Quote from: barry on October 30, 2007, 07:33:26 AM
I [...] had trouble with the emergency stop.  [...]  I was paranoid about grabbing too much brake so I wound up giving the foot brake too much and locking the reer wheel.

I did the exact same thing when I took the MSF course.  Combined with going too fast into the emergency stop test, locking the rear wheel cost me something like 9 points (1 for each foot past the line) ... which were the only points I lost on the test.

But now ... the front brake and I are best buds. 

I went on the line in the box test, it was on a slope so it was fine one way but you were going too fast the other and i never thought of using the rear brake back then  . I could probably ace it now though.

Quote from: barry on October 30, 2007, 07:33:26 AMI nailed that test every time but had trouble with the emergency stop. Would prefer it was the other way around.  I was anticipating the stop and started braking too soon but finally got it....barely. MSF teaches to use 4 fingers to hand brake and I was paranoid about grabbing too much brake so I wound up giving the foot brake too much and locking the reer wheel.

Then we need to get you practicing your emergency stops  , at the very least have a "parking day" (I am sure we can get cones out and motorcycles will show  ) The GS500 dives a lot more than the 250cc riders they make you test on the MSF and if you dont get confortable with that pretty fast you will be popping stoppies (I did one rowlett road about 6 days after I got the bike and almost dropped it... the rear wheel came up in an emergency situation.... I was'nt a happy camper) So it will be good fun.... I have a manual for "practices" give me a couple of weeks and we'll find a day/time to organize it in the area....

I don't like that box test. 

On the MSF test I went over the line once.  I did better than I did in the practice at least.  I kept thinking I would fall over though.

Curves and braking I am comfortable with.  I try to practice at least one or two emergency stops everytime I go for a ride.  I should start practicing more of the low speed stuff.

Yes, I do need to practice those emergency stops. Better than I was at MFS but still need much improvement. I know that I'm using more rear brake than I should. My MFS instructor said that a many  experienced riders rarely use their hand brake despite that it  provides over 70% of stopping power. This was another thing that I was dinged on at MFS, not using my hand brake to slow down before I entered a turn.  Definitely going to experiment more with the hand brake next time I get out. I'm intrigued by some that say its a myth that you'll flip over the bars if you quickly grab too much hand brake yet experienced riders like Patrick accidentally do a stoppie. What raio of front to back braking do you guys use? MFS style 4 fingers on hand brake as needed or covering most of the time with 2?

Barry

Quote from: barry on October 31, 2007, 07:44:33 AMDefinitely going to experiment more with the hand brake next time I get out.

Good plan.  When I was still fairly new at riding, I was talking one day with my neighbor across the street.  He had ridden bikes forever and had some wild stories to tell.  I must have mentioned this same "front vs rear" dilemma, because he said "I never use the rear brake."  I didn't say anything at the time, and just chalked it up to his propensity to "embellish" his stories.  But later I got to wondering if it was even possible to use only the front brake around town, so I decided to experiment.

For about a week I forced myself to use only the front brake for all (non-emergency) stops.  Not only was it possible -- it was really cool to gain confidence as I "got to know" the front brake.  Since that week I have gone back to using both brakes (with a definite bias toward the front brake).

Quote from: barry on October 31, 2007, 07:44:33 AMMFS style 4 fingers on hand brake as needed or covering most of the time with 2?

I use something in between.  I use the brake "as needed" (kinda hard to operate the throttle otherwise) but I tend to use 3 fingers: middle, ring and pinkie.  I used all 4 fingers for a long time, but finally noticed that it was a bit of a stretch for my index finger and caused mild discomfort.  But don't worry - for emergency stops I use all 4!

Barry ead the street riding techniques pdf I send you the link and you will know what I use for braking (grin - force ya to read it)

2 fingers only, rarely use the rear brake  90/10 front/back...  you dont use the rear brake when going into a turn because that will make the tail end of bike go wide.

and stop using hand brake (only found on centre collumn of 4 wheels vehicules and usualy known as the emergency hand brake in manuals) words... on a motorcycle (goldwings and scooters aside (some have hand brakes) , most bikes its front brake and rear brake

I'm still a newbie with just over a tank of gas under my belt. I have a friend that's into track days and works at a Honda shop. He's been riding for about 5 years and he told me not to use the rear brake. I rode around the first couple times like this and it's really not that bad. Lately I've been applying some rear brake too though cause it allows me to stop faster without having to squeeze the front brake quite as hard.

You guys have been talking about how many fingers you use to apply the front brake and I've never really thought about it so I went out to see how I do it and I do it with two, middle and ring...Dane Cook Super Finger Style...haha.

I still haven't taken the MSF course. Signed up for the class but it's filled up for the rest of the season. I'm first on the waiting list. I'm interested to see what this box drill is and other MSF lingo. I've noticed I'm pretty good at low speed turning, but I'm hesitant to take any tighter turn with much speed at all. Is it just something I'm gonna have to get used to. I just feel scared or something. Like I haven't been riding the bike long enough to know its limits.

feeling scared is better than feeling pavement. let your paranoia guide you, young jedi.

Quote from: barry on October 31, 2007, 07:44:33 AM
What raio of front to back braking do you guys use? MFS style 4 fingers on hand brake as needed or covering most of the time with 2?

When I started riding, I covered the brake with 2 fingers the whole time.  After a few days I stopped doing this.  I found I was able to ride much smoother since I was operating the throttle with my whole hand and there were no limitations.

When I brake, I think I use 3 fingers.  I haven't put too much thought into it.  As long as you can get a solid grip, you're in good shape.


If you're afraid to use the front brake, find a wide empty road and try some emergency braking.  You can squeeze pretty hard on that front brake before locking up the front.  I think the trick is when you first start to brake don't squeeze with full force.  Once you start slowing down you can progressively add more force.  This is all done rather quickly.

One other thing, I though I read that the OP only rides on weekends.  I read somewhere that when you're beginning, it's extremely helpful to ride several times a week, if only for 20-30 minutes instead of riding only on the weekends.  You learn quicker and become more comfortable this way.  So, if you can, try and get out a few days a week.

Quote from: pbureau69 on October 29, 2007, 04:41:50 AM

Quote from: GeeP on October 28, 2007, 02:59:58 PM
Isn't exciting when you see another GS rider?   

"OH MY GOD!  IT'S A GS!  QUICK!  TURN AROUND AND STALK IT!"   

Close to that yep, considering I have NOT seen another GS in dallas (plenty of Ninja's 500R) except me... I was estatic...

Most bikers/bikes near me are squids in undershirts, sweatpants, and tennis shoes on chromed-out superbikes doing rear wheel burnouts in traffic, nearly hitting innocent pedestrians, and further hurting motorcycling's reputation! Either that or they're in italian suits on Vespas... That's an exaggeration, but I definitely don't feel very connected to riders around here so if I saw a fellow GS'er I'd chase them down, too!

Locked up the front brake today on purpose.  Had to know what it felt like and how much pressure it takes to lock it. . Locked up at abour 5mph,  I did lose control of the bike but didn't feel like I was going to flip over. I was able  to hold it up without dropping it but could have very easily dropped a larger bike.  I was not prepared how uncontrollable it would be. I won't be doing that again

Wheee! 

Glad you came out of it OK. 

i used to alway lock up both my tires on my mountain bike( disk brakes  ) it was fun but definitely don't wana do that on the gs or any motorcycle.

Saw a GS while I was driving my truck today. Must have been a pre-04 cause it was fairingless. Wish I would have been on mine...maybe I would have chased him down. Thought about doing it anyway, but it just wouldn't have been the same in my '98 Ranger.

the more efficiently you use the front the less you should use the rear.  this is because as you use more front brake it puts more and more of the weight of the bike on the front.  if you're using the front brake near its maximum potential the rear shouldn't have hardly any weight on it and using the rear brake at all would just make it lock.
always practice emergency stops until you feel like you could brake just on the edge of doing a stoppie from any speed 

Went out on a long ride today in DFW area (Rowlett and Forney) .  Sunny and about 80 degrees today......absolutely perfect riding weather. Saw lots of bikers out today. Anyway, thanks to Patrick and others, I my front brake (not hand brake....thanks Patrick) and I became one.  Surprisingly it felt very natural and stable. Thought it would take a bit longer to get used to a different braking technique but not so.

May all of you get the weather that we are enjoying in here in Texas.

I live in Arlington.  There are a couple other guys in the north Texas area that post on here from time to time.

Barry, anytime you want to ride, buzz me you have my cell.  on weekends, you  need to call me on saturday if you you want to ride out on sundays... SMR (sunday morning ride) has become a ritual, but I don't mind skipping over SMR to ride with you one bit so if you want to ride call me.

I did ride out on sunday 9am - 12am in the lucas/wolfe city, tx area, 12 riders in all was fun ! (got to love twisties.)

pictures mid-way in wolf city gas station...

Great pics! The sunlight and bright colors of the bike really make em pop.  Did you shoot these with your video camera? I'm guessing you had a dedicated digital still with that kind of quality.

Such a large variety of bikes. Any particular make/model that that is more represented  in your group?

Was the clerk and or owner ok with you guys hanging out there at the gas station? You guys might look intimidating to some of the church crowd and soccer moms.

Almost called you to meet up on Sun morn but went out to visit my baby bro and hang with him a bit at his new house in Forney.

I would like  ride with you sometime.......maybe ride out to Wolfe City and check out those twisties you've talked about. The emergency maneuvers practicing sounds like a good idea too. Do you still practice?