Braking, gears, starting out questions.

[Reluctant-but-ready]

lets go back to this locking brake stuff... i had to make a quick stop the other day and my bike started swaying to the side before i made a complete stop... did my brakes lock up ... and if they did.. should i have disengaged the brake then reapplied when the swerving stopped... just curious... happy trails fellas!!!!!!

[Meanie]

lets go back to this locking brake stuff... i had to make a quick stop the other day and my bike started swaying to the side before i made a complete stop... did my brakes lock up ... and if they did.. should i have disengaged the brake then reapplied when the swerving stopped... just curious... happy trails fellas!!!!!!

This is where practice using the front brake comes into play. There may be sometimes when applying the rear brake may cause a skid, but if that's the case, then most likely, you're riding too close to the vehicle in front of you.

If the rear locks up, then you are definately slamming too hard on them. Instinctively, many people tend to slam on the brakes in a panic situation. This is why anti-lock brakes are being made for more newer vehicles. The MSF should have taught you that about 75% of the stopping power is in the front. This means you should learn to control the bike with pressure to the front while applying the rear.

There may be some cases where locking the rear will be your best option since this can cause the bike to slide and be laid down. Laying the bike down will be better than taking a direct hit. But if there is a chance for you to remain upright, then learning to control with both brakes is what will save you and the bike.

[sapaul]

We do not have the MSF type training here, we do have private training and that is what most guys buy. I do update courses regularly and they always teach shifting to whatever gear that you are going to use. For example sixth to second for a corner, 6th to 1st for a stop, ranging from 5th to 3rd for a steep downhill curve.

In saying that when I had my SP1000 Guzzi there was so much engine braking that I used to go down 1 gear at a time and let the clutch out in between. Each bike is individual and some will work better with method 1 and some will work better with method two. In general the higher revving bikes respond better to method 1. Just got to make sure your brakes are up to the job.

[Sev]

lets go back to this locking brake stuff... i had to make a quick stop the other day and my bike started swaying to the side before i made a complete stop... did my brakes lock up ... and if they did.. should i have disengaged the brake then reapplied when the swerving stopped... just curious... happy trails fellas!!!!!!

Sounds like you just didn't keep yourself centered over the bike, as you slow any weight to one side or the other will pull you in one direction or the other.

If the back locks up stay on it, do not release the brake. Doing so means the tire instantly gains traction and bad things can happen.

You'll know if you locked up your tired because you'll hear a horrid screeching noise... shudder, I've heard that from the car behind me one to many times. Just like in the movies.

Head out to a largish parking lot and get up some speed, then practise smoothly apply pressure to both breaks.

Oh, and depending on the bike, it can be argued that 100% of the braking power comes from the front wheel Watch motoGP, when the back tire lifts off, it isn't helping to stop at all. But that's just stupid semantics. And honestly I've heard everything from 90-10 to 60-40. It just depends on who is doing the talking.

[Shiv]

my class taught 70-30.

Which to me seems about right, though like everything else I'm sure it depends on the bike.

But when we had to do the U-Turn thing in that small box I just rode my back brake ever so slightly in second gear (instead of feathering the clutch) and it worked nicely. Doubt i could've done that with the front brake.

By the way you won't fly over the handle bars if you front brake first (unless you hit the brakes at 80 or so). I'm sure many of you know this but if you've ever tried to do a front brake on a bicycle...well you may as well just get off the bike and lay down cause you're going over that handle bar.

Just a misconception I had going into the course. I was very surprised to learn that the front brake had so much of the stopping power. Thought it was a typo at first

[flynrider]

By the way you won't fly over the handle bars if you front brake first (unless you hit the brakes at 80 or so). I'm sure many of you know this but if you've ever tried to do a front brake on a bicycle...well you may as well just get off the bike and lay down cause you're going over that handle bar.

That used to be true, and still is for most motorcycles. But I've had the upleasant experience of watching a rider launch himself over the bars at less than 30 mph. The newer high performance sportbikes have the brakes and suspension to allow a hamfisted rider to easily overbrake the front and pick the back wheel up off the ground. If you don't ease up on the front when that starts to happen, you're going over.

[flynrider]

By the way you won't fly over the handle bars if you front brake first (unless you hit the brakes at 80 or so). I'm sure many of you know this but if you've ever tried to do a front brake on a bicycle...well you may as well just get off the bike and lay down cause you're going over that handle bar.

That used to be true, and still is for most motorcycles. But I've had the upleasant experience of watching a rider launch himself over the bars at less than 30 mph. The newer high performance sportbikes have the brakes and suspension to allow a hamfisted rider to easily overbrake the front and pick the back wheel up off the ground. If you don't ease up on the front when that starts to happen, you're going over.

[Sev]

Depends how grippy the tire is though, depending on the rake it's more likely you'll just skid the front and dump if you grab a nice fistfull of brakes. Though I've seen plenty of movies of stoppies going wrong. Shudder.

[Reluctant-but-ready]

so motos dont have abs... i thought abs was like ancient technology ... whats going on here guys!!! i actually would feel better with an abs system on my bike.... which bikes are equiped with em now..... just for refrence im probally going to buy a new bike come summer... and give my Honda CBR600 to my brother... (He would $%#@ his pants).. cause its a 95... but only 27000 miles on it [/list]

[Meanie]

so motos dont have abs... i thought abs was like ancient technology ... whats going on here guys!!! i actually would feel better with an abs system on my bike.... which bikes are equiped with em now[/list]

Not many. I believe some BMWs are equipped with them and the Goldwings.