I'm working on breaking a not-so-good habit

[Willow]

I'm a both brake braker.  I use both the front and rear almost everytime a brake is applied.  It seems, though, that sometime in the past year or so I've developed a practice of regularly bringing the bike to a complete stop using primarily the front brake at the end.  That, for my Valkyrie, tends to make the bike a bit unstable for the final few feet.  I'm working at disciplining myself to use primarily (not only) the rear brake for the final rest at a stop.  It is more difficult than I imagined it would be to change something that is obviously not ideal.

Anyone else struggling with life on two wheels?

[Oss]

you have ridden with me

so you know how I ride (slow lol)

but yes I use only rear once near a final stop and work
hard to be sure bike is in 1st gear in case I need to get
out of someones way at the last moment

[Gryphon Rider]

Last year I tried to get in the habit of riding a Z-line (that's pronounced zed-line, BTW) when there is a vehicle on the right waiting to cross or enter my path.  I've since gotten out of the habit, but will try again.

http://the-ride-info.blogspot.ca/2008/08/z-line-4-how-it-helps.html

[John Schmidt]

Carl, that's exactly what I do when coming to a stop. Primary braking in front but the last ~10-15 ft. I gently start to apply the rear and ease off the front. Just as the bike comes to a standstill my foot goes down. If I have to brake hard, both ends are hit together, sometimes causing the front to dive a bit....which recently caught the eye of a misinformed HD rider in his pickup. Had to be HD 'cuz the entire truck was  plastered with Harley stickers and other fodder.

As for downshifting, I try to be in either 1st or 2nd by the time I'm at or close to a stop, for the same reason Oss gave. I want to be able to sprint out of the way if someone behind me is not paying attention.

Now Gryphon, who ever heard of a chimpanzed, or fuzedzed(fuzz), I once dated a girl that was really ditzedy. Probably comes from exposure to aluminium.    You know it's all good from my perspective.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I'm probably guilty of not using the rear brake enough. But I hadn't noticed any instability in the last few feet. I'm not sure if I would have much success in changing my habits though.

[Black Dog]

Easy (low speed) stops, I'm the same way...  Almost all front.  Harder stops are when I use a mix of front/rear.  Seems natural to know when to use what method.

No issues yet, and it works for me 

Black Dog

[Bighead]

Primarily the front brake all the way through the stop,no problems noticed.

[shortleg]

you have ridden with me

so you know how I ride (slow lol)

but yes I use only rear once near a final stop and work
hard to be sure bike is in 1st gear in case I need to get
out of someones way at the last moment

[SpidyJ]

I was taught to use both brakes except lay off the rear in a panic stop.

This was during the SC Motorcycle Training course years ago.

If you hit the rear binders hard in a panic stop, it will unload the rear of the bike and around she goes.

I know this to be true because it happened to me on my old FLH when a young lady decidied I could stop in time when she pulled out of a driveway in front of me and stopped blocking my lane broadside.

It did not end well except for the insurance check I recieved.  It was also nice that a State LEO was parked in the lot that she pulled away from and was my prime witness.

Both brakes I say, except when I'm ready to put both feet down......then it's only the fronts obviously.

[Jess from VA]

As soon as I started riding Valks, I noticed a little wobble at slow rolling stops that I'd never had with any of my previous bikes (the Fat Girl effect?).  More rear, right at the stop, made this go away.  I use my front and rear all the time, but the front does all the hard work and the rear the more delicate work.  After 40+, I would not want linked brakes. 

[solo1]

Since I'm not a rider any more my thoughts can be taken with a grain of salt.
Both brakes all of the time, easy on the front until the weight transfers.  Ease off the front when almost stopped, left foot down first, right on brake. Sift into 1st at stop, look in rear view mirror.

Panic stops in curves, straighten up then apply.

[Gryphon Rider]

Anyone else struggling with life on two wheels?

Since I'm not a rider any more my thoughts can be taken with a grain of salt.
Both brakes all of the time, easy on the front until the weight transfers.  Ease off the front when almost stopped, left foot down first, right on brake. Sift into 1st at stop, look in rear view mirror.
Panic stops in curves, straighten up then apply.

Isn't this kind of like an overweight person asking for other heavy folk to share their struggles, only to be answered by Gwyneth Paltrow with diet suggestions?  ??? 

[The emperor has no clothes]

Anyone else struggling with life on two wheels?

Since I'm not a rider any more my thoughts can be taken with a grain of salt.
Both brakes all of the time, easy on the front until the weight transfers.  Ease off the front when almost stopped, left foot down first, right on brake. Sift into 1st at stop, look in rear view mirror.
Panic stops in curves, straighten up then apply.

Isn't this kind of like an overweight person asking for other heavy folk to share their struggles, only to be answered by Gwyneth Paltrow with diet suggestions?  ??? 

Are you saying Willow is fat ?   

[..]

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

[DarkSideR]

Having grown up on dirt bikes my habits have developed as such. My go to brake is the rear, I have my rear brake peddle adjusted to where I can ride with my foot on it. I always use my rear brake, and rely on my rear brake. My front brake is then used to control the stopping distance, and I ride 2 fingered on the front brake.

When practicing my high speed stops I apply both brakes, the rear until it locks and then I let off slightly to release the skid. I then apply more and more pressure to the front brake until I completely stop. Practice, practice, practice to where it is second nature. Now whether it's a normal stop or a quick stop I always brake the same way. Only difference is more dramatic for a quick stop and less dramatic for a normal stop.

I had to adjust the front brake lever to where riding 2 fingered was comfortable, and as previously stated I adjusted my rear brake peddle for comfortable riding as well. Good habits to practice, never ride in the center of the lane.

Hope this helps,

DarkSider

[The emperor has no clothes]

Having grown up on dirt bikes my habits have developed as such. My go to brake is the rear, I have my rear brake peddle adjusted to where I can ride with my foot on it. I always use my rear brake, and rely on my rear brake. My front brake is then used to control the stopping distance, and I ride 2 fingered on the front brake.

When practicing my high speed stops I apply both brakes, the rear until it locks and then I let off slightly to release the skid. I then apply more and more pressure to the front brake until I completely stop. Practice, practice, practice to where it is second nature. Now whether it's a normal stop or a quick stop I always brake the same way. Only difference is more dramatic for a quick stop and less dramatic for a normal stop.

I had to adjust the front brake lever to where riding 2 fingered was comfortable, and as previously stated I adjusted my rear brake peddle for comfortable riding as well. Good habits to practice, never ride in the center of the lane.

Hope this helps,

DarkSider

I do it differently. Front brake first then rear. Sometimes don't even use the rear.

[..]

Having grown up on dirt bikes my habits have developed as such. My go to brake is the rear, I have my rear brake peddle adjusted to where I can ride with my foot on it. I always use my rear brake, and rely on my rear brake. My front brake is then used to control the stopping distance, and I ride 2 fingered on the front brake.

When practicing my high speed stops I apply both brakes, the rear until it locks and then I let off slightly to release the skid. I then apply more and more pressure to the front brake until I completely stop. Practice, practice, practice to where it is second nature. Now whether it's a normal stop or a quick stop I always brake the same way. Only difference is more dramatic for a quick stop and less dramatic for a normal stop.

I had to adjust the front brake lever to where riding 2 fingered was comfortable, and as previously stated I adjusted my rear brake peddle for comfortable riding as well. Good habits to practice, never ride in the center of the lane.

Hope this helps,

DarkSider

Dirt bike braking is TOTALLY different to street braking.

It could help your street survival skills if you read the link I posted above. 

[DarkSideR]

Never. Saved my bacon many times because it's 2nd nature. After 16 years of riding it would be unsafe to change.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Never. Saved my bacon many times because it's 2nd nature. After 16 years of riding it would be unsafe to change.

I understand how it can be difficult to change habits. God knows I am a creature of habit. But I would be willing to bet that your stopping distance could be reduced (maybe significantly). If I were to start riding dirt bikes again I would have to adjust my braking habits again. As an old man I need all the advantages I can get. My catlike reflexes are losing some of their abilities. 

[solo1]

I learned at an early age to get the most out of braking..........drum brakes fore and aft.

[Pete]

I have noticed the instability on final stop using the front brake seems to be only when I have to alter the deceleration rate by applying more brake causing the forks to compress.
If I ease up on the brake as the stop is complete (like a good driver) I do not see the instability.
I suspect it has to do with the fork compression altering the wheelbase length.

[havoc]

The bad habit I'm trying to break is riding with my jacket pockets unzipped...I've lost many a good chocolate bar to such foolishness  

[Willow]

The bad habit I'm trying to break is riding with my jacket pockets unzipped...I've lost many a good chocolate bar to such foolishness  

Yeah, I've found myself disappointed after many miles with that mistake.  It has a low level of urgency in my need to correct it though as my Joe Rocket jackets don't tend to lose content even in high wind and I regularly do not carry light weight items in my jacket pockets except at the bottom.

You need to carry heavier chocolate!     

[Jess from VA]

I'm working on a new bad habit.

Talking, teasing and flirting with the local grandma's walking their dogs in the neighborhood.

After a lifetime of thinking of 70 (or thereabouts) as ancient (sorry you ancient guys LOL), now they are only a few years older than I am.  How did this happen?

A couple are not bad looking at all, quite entertaining, and with a good sense of humor. 

Even their dogs like me.  All harmless and in good fun.

On the downside, my personal pace lawn mower just turned into a heavy push mower.   Ever notice as you get old, all your stuff gets old right along with you?     

[davit]

I know you were not asking for advice but I'll give it anyway. . If you keep your right foot on the peg and only put your left down at the stop you'll be in a better position to use that rear brake.  Do it every time you stop.  Right foot only comes down when you're completely motionless.

[havoc]

Last year I tried to get in the habit of riding a Z-line (that's pronounced zed-line, BTW) when there is a vehicle on the right waiting to cross or enter my path.  I've since gotten out of the habit, but will try again.

http://the-ride-info.blogspot.ca/2008/08/z-line-4-how-it-helps.html

Great article - thanks for this

[BonS]

Willow, For once I would have agreed with the title "Braking a not-so-good  habit".

[Willow]

I know you were not asking for advice but I'll give it anyway. . If you keep your right foot on the peg and only put your left down at the stop you'll be in a better position to use that rear brake.  Do it every time you stop.  Right foot only comes down when you're completely motionless.

Sometimes we assume a lot when we give advice.  In my case neither foot comes off the peg until the bike is fully stopped.  The right foot almost always stays on the peg unless I switch to check the shift lever.

Thanks for the advice but it has nothing to do with my habits.   

[Chrisj CMA]

Carl, all you have to do to break that habit is to get your credit card out, order new front rotors.  Now just remind yourself that proper use of the rear brake makes front rotors last longer.

[Jabba]

Carl, all you have to do to break that habit is to get your credit card out, order new front rotors.  Now just remind yourself that proper use of the rear brake makes front rotors last longer.

 

Jabba

[Willow]

Carl, all you have to do to break that habit is to get your credit card out, order new front rotors.  Now just remind yourself that proper use of the rear brake makes front rotors last longer.

 

Jabba

LOL!  The problem with that, Jabba, is some folks don't seem to know me at all.  I don't use credit cards and my Standard has a little over 190,000 miles.  I'm cheap enough that it's still on the original rotors. 

 

[Chrisj CMA]

Carl, all you have to do to break that habit is to get your credit card out, order new front rotors.  Now just remind yourself that proper use of the rear brake makes front rotors last longer.

 

Jabba

LOL!  The problem with that, Jabba, is some folks don't seem to know me at all.  I don't use credit cards and my Standard has a little over 190,000 miles.  I'm cheap enough that it's still on the original rotors. 

 

Holy cow, they should be thin as a dime being a fiend of a front braker as you say you are.  You only have 1mm of metal to loose..... Well I guess you don't pay attention to specs, but eventually it will become an issue.

[Rams]

I'm a both brake braker.  I use both the front and rear almost everytime a brake is applied.  It seems, though, that sometime in the past year or so I've developed a practice of regularly bringing the bike to a complete stop using primarily the front brake at the end.  That, for my Valkyrie, tends to make the bike a bit unstable for the final few feet.  I'm working at disciplining myself to use primarily (not only) the rear brake for the final rest at a stop.  It is more difficult than I imagined it would be to change something that is obviously not ideal.

Anyone else struggling with life on two wheels?

Thought about this and spent some time remembering the few rides I've been on that you were up front.   There haven't been many we shared the wind on but, I don't ever remember noticing you appearing unstable and I always keep my eyes open for something like that.    Must be a habit you developed recently is all I can say.