I am just wondering what's wrong with my breaking technique. I noticed that my breaking distance is too long, and I want to know what I can do to shorten it. I am applying both breaks, and here's what I noticed:
if I break hard, the front is OK, but the rear side starts swirwing left to right so I have to get off the seat slightly to avoid going out of balance. Easy to do on gs500, but I can't imagine handling this as easily on a heavier bike.
I thought that this was happening because I wasn't applying enough of the rear break, so the front was stopping but the rear did not have enough force to keep it down. I tried applying more rear break, to the point that the rear wheel locked up and started to skid, but the rear of the bike was still thrown left and right while the front remained stationary.
Another possibility I am thinking is maybe I am pulling the clutch in too soon, so unconnected wheels are more free that they should be. Should I pull the clutch right before the bike would stall otherwise, rather than when I start to break?
Anyone have any thoughts? How do you break when you need to stop fast?
Thanks, and enjoy the ride
It just takes practice. But if I understand correctly you're applying even more brake when the back end gets light. You should actually apply less rear brake if the rear end starts to feel loose. The front brake is 75% of your stopping power so don't be afraid to use it effectively. Be careful when applying front brake while cornering though. Just remember to use both brakes and to use a little more pressure on the front. Good luck.
Derek
B-R-A-K-E...sorry, i'm a bit of an english nazi...to answer your question though, you are locking up your rear wheel, which is causing the sliding...good thing you just pressed harder rather than letting go of the rear brake entirely, that would have probably caused a highside...to improve quick stops, find an empty parking lot and play with your rear brake until you find the point where it is juuuuust about to lock up...then when you need to stop quickly squeeze the front and step on the rear to that just-about-to-lock-up point and there you go
- alex
Ah, so I am actually overapplying the B-R-A-K-E ( ;) ) rather than underapplying. The rear wheel doesn't always lock up to the point of skidding though, it just wobbles left to right.
Maybe the problem was in my rationale that if the rear end is loose, I need to brake harder to keep it stable. I am going to try to apply less pressure on the rear brake on the parking lot and see what happens.
When you apply the brakes gradually increase the pressure to the point of lock-up. Same thing with the front. Gradually increase the pressure.
Poor braking can cause breaking. :dunno:
i'm taking this info straight from my MSF Rider Handbook:
QuoteThe best way to achieve maximum braking is to apply both brakes fully without locking either wheel. Simultaneously squeeze the front brake lever and apply the rear brake pedal. Keep the body centered and look well ahead, not down... It is important to emphasize the need to smoothly and progressively squeeze the front brake lever
On Skidding(just so you know, the back-and-forth wobbly feeling is the rear wheel locking up and skidding)
Front -
QuoteIf the brake lever is grabbed abruptly and high brake pressure is applied before the extra traction due to forward weight transfer is available, the wheel can lock and a front tire skid will occur. If such a front-tire skid occurs, immediately release the front brake completely to allow the wheel to resume rolling, and then reapply the brake properly.
Rear -
QuoteThe biggest danger in any rear-tire skis is releasing the rear brake when the rear wheel is out of alignment with the front wheel. You could be thrown off in what is commonly called a "hihg-side" fall... You can prevent a "high-side" by intentionally keeping the rear brake locked and skidding to a stop.
so, to summarize: make sure you are squeezing the front smoothly and progressively, not in a jerk. do not put so much pressure on the rear so as to cause a lockup/slide. this part will take a bit of practice in the parking lot. and while you're there, i suggest letting the rear lock up a few times, just so know you how hard you have to press for that to happen. it's not that dangerous if you do
not let it go after you start sliding. oh, and keep your ass on the seat :)
hope this helps.
>find an empty parking lot
I've been doing this for about an hour a day for the last week. I'm getting back into biking after a break and am back with a different machine, but this is excellent practice for anyone.
Follow what everyone else has said here, start slow and gradually build up speed and work on shortening the stopping distance. Done right, you can REALLY lean into the front wheel brake. I've really built up to some serious front end braking and I still haven't reached the point of a full lockup or stoppie.
Quote from: gsJackPoor braking can cause breaking. :dunno:
very true! :lol:
- alex
when emergency braking, use the front brake only. The rear wil get so light it doesn't touch the ground anymore, so you would be wasting concentration on the rear brake. If you use the front brake in a proper way, you can brake so hard that the rear goes into the air.