Garland
Member
Posts: 451
#618
Hendersonville NC
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« on: June 16, 2011, 07:15:03 AM » |
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Yesterday I was sitting at a stop light at a major intersection, six lane divided each way. I saw a black Harley approaching the intersection from my left in the center lane going about 50 mph. At the same time, a F250 truck on my right turned into the intersection and swept into the center lane in front of the Harley.
The biker seemed to have plenty of time to slow or swerve into the open lanes on either side, but he paniced and stood on the rear brake. Rear tire locked up, smoked, and it looked like he was going to hit the truck's tailgate square on. He never touched the horn or the front brake as far as I could tell. Fortunately for him, the truck was accelerating just fast enough that the biker missed hitting him by inches.
Morals of the story-1) Have Situational Awareness (especially at intersections!!) 2) The Front Brake Is Your Best Friend!!
I am guessing the biker is telling his buddies today how he was "almost forced to lay her down". I am really glad I did not witness someone getting badly hurt or killed.
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Titan
Member
Posts: 819
BikeLess
Lexington, SC
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« Reply #1 on: June 16, 2011, 07:51:12 AM » |
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You probably saw my post a little while back about this kind of incident... http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,28697.0.htmlYou have to wonder how many bike crashes there have been, or will be in the future, that are a direct result of riders not using their front brakes! I don't see how anybody who rides a motorcycle wouldn't know how important the front brake is.  I knew that when I got a Sears Moped when I was 14 years old! |
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« Reply #2 on: June 16, 2011, 08:06:40 AM » |
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hubcapsc
Member
Posts: 16788
upstate
South Carolina
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« Reply #3 on: June 16, 2011, 08:20:54 AM » |
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15. How should I brake on slippery and loose surfaces like Wayah Road? ... You must brake in plenty of time, preferably brake while upright and in a straight line (any braking while leaned over in gravel is extremely hazardous), ... Following a crowd down Wayah Road, listening to the roar of pea gravel pinging off the insides of both your fenders 95 percent of the time, trying to brake while upright and in a straight line on a road that is all curves is kind of intense  http://www.wayahroad.com/-Mike
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Chrisj CMA
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« Reply #4 on: June 16, 2011, 12:11:58 PM » |
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What is it with Harley Riders.......there were three behind me in my truck the other day. I noticed they were following me very far behind. Well A red light made me stop a tad fast, nothing scary and all three harley riders slammed on rear brakes. One locked up the rear wheel. I was stopped and watching in my mirror as these three bozos tried so hard to get stopped before running into the rear of my truck. As I had personal experience with this mentality (another story)I was focused as I sat there on the right hands....none were on the brake handle. Its as if they train themselves that the brakes are at the right foot PERIOD like in a car and they dont even think about the fronts. SCARY!
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old2soon
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« Reply #5 on: June 16, 2011, 01:46:57 PM » |
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At an early point in my riding career(don't know what else to tag it) i am ever grateful i UNLEARNED some really bad habits. Rear brake only was by far the most important one to unlearn. Every one on this board knows we gots two MONDO disc brakes in the front. While i am far from perfect i would estimate that 99.8999 % of the time i use the front brake first. Besides-the loud grip and the whoa lever are very close to one another.  I have asked the people i ride with that are on h/d why rear brake only. Some lame a$$ excuse about how dangerous front brakes really are. They refuse quite vehemently to even consider what i have to let them know.  Some thing about cement head or rocks between the ears comes to mind. I actually like a couple of em-hope i don't have to go to an early funeral because of their stupidity. RIDE SAFE. |
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Today is the tommorow you worried about yesterday. If at first you don't succeed screw it-save it for nite check. 1964 1968 U S Navy. Two cruises off Nam.
VRCCDS0240 2012 GL1800 Gold Wing Motor Trike conversion
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Chrisj CMA
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« Reply #6 on: June 16, 2011, 02:43:52 PM » |
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At an early point in my riding career(don't know what else to tag it) i am ever grateful i UNLEARNED some really bad habits. Rear brake only was by far the most important one to unlearn. Every one on this board knows we gots two MONDO disc brakes in the front. While i am far from perfect i would estimate that 99.8999 % of the time i use the front brake first. Besides-the loud grip and the whoa lever are very close to one another. I have asked the people i ride with that are on h/d why rear brake only. Some lame a$$ excuse about how dangerous front brakes really are. They refuse quite vehemently to even consider what i have to let them know. Some thing about cement head or rocks between the ears comes to mind. I actually like a couple of em-hope i don't have to go to an early funeral because of their stupidity. RIDE SAFE. Yep, I have a couple friends like that that swear by that rear brake only thing.......I hope I dont hear of them wrecking, I wont see it, because I wont ride with them |
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bigfish_Oh
Member
Posts: 404
Allis
West Liberty,Ohio 43357
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« Reply #7 on: June 16, 2011, 04:41:07 PM » |
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My front brake is usually first and used more than rear.
maybe on those harley's the fear is that one brake will jerk the wheel sideways !!
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BigAl
Guest
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« Reply #8 on: June 16, 2011, 06:04:53 PM » |
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No worries the Harley would have stopped.
Tailgates will do that.
Al
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Chrisj CMA
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« Reply #9 on: June 16, 2011, 06:40:21 PM » |
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No worries the Harley would have stopped.
Tailgates will do that.
Al
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« Reply #10 on: June 16, 2011, 07:21:04 PM » |
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At an early point in my riding career(don't know what else to tag it) i am ever grateful i UNLEARNED some really bad habits. Rear brake only was by far the most important one to unlearn. Every one on this board knows we gots two MONDO disc brakes in the front. While i am far from perfect i would estimate that 99.8999 % of the time i use the front brake first. Besides-the loud grip and the whoa lever are very close to one another. I have asked the people i ride with that are on h/d why rear brake only. Some lame a$$ excuse about how dangerous front brakes really are. They refuse quite vehemently to even consider what i have to let them know. Some thing about cement head or rocks between the ears comes to mind. I actually like a couple of em-hope i don't have to go to an early funeral because of their stupidity. RIDE SAFE. Don't let them ride behind you cause one will kill you. |
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Daniel Meyer
Member
Posts: 5493
Author. Adventurer. Electrician.
The State of confusion.
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« Reply #11 on: June 17, 2011, 08:39:37 AM » |
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Not just Harleys, and it's not just brakes.
I have this same conversation/experience with counter-steering.
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CUAgain, Daniel Meyer  |
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hubcapsc
Member
Posts: 16788
upstate
South Carolina
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« Reply #12 on: June 17, 2011, 08:47:09 AM » |
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Not just Harleys, and it's not just brakes.
I have this same conversation/experience with counter-steering.
Or its obverse: weeble-wobbling... -Mike "I'm trying to cut down..." |
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3fan4life
Member
Posts: 6959
Any day that you ride is a good day!
Moneta, VA
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« Reply #13 on: June 17, 2011, 08:53:16 AM » |
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I don't understand the rear brake "only" mentality either. Last Saturday on a Poker run a girl on a 750 Shadow was freaked out because she was having a problem with her rear brake. She made the statement that it really scared her because she didn't have any brakes. I looked at her and said, "Well you can still use your front brake." She looked at me like I was crazy and said, "yes, but I don't want to use them because I don't want to go over the handle bars." I thought about trying to "educate" her but the look on her face told me that I'd be wasting my breath. |
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1 Corinthians 1:18  |
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solo1
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« Reply #14 on: June 17, 2011, 11:58:43 AM » |
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I knew about the braking power of front brakes early. I put on a drum brake on the front wheel of my Schwinn bike when I put a Whizzer motor in it. I used the heck out of it when someone turned into my lane when I was running flat out at 35mph and no, I didn't fly over the handlebars either. It's a wonder that I survived my youth  |
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hubcapsc
Member
Posts: 16788
upstate
South Carolina
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« Reply #15 on: June 17, 2011, 01:12:37 PM » |
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I knew about the braking power of front brakes early. I put on a drum brake on the front wheel of my Schwinn bike when I put a Whizzer motor in it. I used the heck out of it when someone turned into my lane when I was running flat out at 35mph and no, I didn't fly over the handlebars either. It's a wonder that I survived my youth A drunk thief learned about the braking power of front brakes one night when he stole my mountain bike from behind my house when I lived in downtown Clemson. My bike was fine, the police said he was all scuffed up  -Mike |
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FryeVRCCDS0067
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« Reply #16 on: June 17, 2011, 05:35:50 PM » |
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I knew about the braking power of front brakes early. I put on a drum brake on the front wheel of my Schwinn bike when I put a Whizzer motor in it. I used the heck out of it when someone turned into my lane when I was running flat out at 35mph and no, I didn't fly over the handlebars either. It's a wonder that I survived my youth I managed to fill a front drum brake with mud/water once when riding the spillbanks in my late twenties. Then I was able to prove "you're never too fat" to go over the bars. Felt pretty sore for a few weeks after that one. |
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"Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. And... moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.'' -- Barry Goldwater, Acceptance Speech at the Republican Convention; 1964  |
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FryeVRCCDS0067
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« Reply #17 on: June 17, 2011, 05:43:09 PM » |
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That's the best article on motorcycle braking I've ever read. |
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"Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. And... moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.'' -- Barry Goldwater, Acceptance Speech at the Republican Convention; 1964 |
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Tropic traveler
Member
Posts: 3117
Livin' the Valk, er, F6B life in Central Florida.
Silver Springs, Florida
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« Reply #18 on: June 17, 2011, 05:48:05 PM » |
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I have to remember to use my rear brake. The fronts stop so much better that I kinda have to force myself to apply the back binder. I replace the front pads a LOT sooner than rears. Used to ride the 4 wheelers out in the forest a lot, I always pulsed the front brakes to simulate anti-locks. Worked real good in the dirt & mud, much more control with better stopping power! |
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thumper
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« Reply #19 on: June 17, 2011, 08:16:11 PM » |
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I might catch a batch of sh*t for this but my buddy Duffy rode for about four months with NO rear brake. Went bad just before the Fall Color Ride and I don't think he fixed it until Jan. or Feb.
If you've ever ridden with Duffy you just how amazing that is.
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An oak tree is nothing but an acorn that stood it's ground!
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