i_am_the_koi
Be Here Now
For me, I see a lot of crashes at the track caused by the handful of front brake. Seen it a couple times on the street with people too. Just something I always think about whenever I use the front brake.
A Crash for my 6th anniversary or riding :facepalm
- Thread starter i_am_the_koi
- Start date
So then you're not "mentally afraid"? Regardless, this seems like an area of your skill set where you could do with some isolated practice? I could be reading into this too much. I know that on my ST I have to squeeze really hard to come anywhere near locking the front. That 700+ lbs. takes a lot of hand strength to slow. My experience with the brakes on the Tuono is that I couldn't really feel what the brakes were doing. I even locked the front and went down coming to a stop at a stoplight trying to feel what the brakes were doing. Consider that to stop the Tuono I need only 1 finger to flip the bike over now but the ST needs at least 3-4 fingers and a healthy pull to eventually slow down.
i_am_the_koi
Be Here Now
Koi, chances are the front brake crashes you see at the track are mostly riders trailing them too hard into a corner. If you're not doing that, braking is quite a bit simpler.
i_am_the_koi
Be Here Now
The ones that stand out are the ones who seem fine when they go off-road, then suddenly biff it when they grab the front brake. Same with people pulling off onto a dirt pull out and go down, when they apply to much front brake.
Just something I think about, admittedly more than i should, whenever I use my front.
FizzrGeezr
Active member
A very informative crash report. Thanks! So my comments:
I have to wonder if your attention was distracted for a critical few fractions of a second by your Dad's warning.
As we all were taught, a rear wheel skid is the "best" way to get into a high side crash. This doesn't mean we shouldn't use the rear brake!
I've ridden a great many miles on the road. Something like 150K. Also a few years of dirt riding on "enduro" type machines, roads, desert, mountains. I've ridden many miles on snow, rain and even some ice.
This CERTAINLY doesn't make me an expert but I'll stick my oar in the water.
In highway riding, I always use both brakes. It's a habit. I don't think about it. However when I apply the brakes my instinct (yes, it's automatic) is to be alert to loss of traction.
Recently, thanks to being less attentive in slow traffic than I should have been, I found myself closing very quickly on the rear of a car that had suddenly stopped. (Daydreaming is NOT conducive to riding a motorcycle.) So, instinctively on went front and rear brakes. Rear locked up (no surprise) and started to slide around, and instinctively I lifted my foot and unlocked it. Also, instinctively, I had pulled in the clutch. My machine straightened out and stopped on the front brake with several feet to spare. All this happened in the time my brain was formulating the thought "i'm gonna crash".
Crash averted.
If I see any hint of slippery pavement I declutch before I enter it and my "watch out here" instincts kick in with hand and foot LIGHTLY on the brakes. I don't downshift and don't let out the clutch until I'm certain I'm in control and fully alert.
My point is, with practice, practice, practice using both brakes all the time, in all road conditions you will develop the instinctively correct reactions.
But even old goats can tune out at the most important moment. Nothing beats situational awareness.
I have to wonder if your attention was distracted for a critical few fractions of a second by your Dad's warning.
As we all were taught, a rear wheel skid is the "best" way to get into a high side crash. This doesn't mean we shouldn't use the rear brake!
I've ridden a great many miles on the road. Something like 150K. Also a few years of dirt riding on "enduro" type machines, roads, desert, mountains. I've ridden many miles on snow, rain and even some ice.
This CERTAINLY doesn't make me an expert but I'll stick my oar in the water.
In highway riding, I always use both brakes. It's a habit. I don't think about it. However when I apply the brakes my instinct (yes, it's automatic) is to be alert to loss of traction.
Recently, thanks to being less attentive in slow traffic than I should have been, I found myself closing very quickly on the rear of a car that had suddenly stopped. (Daydreaming is NOT conducive to riding a motorcycle.) So, instinctively on went front and rear brakes. Rear locked up (no surprise) and started to slide around, and instinctively I lifted my foot and unlocked it. Also, instinctively, I had pulled in the clutch. My machine straightened out and stopped on the front brake with several feet to spare. All this happened in the time my brain was formulating the thought "i'm gonna crash".
Crash averted.
If I see any hint of slippery pavement I declutch before I enter it and my "watch out here" instincts kick in with hand and foot LIGHTLY on the brakes. I don't downshift and don't let out the clutch until I'm certain I'm in control and fully alert.
My point is, with practice, practice, practice using both brakes all the time, in all road conditions you will develop the instinctively correct reactions.
But even old goats can tune out at the most important moment. Nothing beats situational awareness.