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Post by Deleted on Feb 29, 2012 0:01:17 GMT 10
Well I just cant stand seeing 0 threads anymore, so I'm just gonna have to ask away. So this is something I've had a bit of trouble with and have been wondering about for a while.
Which brake is the best to use, front or back? I've seen a few comments on this round the place, back is better for stabilising and front for stopping ect, but I'm sorta having trouble working out when to use which.
Background info: I rode a scooter for a couple years before I just decided that I needed a bike, so I got used to no gears and stopping with even pressure on both brakes, as they were both hand opperated it was easy. Now that I have the bike at first I couldnt even use the back brake at all, just couldnt make my foot listen to my head and most of the time when I came to a stop I just felt I needed to put both feet down on the ground so I wouldnt fall over.
I've gotten over that and I use mainly my foot brake now, mainly due to fact that when I was only using my front brake I was stopping so suddenly that I was either halfway over the handlebars or in real danger of doing damage to myself on the tank.
Having read a few more comments on brakes I'm now getting the feeling that I should be using my front brakes more, I really only use them when I'm starting to slow down, like for a corner (street corner, not a bend in the road) or an intersection, then I back it off and rely on the back break to bring me to a complete stop if I need to. It feels like a much nicer stop. I'm sorta getting confused, but the people who say these things ride all kinda bikes, and I get the feeling that there is a difference when you are riding a cruiser style bike as opposed to a naked or woteva.
Any tips on this would be fantastic, I dont wanna keep riding the tank, and I dont wanna put myself in danger either.
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Post by intherough on Feb 29, 2012 0:22:33 GMT 10
What brakes do you use in an emergency stop?
You have better stopping power using both front and rear with the bias being on the front brakes. The risk of using rear brakes only is locking them up and you end up sliding to a stop. If your stopping so hard that you're "halfway over the handlebars" then you haven't familiarized yourself with your front brakes.
Can I suggest some serious practice sessions on using only your front brakes so you get a good feel for them and learn to judge how much pressure you need to stop comfortably. Once you get to know them then start bringing in the rear brake for increased braking efficiency.
Getting back to e-stops. Here's an exercise, go in a straight line and using the same speed (say 40kmh) do a stop just using rear brakes and measure the distance it took you to stop. Next run do the same but use only front brakes. On the 3rd run use both.
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Post by nobby on Feb 29, 2012 3:49:13 GMT 10
HI Anna, having always owned modern sportsbikes with their rear disc brake and dual disc on the front I found the braking on the Shadow with its rear drum brake and single disc up front to be bloody scary. I do find I brake differently on the Shad than I did on my rice rockets, I tend to apply a bit more rear than front, but that works for me. Practice practice and even more practice is the clue.. good luck with it and just keep asking questions,
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johnboy
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If you cant sit on your ass and ride there aint no use sitting at all
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Post by johnboy on Feb 29, 2012 5:08:18 GMT 10
Both brakes of equal pressure. Riders should practice this situation offen as you don't really know when u might need it.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 29, 2012 6:36:59 GMT 10
Both brakes of equal pressure. Riders should practice this situation offen as you don't really know when u might need it. I'm with John on this one, Allways both and practice, practice
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Post by Deleted on Feb 29, 2012 8:19:38 GMT 10
Thanx everyone, yep practice does and will be happening, great advice. Gonna have a go at your suggestions intherough as soon as the road dries out a bit, until then I'll practice getting the co ordination of both brakes together. Ya heaps!
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Post by george on Feb 29, 2012 9:42:50 GMT 10
I once had to come to an emergency stop and used the front brake only resulting in the front wheel getting the wobbles, throwing me off the bike, snapping my foot rest off my bike a broken rib and broken ego. I have since practised and practised and now use both front and foot for an emergency stop with equal pressure but usually find just using the front brake is sufficient for ordinary stopping. I agree practice is the key.
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Post by intherough on Feb 29, 2012 11:22:14 GMT 10
George, I don't understand how the front wheel would wobble when braking hard. The only times I've seen this happen is when I've braked hard during slow speed when the bike is not fully upright or I've locked it up on some loose stuff. When this happens release the front brake to regain control, get the bike upright and then reapply.
Another practice I do is e-stops while taking a bend or corner. The key to this is to get your bike upright as soon as possible and then hit the brakes (both brakes). That way you're bike is in the correct position for hard braking and you're going in a straight line. Hard or even soft front wheel braking while taking a bend or on a lean is just a recipe for disaster.
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Post by intherough on Feb 29, 2012 11:26:02 GMT 10
Thanx everyone, yep practice does and will be happening, great advice. Gonna have a go at your suggestions intherough as soon as the road dries out a bit, until then I'll practice getting the co ordination of both brakes together. Ya heaps! Anna, practicing on wet roads is a god send. Just take it slowly and easier and whenever you feel any of your wheels start to lock up, release the brakes and ease them on again. If you can build confidence on braking in the wet you'll be a lot more confident in the dry. Practice, practice, practice. And then when you've had enough then practice some more. You'll soon be doing it in your sleep. ;D
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Post by Deleted on Feb 29, 2012 15:29:49 GMT 10
Thanx everyone, yep practice does and will be happening, great advice. Gonna have a go at your suggestions intherough as soon as the road dries out a bit, until then I'll practice getting the co ordination of both brakes together. Ya heaps! Anna, practicing on wet roads is a god send. Just take it slowly and easier and whenever you feel any of your wheels start to lock up, release the brakes and ease them on again. If you can build confidence on braking in the wet you'll be a lot more confident in the dry. Practice, practice, practice. And then when you've had enough then practice some more. You'll soon be doing it in your sleep. ;D Yep intherough I understand what you are saying, sorry I posted at work so had to keep it short and sweet. I intend to practice in the wet, I've only just started riding in the wet this week really, (cause I'm gutless, but we wont talk bout that), but I do realise it's a great thing to practice cause I never know when I'm gonna get hit with it. What I really meant was that I wanted to practice the e-stops as you metioned, it's not something I really have done on the bike yet, tho I did often on the scooter, and tis something I need to get down sooner rather than later. So yep practice, practice and more practice coming up ;D I really need to get out there and train myself to use both brakes I can see that by all your resposes, I seem to have taken the time to get myself used to using the back brake with my foot and forgotten all about my front brake, I do use it, but not properly I'm sure. Anyways, today I didnt ride the bike, first reason was a severe storm warning I heard on the alarm that woke me up this morning, other reason was 4 hours sleep, I figured they just werent a good combination for the bike today. I'll get out there tomorrow and let you know how it all goes. Thanks heaps to all of you for the great replies and advice
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Post by george on Feb 29, 2012 15:49:44 GMT 10
Yes intherough, you are spot on. It was an emergency stop whilst going slow, up a hill, around a bend and there was a cow on the road! Bad combination. Anyway I was going around the bend, which accounts for the bike not being completely upright, came across the cow and jammed on the front brake, resulting in the front wheel wobble and consequences.
I do laugh about it these days. I learn't something from that! ;D ;D
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Post by Deleted on Feb 29, 2012 17:13:57 GMT 10
In agreeance with most said topics here. Usually on sporties 60 -40 i think is recommended ,front being the 60 of course. I find with the cruiser that even braking under normal riding is fine .Only exert more pressure to the front iff the need to stop quicker comes up. Also while cornering as what was suggested. Overall i reckon what suits your riding capabilities and yes ride in the rain for more asurrance . Makes you respect the road more. get used to your bike so practice is paramount . Cheers Ray
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Post by WolfishGrin on Feb 29, 2012 17:31:14 GMT 10
As above, on most points. However, from H.A.R.T instructors they continually preach to always use both front and back equally (and smoothly...fast or slow applications of brakes need to be even and smooth) in all conditions and situations. Don't ever reduce speed while turning/cornering...you should already be at the appropriate speed before any turn, and either maintain same speed or accelerate through it. Never ride at a speed greater than what you can stop in in terms of visibilty (if you can't stop in the distance you can see, you're going too fast)...and straighten the bike up if you have to brake!. PS: I ride in every condition, because it is the only way to develop the skills and confidence to do so safely. Never ride beyond your ability, so if you need to rider slower and with a greater buffer of space between you and the idiots we have to share the road with on rainy/stormy days, then ride slower and have a greater buffer of space! PPS: The best road skills/craft course I ever did was with Sixty Degrees Motorcycles (in Victoria www.sixtydegrees.com.au/browse/browse.asp?DeptID=107&CatID=1109), who taught me how to use the right lines, gears and speeds for every turn, and not have to use brakes at all on twisties. They took me on a course for several hours through several hills/mountains, and didn't apply the brakes at all during those runs, while being even safer. The principal was you learn't more about your bike, safe entrance/exit speeds, and proper control of your vehicle. At the same time, those speeds allowed suffcient time and distance to react accordingly if the need arose to straighten up the bike and applying emergency braking procedures.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 29, 2012 18:25:59 GMT 10
Thanks Rayd and wolfish, agreed with everything you say there wolfish, I do try to practice those things you are talking about in cornering, and my cornering is getting better. It always comes down to practice eh and I havent been able to get out for a decent ride for a couple of weeks, just round town stuff. Thats why I'm concentrating on the full stops. Oh yeah and hey .. I do ride slow, sometimes I wonder if I'm too slow .. but I reckon I'll know when I got the guts and skills to go faster. Hubby has to go the Forbes on the weekend for work and I've been invited for lunch, I'm thinking rain, hail or shine I'm taking my baby ... well maybe not hail Edit: Oh yeah I'd love to do some kinda training course, there's nothing close by so It'll be a case of having to go to Sydney and accomodation and stuff, something I'm thinking about for the future ...
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Post by kinghavok on Feb 29, 2012 19:22:25 GMT 10
My advice would be to do a rider course. The transition from scooter to bike might be easy as far as the law is concerned, but its downright dangerous if you don't know what to do (particularly in an emergency). I don't mean to sound patronising, and I chose my words carefully so as not to upset you because I think this is important, if you're unsure what brakes to use then you probably need to consider some training. Honda have a school called HART that I can recommend having used them. I attend a course every 5 years regardless of riding every day. Stay safe and Stay upright. KH
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