Noob question about braking...

[stargate]

I have been riding for about 2 weeks. I am riding a Kawasaki KLR250 on the street. I am slowly getting the hang of it, but still feel like I have 2 left feet.

About the rear brake.... do you normally hover your right foot over it? I keep getting worried I will accidentally ride the right brake with my foot, but then again I don't want to pull my foot back and then not be prepared to stop in emergency situations.

So, what is the proper right foot placement? or at least the recommended placement?

Thanks !!

[VermilionX]

if you're riding at congested places, it's best to hover your feet on the rear brake to lessen your reaction time.

i rarely hover over it though.


otherwise, position your feet like on the upper pic...

[M109R]

If you have your right foot on the peg, your toes should be resting above the rear brake lever when riding. At least on my bike it's most comfortable. plus your reaction time is quicker. Once you have experience, whatever's most comfortable.

[dieziege]

I've heard two recommendations... I'll be interested to hear others from the forum here.

1) ... From one of the MSF instructors... when not actively braking point your toe away from the bike so that your foot is alongside the brake pedal... to brake lift your toe and swing it inward before pressing. That way you can't accidentally be riding the pedal but you don't have to shift your foot to hit the brake quickly.

2) ... can't recall where... unless actively braking slide your foot back so that the ball of the foot is on the peg and your toes are pointing towards the lever. If you need to brake, apply the front brake first and move your foot forward to apply the rear brake.

I use a combination of those... #1 around town and at lower speeds. #2 on the highway.

[Z (fka Sweet Tooth)]

I use a combination of the two like dieziege, same scenarios. Around traffic i'll hover and in less traffic and long stretches I use the highway pegs so I have to completely move my foot to break.

[stargate]

thanks guys !

[Nibblet99]

I always apply the front brake BEFORE the rear, so have my foot to the side of it... reaction time on the rear is less important


Us Brits get taught slightly differently to the MSF. You seem to get taught to stop, but sacrifice some time for being able to clear the area quickly (ie shift down to first during an emergency stop)
We get taught the priority is stopping, so we go down the line of quickest stop possible... Then shift to first whilst stationary, check all around and move to a clear area.


This is what we get taught (assuming a good road and dry conditions)

To stop in a hurry, add a lil front brake. Then as weight starts to shift to the front suspension, progressively add in more front, and a little rear. With the emphasis 90% front brake, 10% rear brake

Leaving the clutch engaged will cause the engine to give extra braking, but retain a little drive to the rear, so as the back of the bike gets lighter under heavy braking, you shouldn't lock the rear.


Obviously the slippier the road/conditions the more even the balance has to become so braking on ice, you would do 50% front brake, 50% rear brake...



Sorry, did I go ?

[Andrew]

If you try to hover your foot over the brake pedal all the time, you're going to get tired pretty quickly. I rest my foot on the peg, and only take it off when a braking situation comes up. No need to put yourself through the extra pain of hovering for long periods of time.

[bok]

We get taught the priority is stopping, so we go down the line of quickest stop possible... Then shift to first whilst stationary, check all around and move to a clear area.

not saying this is a bad way to do it, but there is one problem. every once in a while the gears won't line up well and once you are at a full stop you can't shift down without rocking the bike forward or back.

the way we teach it at the school i help out at, is to get on the brakes and then tap down to first as you are coming to a stop. it doesn't take much at all away from the braking effort but could be the difference between pushing and rolling out of harms way.

key is getting the brakes applied properly in either situation.

as to where to put your foot, if you are underway and not needing to bleed off any speed, the ball of your foot should be back on the peg. but this also kind of depends on the ergos of your bike. on my cruiser it's easier for me to sit with my foot beside the brake pedal, and just slide it over when i need to. on the ninja when i am at any decent speed, it's more comfortable to have the ball of my foot on the peg.

[Nibblet99]

We get taught the priority is stopping, so we go down the line of quickest stop possible... Then shift to first whilst stationary, check all around and move to a clear area.

not saying this is a bad way to do it, but there is one problem. every once in a while the gears won't line up well and once you are at a full stop you can't shift down without rocking the bike forward or back.

Not trying to disagree, but briefly bringing the clutch to the bitepoint, moves them enough, and is far quicker