quick stopping- or to clutch or not to clutch?

[Mad Gnome]

So I want to stop quick real quick rubber side down, I grab my brakes and start to apply the brakes front and rear, feeling for lockup (abs? I don got no ABS - I don need no steenkin ABS!- think Treasure of the sierra moto) My first instinct is to pull in the clutch figuring disengage the motor, avoid using the motor as a brake etc, etc- Bone head move? You tell me.
What is the best method of stopping while maximizing the control?
Thanks!:confused

 

[Lazerus]

Yes indeed, you can decrease your stopping distance by disengaging the drive. Maximizing control is a bit more of a complicated question as there are many factors and rider preferences.

Squeezing the tank with your knees and using your back and stomach muscles to support the wieght of your torso will aid in maximizing control as it allows your hands to operate the controls with much less strain. the bottom line is to slow as much as possible without loosing traction. that said, traveling in a straight line on a clean surface will provide the best traction.... however these options are not always available.

The msf course encourages riders to use both the front and rear brake while traveling in a straight line to stop the bike.

I PERSONALLY dont use the rear brake at all during panic stops as the rear tire becomes light and prone to sliding as the weight transfers forward. I find it easier to devote my entire attention to keeping the bike upright and using the front to the limits of traction. I have read many times over that most riders can generate shorter stopping distances by focusing on the front rather than dividing thier attenttion between the two brakes. A front end slide is much easier to recover from than a rear slide while braking in a straight line.
There are circumstances where the rear is the better choice depending on a multitude of factors, however the front brake is the most powerful control on a motorcycle and should be used appropriately.

 

[Enchanter]

In a quick stop, immediately squeezing the clutch gives the rider less to think about and they can then devote all of their attention to braking. This usually translates to a shorter stopping distance.

 

[budbandit]

In a quick stop, pulling in the clutch will prevent rear wheel lock/chatter, which tends to prevent unwanted distraction and help the rider concentrate on the task at hand.

 

[Nucking Futs]

I grab my brakes and start to apply the brakes front and rear, feeling for lockup

Don't "grab" brakes. Unless your WO down a straight racetrack your brakes should be covered in anticipation of braking, then its a smooth steady application until lock up. On the street if your asking this question you should clutch it in order to end up in the right gear to accelerate away from the danger.

 

[Don Tuite]

Use the clutch. If you've been in a panic stop situation in a car with a manual transmission, and you have not de-clutched, you'll have noticed that the car slows (or skids, depending on how well you handle the brakes), but also, as you get near zero speed, the car bucks until the engine stalls or you remember to get your left foot on the clutch pedal. That bucking, followed by a dead, in-gear engine is NOT what you want to duplicate on a motorcycle.

Don

 

[cold100onhw1]

Butt all the way back in the seat and grip the tank with your knees. as much front brake as you can without locking the wheel if it starts to lock ease up a little. a little bit of back brake, and then a few down shifts. thats what i do. just make sure you don't lock up the front or back wheel.

 

[Dmk510]

Pull the clutch and downshift as needed to keep the rpms where you will need them with you let go of the clutch.

 

[Mad Gnome]

Hmm,
I hear you. It is better to avoid the situation than wind up in a bavarian fire drill. Looks like that's the way to do it, and yeah it does feel right when that situation arises. When that target fixation starts to kick in, one less thng to worry about (I love my target fixation - I'm working on changing it to an escape path fixation. Dangerous hobby - practicing that).
I would rather overthink this than under tho.
Is there is any advantage at all to keeping the engine engaged?
& thanks for the info!

 

[Jimbo007]

Practice that sh*t. I do it almost every fun-time ride. Practice with a passenger, too. Wear all your gear and go from 30 to zero, then fifty, then seventy. Listen for the front tire to start howling, that's right before it skids. I like to do some uphill and some downhill.

I pull the clutch in, don't use the rear brake, and concentrate on the front traction. It's tough on your wrists. I'll experiment a bit with body position, too. I also don't come to a complete stop, I california-roll to keep the rotors spinning so they don't get super hot.

 

[OldMadBrit]

Practice that sh*t. I do it almost every fun-time ride. Practice with a passenger, too. Wear all your gear and go from 30 to zero, then fifty, then seventy. Listen for the front tire to start howling, that's right before it skids. I like to do some uphill and some downhill.

I pull the clutch in, don't use the rear brake, and concentrate on the front traction. It's tough on your wrists. I'll experiment a bit with body position, too. I also don't come to a complete stop, I california-roll to keep the rotors spinning so they don't get super hot.

+1 mine lifts the rear in a hard stop.

 

[scalvert]

If you're braking in a straight line I say pull in the clutch and just work the brakes. It's different if you're braking in anticipation of a corner. In that case you want to synchronize downshifts while braking so there's no awkward clutch letting out moment mid corner.

 

[Enchanter]

Is there is any advantage at all to keeping the engine engaged?

The disadvantage is longer stopping distances.