Total Motorcycle Community Forums

yes, this may be obvious to the more experienced riders, but I'm here to share my experiences with the people who haven't handled a bike of any kind yet;

DO NOT hard front brake while turning, you will fall

yes I know this sounds very "no brainerish" but someone who is starting out, when they first fall, they might not know why;

well I'm here to tell you, after 3 falls, that it's because of that (at least from what I've observed)...if you front brake to the point of "wheel lock" and you attempt to turn, you will fall

which brings me to a question I wanna ask the more experienced riders...when making a tight turn, do you guys slow down well before the turn, and accelerate within the turn? or do you down shift to at least 2nd, slow down, and take the turn easy?

Slow down well before the turn then accelerate.

It's always easy to speed up, slowing down is MUCH harder (as you have learned).

Just out of curiosity did you take an MSF Course? They teach you this as part of the curriculum.

fresco wrote:yes, this may be obvious to the more experienced riders, but I'm here to share my experiences with the people who haven't handled a bike of any kind yet;

DO NOT hard front brake while turning, you will fall

yes I know this sounds very "no brainerish" but someone who is starting out, when they first fall, they might not know why;

well I'm here to tell you, after 3 falls, that it's because of that (at least from what I've observed)...if you front brake to the point of "wheel lock" and you attempt to turn, you will fall

which brings me to a question I wanna ask the more experienced riders...when making a tight turn, do you guys slow down well before the turn, and accelerate within the turn? or do you down shift to at least 2nd, slow down, and take the turn easy?

If you are making turns that involve negotiating a curve, it is possible to use the front brake during...but takes quite a bit of skill.

If in the same situation and leaning and you need to scrub speed, a less butt-puckering move is to lightly us the rear brake. This will affect your handling a bit, so be aware.

If making a low speed no-lean type turns, as in parking lots or negotiating 90* intersection turns, its best to slow and set your speed before entering turn. It's generally more stabilizing to add power in a turn than it is to take it away.

Disclaimer: The above are generalities. No way do I imply these are the be all end all only techniques one should use nor are the the best ever.

Disclaimer disclaimer: Someone will still knit pick as if I implied these were the be all end all ways to use your brakes.

haha loving the disclaimers shorts but thanks for the info, makes sense about the front brake while turning, I think I can get the hang of it and I'm gonna try again today

and brackstone I did not take an MSF course, I plan on doing so, but I want to learn things on my own (even if it's the hard way) before I go into these courses, so I get a "hands on" learning experience of what it's like to fall, call me crazy but I've probably learned more about riding in such a short time than those who have been riding for more extended periods of time, and haven't fallen at all; it's one thing to be lectured at, it's another to go through it, but thanks for the tip, I'm gonna practice both slowing down well before the turn, and utilizing the front brake while within the turn

fresco wrote: I did not take an MSF course, I plan on doing so, but I want to learn things on my own (even if it's the hard way) before I go into these courses, so I get a "hands on" learning experience of what it's like to fall, call me crazy

Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors and Identification of Countermeasures, Volume 1: Technical Report, Hurt, H.H., Ouellet, J.V. and Thom, D.R., Traffic Safety Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90007, Contract No. DOT HS-5-01160, January 1981 (Final Report)


found at http://www.clarity.net/~adam/hurt-report.html


24. The motorcycle riders involved in accidents are essentially without training; 92% were self-taught or learned from family or friends. Motorcycle rider training experience reduces accident involvement and is related to reduced injuries in the event of accidents.

Why learn the "wrong way" before you take the class? You're just making it harder to learn the right way. Lots more to "unlearn."

P

Lion_Lady wrote:Why learn the "wrong way" before you take the class? You're just making it harder to learn the right way. Lots more to "unlearn."

P

Lion Lady beat me too it.

Riding a motorcycle involves lots of "habits" if you learn the wrong ones it just makes things more dangerous.

I understand wanting to get on the Motorcycle before you take the course. I did it for ONE day because I wanted to see what it was like.

But riding anymore than that is dangerous :\

I think that unlearning bad habits is harder to correct and extends your learning curve.

Ask anyone who "taught" themselves to swing a golf club.
Yeah, you might get by ok, but you are cheating yourself out of learning the right way.
(and I do think there is a right way when it comes to motorcycling)
Bad habits get ingrained quickly and are hard to break.

Also, If you had to fall three times because you used your front brake when turning,
I don't think you should even be on the streets.

Take the MSF.

fresco wrote:yes, this may be obvious to the more experienced riders, but I'm here to share my experiences with the people who haven't handled a bike of any kind yet;

DO NOT hard front brake while turning, you will fall

yes I know this sounds very "no brainerish" but someone who is starting out, when they first fall, they might not know why;

well I'm here to tell you, after 3 falls, that it's because of that (at least from what I've observed)...if you front brake to the point of "wheel lock" and you attempt to turn, you will fall

which brings me to a question I wanna ask the more experienced riders...when making a tight turn, do you guys slow down well before the turn, and accelerate within the turn? or do you down shift to at least 2nd, slow down, and take the turn easy?

Most people learn this by taking the MSF class or reading a book before getting on a motorcycle.

You should sign up for the class ASAP before you make a mistake that proves disastrous.

You're not doing things "the hard way." You're doing things the stupid way. Don't delude yourself into thinking that you're learning more by wrecking your bike - you're not. The only thing you're accomplishing is tempting fate.

On the topic of the OP, I like to set my speed well before the turn. A few times I slowed only right before and put the bike in 2nd only to find out I needed to be in 3rd. Unintentional engine breaking in a turn is NOT fun. Nearly lost it a few times before I learned to properly judge my breaking method, which now means slowing before a turn and getting into a gear that will leave me with the ability to brake a little in the turn, or give it more gas.