Panic Braking

[Slack]

Everyone go out this week to some place safe and practice a few panic stops.
I kept the rubber down, but it was FAR from pretty.
I need to run to work, but I'll tell the story and get video's up real soon.

[chrisafitz78]

I hope everything is all right and you aren't hurt.

I took the MSF Advanced Rider Course recently and they focus a lot on stopping and evasive maneuvers. It is great practice and in IL the class is only $20. I feel so much more confident on the bike. It really is a great class. Even those with years of experience wind up learning something or sharpening their skills.

If you don't do the class, I agree that you should practice, but make sure you have someone who is an experienced rider watching too. They can sometimes see little things like locking up the rear a bit or shifting your weight that you may not even notice you are doing.

[krsa2000]

I still find it shocking how little you guys have to do to aquire your motorcycle licence...

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[Suzuki Stevo]

5 years mandatory riding a dirt bike before you ride a street bike would help everyone 

[ShowBizWolf]

Thanks for the thoughtful post Slack... I will make a point to get over to the DMV sometime this week and practice in the lot (it's open to practice when they are closed).

I took the safety course two summers ago and learned a lot.  I want to take the second course but I gotta fit it in with my work schedule rotation and it is difficult.  Knowledge and experience both are SO freakin' important!!!

[EdChen]

I still find it shocking how little you guys have to do to aquire your motorcycle licence...

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Even more shocking is how little you have to do for the automobile driver's license! They're the ones with one hand on the phone and the other fiddling with the radio.

[ShowBizWolf]

THAT RIGHT THERE.  Omfg don't get me started.  The test here is parallel parking and then driving on a residential road going no more than 35.  A couple stop signs, slow turns and vehicle function check later and you have a license... like wtf?

[W201028]

I feel very fortunate that when I was ready to get my auto licsense, my parents payed for an independent driving instructor to teach me. He was a retired police trainer, and for years he taught other officers high speed pursuit techniques, crash avoidance, how to recover the car after it begins to slide or spin, etc. There were several hour long courses over a few weeks, and although he didnt teach me how to drift a crown vic at 120, he spent most of the time in the passengers seat telling me what to look out for, how to be a defensive driver and to anticipate what the other guy is going to do. Watching the front wheels of a car at a stop sign, stuff like that.
Ive always attributed that to my accident free driving record over the past ten years or so of driving and riding. Theres an old ad for MG or one of the other light british cars, praising their handling, that goes something like "its better to avoid the crash than hope to survive it." Thats pretty much what I got from him, and Ive always tried to drive and ride that way. I feel its something that all drivers and riders should have to go through, although the government in this country would never pay for it.
And plus one on the dirbike training, you can learn more about braking traction in five minutes on the dirt than 5 years on the street.

[Slack]

I took the basic MSF course (the exact same curriculum as the advanced) right after the millennium bug failed to make planes fall from the sky and all the other stuff the media said. . . I've thought about freshening up with an advanced course, but don't think it'd be worth it. I do parking lot practice on occasion as is. I cut out the bottom of milk jugs to make my own free cones.

My buddy and I were riding a back road yesterday and came over a rise to see a tree across the road. Just the trunk, except for one branch sticking up over the yellow lines. I locked up my rear brake 4 times and hit the tree still doing 10 mph or so. The last lockup was right before getting to the tree, the rear tire slid right hard, I got off it quick enough but was in a wobble from almost high siding (again) and since the rear slid right i was aimed left, right at the branch. I some how stayed on board while jumping over the tree and knocking all the bark off the branch.

I'm having trouble trying to edit the videos (3 angles) I just started filming recently and hadn't tried to do any editing yet. When I pull up windows live movie maker it as a video of the proper length, but it's just a blank screen.
Also when open a video with windows media player it won't play the sound. I haven't figured out how to listen to my video's without posting them to youtube.

[chrisafitz78]

I took the basic MSF course (the exact same curriculum as the advanced) right after the millennium bug failed to make planes fall from the sky and all the other stuff the media said. . . I've thought about freshening up with an advanced course, but don't think it'd be worth it. I do parking lot practice on occasion as is. I cut out the bottom of milk jugs to make my own free cones.

I know I'm new around here, but I'll just say that I take that course every year just to sharpen my skills. Its worth it. Plus, the basic course you are on their bikes (Honda Rebels in IL mostly) and the advanced course is with your ride. Very cool experience.

Next year I'm probably going to sign up to be a range aid, and hopefully eventually be an instructor. I really value practice in a controlled, supervised environment. I saw guys who had been riding for 20 years walk away saying that they had learned something new.

Best,

Fitz

[Slack]

I've been messing with youtube's editor.

[Slack]

I know I'm new around here, but I'll just say that I take that course every year just to sharpen my skills. Its worth it. Plus, the basic course you are on their bikes (Honda Rebels in IL mostly) and the advanced course is with your ride. Very cool experience.

Next year I'm probably going to sign up to be a range aid, and hopefully eventually be an instructor. I really value practice in a controlled, supervised environment. I saw guys who had been riding for 20 years walk away saying that they had learned something new.

Best,

Fitz

Not putting it down, but the MSF course wouldn't have helped me at all in this situation. If I had followed their guidance I would have held the rear brake when it locked up and low sided my bike sliding into the tree. Possibly causing great injury to myself and certainly messing up my bike. As was after a damage assessment and relocating the tree we road another 300 miles.

[Kijona]

I cringed so hard...

it reminds me of the time I hit piece of re-tread on the highway; somehow I kept the bike upright. Cruising at 80MPH at night...hit it probably doing 65-70. Lesson learned.

[W201028]

Yee haa, looks like you might be cut out for endurcross slack! That was a good save, kept the rubber down and slowing. Congratulations, the new underwear are in the mail!

[Watcher]

Agree with Slack about the MSF advice about riding out the locked rear tire.  It's good advice for a beginner in case the bike fishtails, as letting the brake go with the rear end sideways is a good way to high-side, but just like in a car the proper way to maximize braking in a locked up wheel situation is to release and reapply the brake just shy of the threshold you just discovered.

I did go and practice some panic braking in a closed lot, then I ended up needing it on the street when I almost missed my turn.  Was going about 50mph and saw the street I wanted way too late, grabbed a handful and kicked down a foot-full.  I did lock up the rear still going about 40mph, and the bike did fishtail a little.  Just like counter-steering a car, I turned into the direction of the slide to pull the rear end back into alignment with the direction of travel, eased off the rear brake allowing the tire to re-bite and start spinning again, then put the pressure back on with a little more front bias.  Made the turn, didn't put a foot down, kept the bike up just fine.  If I would have held my foot on the rear brake, however, I not only would have blown past my turn but I also may have dumped the bike as it fishtailed quickly and I have a feeling if I didn't get the wheel free spinning again the rear would have just spun all the way around on me.  I think I hit an oil patch or something, as soon as I started to brake the bike was just "whoosh!"


Been meaning to take the ARC from the MSF.  I might do that soon once I get my fork seals replaced and install a new chain.



I'll agree the BRC of the MSF is a little too basic to be a licensing course.  Some people just got it and would be fine on the road.  I picked up the skill set very naturally and I'm very intelligent and aware, I've been very confident and successful on the road.  Other people, though, can barely work the clutch or turn at speed and they still get licensed.  Kind of scary!
MSF basic should be a permit issuing course, and the advanced should be the licensing course...

[Krav]

5 years mandatory riding a dirt bike before you ride a street bike would help everyone 

OH MY GOD YES!!!
I would love that! But yeah, Netherlands. Hardly any offroad parcours here to ride, only some tracks, which can hardly be ridden freely.

[cWj]

THAT RIGHT THERE.  Omfg don't get me started.  The test here is parallel parking and then driving on a residential road going no more than 35.  A couple stop signs, slow turns and vehicle function check later and you have a license... like wtf?

I have yet to encounter a road test that includes parallel parking. Way back in the bone age I got my auto license in Louisiana by, basically, driving around the block and parking. Four right turns...

[Watcher]

Go on YouTube and search for a video about India's driving test.  I think it's a Jeremy Clarkson's motorworld video.  Insane.