in the fact that a good solid object such as a tree or truck will slow you down a lot faster anyway.