So it was raining as I went in to work today and I started thinking.  The road I take to the Capital Beltway (Rt 29 in MD) is 55 mph with stoplights.  Traffic moves along between 70-75 mph.  If you see a yellow light up ahead and you're at that point where you could stop, do you

a) stop and probably lock up the front and/or back wheels? or
b) run it?

I've personally done both, but I'm curious how others react.

Now, here's where today's fun (:x) ride comes in.  How does the rain affect your decision?  Coming up on one of the lights, moving along about 40, a car cut in front of me and cut my stopping room in half.  I got on the brakes, and the tail moved about a foot to the right.  I pulled it straight and when I hit the brakes again, it popped out further.  Finally got it all sorted out (and straight) without going down, but it was dicey for a moment.  

Thoughts?

Oh - another question.  Am I the only one who uses the rear brake much more than the front?  Not sure if I'm afraid of going over the front or if I'm just more inclined to use my foot.  Just an observation.  Probably explains why my rear wheel locked up today.  Never dawned on me till that happened  


As an aside, I'm still a new rider, but when I can get it sideways twice in 50 feet and my heart doesn't start beating any faster, that's a good feeling  

Using the rear brake more than the front is insane.  

You should use both brakes, but the majority of your braking power comes from the front.  I actually am guilty of using the rear too little.  I mean, I press on it, but I don't actually know if it is doing something because I squeeze the front so hard.

You REALLY need to practice using both brakes!

I hardly use the rear. I don't know why, but I never have. I push it in a little bit, but I rely on the fronts.

And don't worry about going over the bars; You can barely even do a stoppie with the single-rotor fronts, let alone flip over the bars.

Dave  

I didn't mean to say I don't use the front, I just seem to use the back more.  Maybe it's just my perception cause I put more force on the rear brake then the front (which requires less to stop the same).  I generally tend to not use the brakes at all - it's just in traffic.  I think a good day is one where you only hit the brakes to end your ride for the day, everything else can be done with the engine or less throttle  

Quote from: 2005-GS500-PDXYou can barely even do a stoppie with the single-rotor fronts, let alone flip over the bars.

I think I've just watched too many videos of it happening  :lol:

The GS is very forgiving of lockups.

But you need to practice your panic braking in a parking lot if you're worried about a scenario that comes along on a daily basis.  And waaaaay more braking power comes from the front than from the rear on your average sport bike (just to be different, my Breva has a more effective rear brake than most bikes).  I rarely even use the rear on my GS.  If you're worried that the front will lock as easily as the rear - it won't.  The laws of physics assure that (weight transfer to the front while braking).

Thanks for the input.  I'm not really worried about my stopping ability.  I've done enough panic breaking (practice and real life) to know what my bike can and cannot do.  I think it's just a mental thing - when I ski I tend to lean back instead of forward too, even though I've never gone head over heels on skis either  :lol:  I think it just came to mind today because it was raining and the roads (major construction being done) are a mix of blacktop/concrete/grooved/patch work.  Braking was just on my mind more than usual.

Anyone have an opinion on the yellow light scenario?


edit: WOW - for the hours I spend on here every day, I have 30 posts?!?!?!?!?!?!?

If I can make it completely through the intersection before the light turns from yellow to red, I go through.  If the light will turn red before I make it through, I stop.  If I'm going too fast to stop in the time it takes for a light to turn from yellow to red, I slow down.

I look behind me to see if the idiot cage that's riding my ass is going to run it.  then run it anyway.  cause I'd rather go over the bars than under a bumper.

Quote from: MrDanAm I the only one who uses the rear brake much more than the front?

Probably not the only one, but you're still kinda crazy for it...  Your stopping potential is something around 70% front 30% rear... That may be a little different on a GS 'cause it only has one disk in the front...  But, it feels around right to me.

You're more likely to lock the front than go over the front...  When you stop, just keep squeezing on the front.  You'll see how much faster you can stop...  A GS can stop on a dime.

Oh yeah...  As for the yellow light...  If I think I can stop, I stop...  If I think I can't stop and I can make the light, then I'll speed up.   :lol:

I do that in my SUV too...  I guess it's just a personality flaw.

If I think it's possible, I'll stop. If it's a quick light that goes from green to yellow to red FAST, then I'll go through it. I don't have a problem going through a yellow, because it's legal.

pandy  

Quote from: RVertigoYou're more likely to lock the front than go over the front...  

I think this is more what I'm worried about.  I can control the bike with the rear wheel locked up - it's rather easy.  But with the front wheel locked up, wouldn't all semblance of control go out the window (or over the windscreen as it were)?

It also depends on where you are...  In LA they have red-light cameras and the "left turn rule."  (Which is two left-turning cars per red)...

If there's a camera, I'll stop...  FAST!

I had a little emergency once and pulled a stoppie. I thought I hit both brakes hard at the same time but the tail started coming up and when I let off the front it dropped like a hammer and the rear wheel locked up and the engine about stalled... Then I put my right foot on the car that pulled out in front of me...  :x  

This happened last year and I'm sure the rear wheel only came up a few inches. The point of this, even if you're in a situation where you might go over the front... you can still correct and kick somebody's driver's door in the process...

Quote from: MrDanTI think it's just a mental thing - when I ski I tend to lean back instead of forward too, even though I've never gone head over heels on skis either

You really gotta start leaning forward.  I finally 'got it' last season, and started leaning forward aggressively.  It's made a hugde difference.  Much more control, and a much smoother ride.

Err, not to hijack a thread about motorcycles or anything...

^^ Yup - I'm much more agressive after skiing Whistler a year ago - you have to be to have any fun

Oh - that reminded me - really off topic, but anyone here ever tote skis on their bike?  With the gas prices, I've been debating (a little) selling my car and riding year round, but it would make it difficult to get to the slopes  :lol:  Always wondered if it was possible since I have, on occassion, seen bikes at the slopes.

I've locked up my front wheel several times, mostly from trying stoppies.  I've never felt like I was gonna go over the bars.  

They say in the MSF course that the front brake should account for 70% of your braking power.

Front wheel locks up, let go of the brake lever and re-apply.  Rear wheel locks up, high side.  

There are those awesome physics associated with high sides though.  Would be quite a thrill for a moment.

It isn't totally legal to go through a yellow light (you need to be at least partially in the intersection).  

About 14 years ago, I failed a driving test because I went through a yellow.  That was nice.  Hey, it was my dad's fault.  I learned it by watching him, alright!  I learned it by watching him!

Quote from: Jake DI learned it by watching him, alright!  I learned it by watching him!

Nice reference!  

Dave  

Maybe it's just my brakes, or control of my foot, but the rear brakes don't give much feedback.  They're OK for doing a little drag braking, like downhill on gravel.  But when I really need to haul it down, I have a hard time telling where they would lock, so I favor the front.

I think of them as an obligatory step on the way to real braking:
rear brake = "prepare to brake hard"
...then
front brake = "now really brake hard"

Even saying that, I've still locked-up the rear twice in panic stops, and I've never locked-up the front on dry pavement, so I have some parking lot practice work to do.

On the bright side, I've changed front pads twice, and never changed rear pads.  So I know I'm doing more braking up front.