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I took the course in may. We practiced the emergency stops in the parking lot. I had no trouble. What do I need to know if this should occur at 60mph? Do I down shift? Or do you just squeez the brakes and not worry about the gears? Any advice here would be greatly appreciated. Also is it a safe bet to counter steer at that speed if the need arises?

Thanks

no need to stop just wheelie over the obstruction.

huh wrote:no need to stop just wheelie over the obstruction.

Your thinking of dirtbikes right

Don't worry about down shifting becuase it will probably happen faster than you can think about downshifting. Just grab the clutch and get on the brakes, and make sure you don't lock the back wheel, that could cause a slide.

And, give lot of room in front of you so you can see truble before it becomes an emergency stop. Remember, there is traffic behind you that can't stop so fast........

I hang back, and ride with my thumb on the horn button and my trigger finger on the high beam flasher.

and if you do lock the back wheel, keep it locked.

If it really is an 'emergency' stop, you'll be way too busy to worry about downshifting until your in the clear or in the ambulance. Pulling the clutch in to keep it running if you do make it is the best you need master.

There's also the standard:

If you have the presence of mind, while you're on the brakes with the clutch in, stamp on that shift lever as many times as you can. Ideally even from 60mph you'll be in first when you're done braking.

Well, I cant comment from first-hand experience, but I was told this by a very, very experienced rider. If the only time you use your back brake is in an emergency, you will definately get into an accident. If you dont know how to use the back brake properly, it might actually speed you up when you lock the tire. I guess he was trying to say that if you dont normally use your back brake, then dont use it in an emergency.

Us brits are generally taught to keep the clutch engaged, while braking, to keep a bit of drive to the rear wheel. this stops it locking up. When near the end of the braking manuveur, then pull the clutch in to keep the engne running

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.

I try to keep in the habit of using the front brake everytime I stop, because in an emergency you'll do what you normally do. It's easy to develop the habit of slowing your bike with engine rev's and back brake.

Nibblets remark about keeping the clutch engaged until the end of the braking makes sense.

I like the idea of the ABS brakes, but when my husband took his bike course in April the instructors were dead set against them. Anyone have any thoughts on the ABS, they seem to be appearing on a lot of the new bikes, and I believe all Hondas will have them by 2007.