Gs's stopping issues.

jairod007 · February 19, 2005, 11:53:35 PM

Just a question fellas. The other day I had to break really hard because I did not want to run a red light. My bike began to wiggle the rear end, I believe it was due to rear breal locking up. What should I do if this happens again? I have been lucky not to fall, but I think it has just been luck. Now I am afraid to break hard, and I know I have to practice in case of an emergency. I always use both breaks, but my rear has locked up those two times and have scared the heck out of me. Thanks!

cummuterguy · February 20, 2005, 12:12:42 AM

1) slow down! you aren't scanning ahead far enough if you are constantly having to brake that hard.... just a friendly reminder from a fellow floridian

2) keep using both brakes, just NEVER and I do mean NEVER let off the rear brake once it starts sliding. You could end up in a very nasty high-side crash if you let off and the tire grabs traction at the wrong time.
The worst thing that can happen if the rear continues to slide is a low-side which is generally a lesser risk crash.

3) is your tire worn out?

weaselnoze · February 20, 2005, 12:29:43 AM

in the midst of all the n00b questions, i wanna throw one in... i was never properly educated on the difference btw a highside and a lowside crash. from what i gathered a highside is when the front tire loses control causing a crash and the lowside is loss of control in rear causing a crash. am i right?

cummuterguy · February 20, 2005, 12:32:50 AM

low-side= bike falls down on its side scrapes along the ground

high-side= bike flips up in the air and comes crashing down

it really doesn't matter which tire starts it.. the end result is what you worry about

weaselnoze · February 20, 2005, 12:33:35 AM

lol i was way off..

JetSwing · February 20, 2005, 05:38:07 AM

Quote from: jairod007Just a question fellas. The other day I had to break really hard because I did not want to run a red light. My bike began to wiggle the rear end, I believe it was due to rear breal locking up. What should I do if this happens again? I have been lucky not to fall, but I think it has just been luck. Now I am afraid to break hard, and I know I have to practice in case of an emergency. I always use both breaks, but my rear has locked up those two times and have scared the heck out of me. Thanks!

as you're bike slows down, most of the weight transfers to the front wheel...meaning there's less pressure (traction) on the rear wheel. so it becomes much easier to lock up the rear wheel. the front brakes has about 75% of the braking power so apply the brakes accordingly (don't slam on the rear brake). practice hard stops in a empty parking lot!

geekonabike · February 20, 2005, 08:03:06 AM

For an example of what can happen when you let go of the rear brake once it's locked, read or re-read the first post in the thread http://gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=14946 where perhaps he could have had no more than a low side if he had kept the rear brake locked, but that's all Monday-Morning-Quarterbacking. I'll let "96gs" comment further if he cares to.

Bikes usually have weaker rear brakes to help avoid locking. Many bikes have two disks in the front and one in the rear, or fewer calipers in the rear, or a disc in the front and a drum in the rear. IIRC MSF says if the front brake locks you better unlock it or you have about zero control of what happens next, but if the rear locks you leave it. You might check to see if your rear brake is acting linearly. I don't know if that's ever a problem, but if it's real grabby, like all or nothing, then that could be a problem.

I admit when I have to slow quickly I use both, but if not I tend to use one brake. Bad habit I know. More practice is needed to brake that habit, no pun intended.

FWIW,
Mike D.

96gs · February 20, 2005, 09:20:00 AM

OK, if your rear brake locks up, stay on it no matter what. If you saw what I saw happen to my dad you would know why. If you stay on it then let off at the wrong time, like my dad did, then get ready to be bucked off your bike, but if you stay on it then the most that can happen is you lowside (just lay it over) My back tire locks up all the time, but that usually happens in the rain when I'm downshifting. I've got to the point where I downshift to slowdown coming to a redlight or if I need to turn. I usually only use the brakes if downshifting isn't slowing me down quick enough. Later guys.

The Buddha · February 20, 2005, 10:11:15 AM

Well ... I have heard it as this ...
You are making a left turn ... you slide and fall on your left side ... = Lowside.
You are making a left turn, you start to slide, and catch it by either getting off the gas or on grippier pavement ... and the bike has enough sideways momentum to throw you and itself on to the right side ... = Highside ... I nearly had a beauty couple years ago on my vulcan 750 after some light rain ... caught a dry patch on the on ramp after sliding a little ...
Cool.
Srinath.

John Bates · February 20, 2005, 10:13:38 AM

I have developed the habit (good or bad) of initiating a stop with the rear brake. As I feel the weight transfer to the front I increasingly add front brake pressure and decrease rear brake pressure. It's all a smooth transition from rear brake to front brake. At max braking, very very little rear and lots lots of front. It seems to work for me.

jairod007 · February 20, 2005, 10:38:23 AM

Hey guys thanks for the tips! This is a cool forum.
Hmmm. It is a nice sunday afternoon out there... I think I might go for a ride.

se7enty7 · February 20, 2005, 10:56:39 AM

here's my input:

lowside:
rear tire NEVER regains traction. i.e. the rear starts to slide, and keeps sliding.. and you slowly fall over and scrape on the ground.

highside:
rear tire loses traction. rear tire REGAINS traction while NOT perfectly straight (think nearly sideways, but it doesn't have to be to that extreme) the problem is that the bike is leaning to the LEFT but will now want to transfer the wieght the other way (rear tire has tons of traction now)

hard to explain.. but it's caused when you:
1) release the rear brake while sliding
2) are sliding through a wet/pebbly/slippery spot, and all of the sudden it's dry. this normally happens while leaned over in a corner, and is the worst type.

94suzuki500 · February 20, 2005, 11:05:16 AM

youll get rear ended one of these days if you do that often. Watch farther ahead pay attention.

davipu · February 20, 2005, 11:46:14 AM

you all have missed the easiest way to put it, a low side the bike slides out from underneath you and you follow it in the direction of travel. a high side the bike slides out regains traction and pitches you over the "highside" of the bike. and it is following you in the direction of travel. the last part there is why they are more dangerous, because you have this huge chunk of metal/plastic chasing you. bikes will normally slide 3-4 times farther than a body will due to several factors so when you stop here comes this bike and Bam you get whacked.

News:

Gs's stopping issues.

davipu