trail braking and threshold braking?

[VermilionX]

anybody uses these techniques?

it's so intimidating to practice them for the fear of tire slide or lock-up.

[jmillheiser]

you just keep braking harder and harder each practice stop until you learn the lockup point. remember if the front locks up you have about 1/2 a second to release the brake before you lowside. If the back locks up just ride it to a stop and keep the front rolling.

Practicing threshold braking is a good idea, especially for street riding. Being able to stop your bike in the shortest distance possible could save your "O Ring".

The figure 8 drill is a good way to practice trail braking, a little bit of trail braking can significantly smooth out your U-turns. Just remember trail braking is a very light touch on the back brake, grab too much back brake when trail braking and say hello to mr lowside.

with that gixxer you WILL want to get very good at controlling those monster brakes

[VermilionX]

thanks, i have experienced rear wheel lock when i was training hard braking in a parking lot. i didn't get bothered that much. locking up the front is what im more worried about.

trail braking ...i have done it too but very light applications, perhaps maybe too light but i didn't wanna risk it.

[jmillheiser]

I have tried trail braking lightly a few times practicing u-turns. It really smoothed things up if I used just enough. If I didn't use enough it made no difference, the couple of times I used too much I had to power out of the u-turn to keep the bike upright.

[VermilionX]

yeah, on U-turns and other slow turns. trail braking is not an issue.

in fact, i can't make a very sharp U turn w/o trail braking the rear brakes.

anyway... what im asking i guess is trail braking at higher speeds. same idea but very diff consequences if i mess up.

oh well, im just gonna practice it more on slow turns 1st before i attempt it on higher speeds.

also, im really considering modifying my rear break accdg to nick ienatsch book.

[jmillheiser]

I like my rear brake just the way it is.

I have to get into it pretty hard to lock it up. I usually dont use that much rear brake anyway, mostly just use it to keep the front from diving under braking.

[BuzZz]

also, im really considering modifying my rear break accdg to nick ienatsch book.

Seriously Dude, hold off on this until you really know what your doing. Learn to use what you got before you go screwin' with chit.

[VermilionX]

Seriously Dude, hold off on this until you really know what your doing. Learn to use what you got before you go screwin' with chit.

yeah but like jmill... i also only use my rear brake lighty. most of my braking is done by the front brake. i dab lighty the rear 1st then immediately follow up w/ the front brake.

so since i don't really use much of the rear to stop, i'd figure it's ok to lessen its power and avoid locking it up.

the book says modifying the rear brake is great for both the streets and tracks.

anyway... im not in any rush to do this modification for now. i'll see what else i can find out before i dive into it.


thanks!

[JCS]

Verm, you need to learn to use what you have to it's fullest extent before you start doing mods. For several years, at least, you will be the weak link in your bike/rider relationship. It sounds like you still need to work on your braking technique. Keep practicing.