WOW the brakes work

[grandpaweaver]

New to riding this big beautiful machine. Yesterday I had to make my first hard stop to avoid a cage making a right hand turn at a red light. I had the green and was doing around 35-40 mph in town stomped on the back and squeezed the front as hard as I could. Stopped in plenty of time, stayed up and no fish-tailing. After my heart slowed down a little I thought check the mirrors and sure enough here comes another right behind me. and stupid me I not down to first gear yet. Dont know what gear I got it down to I just twisted the wrist a she responded. I love this bike.

[..]

Here's a refresher about braking. 

http://www.webbikeworld.com/Motorcycle-Safety/braking-tips.htm

Good for all of us to read.

[grandpaweaver]

Here's a refresher about braking. 

http://www.webbikeworld.com/Motorcycle-Safety/braking-tips.htm

Good for all of us to read.

Thanks I'm a new rider and took the MSF coarse. I think the training kicked in without me even thinking about it. Since taking the course I've practiced in an m t parking lot. Pays off!

[Slick]

Here's a refresher about braking. 

http://www.webbikeworld.com/Motorcycle-Safety/braking-tips.htm

Good for all of us to read.

Good read- thanks

[BIG--T]

New to riding this big beautiful machine. Yesterday I had to make my first hard stop to avoid a cage making a right hand turn at a red light. I had the green and was doing around 35-40 mph in town stomped on the back and squeezed the front as hard as I could. Stopped in plenty of time, stayed up and no fish-tailing. After my heart slowed down a little I thought check the mirrors and sure enough here comes another right behind me. and stupid me I not down to first gear yet. Dont know what gear I got it down to I just twisted the wrist a she responded. I love this bike.

I am glad everything came out alright. Right after I just put on new brake pads a couple months ago I was going down a road at night with my high beams on running about 60, and a car just shoots out a side road in a nanna second. All I could do was hit my front and rear brakes locking her down, fishtailing in a cloud of smoke- there was no time to downshift or think, but just react. After he/she seen me about to hit them they floored it and i missed them by a matter of inches.

I sure am glad I had new brakes!

[old2soon]

Nice refresher/reminder on what and what not to do. Still trying to figure out why a lot of folks INSIST on rear brake only in any given situation. I've ridden with a number of folks that do that very thing-rear brake only. When i ask them about it some nonsense about being launched over the handle bars. Makes me wonder how any of them got any older. RIDE SAFE.

[BIG--T]

Nice refresher/reminder on what and what not to do. Still trying to figure out why a lot of folks INSIST on rear brake only in any given situation. I've ridden with a number of folks that do that very thing-rear brake only. When i ask them about it some nonsense about being launched over the handle bars. Makes me wonder how any of them got any older. RIDE SAFE.

With over 40 years riding I always apply both brakes equally unless sometimes my feet are on the highyway pegs and too lazy to move them, so I tap the front to slow down.   But in that situation I was in I would've used the emergency brake if I had one!

[Cruzen]

I've ridden with a number of folks that do that very thing-rear brake only. When i ask them about it some nonsense about being launched over the handle bars. Makes me wonder how any of them got any older. RIDE SAFE.

Not to justify their riding habits but if you check you might find that most riders who use their rear brake more than the front started their riding on off road bikes.  Hitting the front brake hard when off road biking can lead to bad circumstances.  I should also point out that when doing less than 20mph it is advisable to use more rear brake or when on slick surfaces such as some gas station surfaces.  Or most importantly when pulling off a paved surface onto a shoulder which has stones.  This is especially true of our front disk brake bikes which will lock up quickly when going from pavement to loose gravel.   If you ever tried riding the Police motorcycle course or watched the Ride Like a Pro video's you will understand why they stress using rear brake under those circumstances.

[Chrisj CMA]

I've ridden with a number of folks that do that very thing-rear brake only. When i ask them about it some nonsense about being launched over the handle bars. Makes me wonder how any of them got any older. RIDE SAFE.

Not to justify their riding habits but if you check you might find that most riders who use their rear brake more than the front started their riding on off road bikes.  Hitting the front brake hard when off road biking can lead to bad circumstances.  I should also point out that when doing less than 20mph it is advisable to use more rear brake or when on slick surfaces such as some gas station surfaces.  Or most importantly when pulling off a paved surface onto a shoulder which has stones.  This is especially true of our front disk brake bikes which will lock up quickly when going from pavement to loose gravel.   If you ever tried riding the Police motorcycle course or watched the Ride Like a Pro video's you will understand why they stress using rear brake under those circumstances.

I agree Cruzin, there are times when using the rear brake is what is called for....mostly its related to tight turns and speed.  Always going slow in a parking lot its best to use rear brakes only.  Some people use a lot of rear braking in the twisties I guess when in a heavy lean and you dont want the "drop" effect the fronts can do.  In these cases it is specialized braking to make the kind of riding you doing at that moment better.  Its not for stopping.

There is no reason to ever be on a large modern street motorcycle and let anyone convince you that when you need to stop its good to use the rear as primary.  In fact I wont even ride near them that think that way...........remember for STOPPING....I use rear only in parking lots and sometimes on a steep curve, but Im not trying to stop, big difference

[BF]

"I use rear only in parking lots"


I do too.  I use alot of rear drag brake in tight turns, u-turns, slow turns and parking lots.  Unbelievable how much drag brake helps to keep you upright.