Why You Need to Be Trail Braking | Motorcycle Trail Braking Explained

[thedub]

There are a lot of garbage youtube riding advice videos out there, but this one is actually pretty excellent.


youtu.be/gPE67XqGsV4

It seems to be pretty much based upon Nick Ienatsch's Brake Light Initiative, but in longer form.

 

[Paulo666]

Awesome advice :thumbup

 

[ggwill]

Thanks! As a new-ish rider, this is helpful.

 

[kurth83]

That was really good, I took notes and saved the link.

Definitely usable on my commute.

I do something similar now, but what he said will allow me to refine the technique a lot, brake gently till apex to encourage turn-in, accelerate to the corner exit to straighten the bike up.

I like I don't have to feel guilty or somehow unsafe for not doing what they taught me in the BRC.

 

[DefyInertia]

Trail braking on the street is an extremely important skill for managing (decreasing) risk, especially out on the back roads.

This is primarily because it’s a lot easier to get slowed down in a hurry mid turn when you’re already slightly on the front brake, the forks have that initial slop taken out of them, your weight is already forward biased a bit, your geometry is optimized due to fork compression, and you’re already squeezing the lever a bit with 1 or 2 fingers...

It is harder too get slowed down in a hurry when you’re completely off the front brake floating your way through ththe first third of the turn. Trying to jam on the brakes starting with no brakes while mid turn takes longer reaction time and is also more likely To put you on your head.

Imagine that diesel spill or deer suddenly appearing from behind th vanishing point on a 40 to 50 mph turn...would you rather be trail braking at that moment or completely off the brakes?

All you need is some decent drag on the front to get The benefits.

 

[ontherearwheel]

There is a difference in trail braking and covering the front brakes in case of.

If you are truely trail braking on the street......you are going too fast for road conditions.

You do not "need to trail brake" on the street. I can ride all day long in the twisties and never trail brake and still carry a pretty good pace. When I start trail braking on the street........I'm going faster then I need to be.

 

[motomania2007]

That was really good, I took notes and saved the link.

Definitely usable on my commute.

I do something similar now, but what he said will allow me to refine the technique a lot, brake gently till apex to encourage turn-in, accelerate to the corner exit to straighten the bike up.

I like I don't have to feel guilty or somehow unsafe for not doing what they taught me in the BRC.

The basic course taught you to get all your slowing done before turning because noobs usually are not smooth and trail braking must be smooth or bad things happen.

Trail braking is not a noob technique.

Trail braking is a great technique for all the reasons pointed out above.

 

[DefyInertia]

There is a difference in trail braking and covering the front brakes in case of.

If you are truely trail braking on the street......you are going too fast for road conditions.

You do not "need to trail brake" on the street. I can ride all day long in the twisties and never trail brake and still carry a pretty good pace. When I start trail braking on the street........I'm going faster then I need to be.

Yes there is absolutely a distinction between covering the brake lever and trail braking. that part is clear.

Sorry but have to 100% disagree with your comment regarding trail braking on the street indicating you are going too fast. Perhaps too fast for YOU, but that is irrelevant because we are not talking about going so fast that you NEED to trail brake, we are talking about using the technique as yet another tool to stay in control. Even in slow and very steep down hill corners, not trail braking puts you at such a disadvantage. Don’t start the “too fast” B/S, it’s completely unfounded and there is no absolute. I’m not a proponent of racing on the street.

The basic course taught you to get all your slowing done before turning because noobs usually are not smooth and trail braking must be smooth or bad things happen.

Trail braking is not a noob technique.

Trail braking is a great technique for all the reasons pointed out above.

Exactly

 

[tzrider]

I do something similar now, but what he said will allow me to refine the technique a lot, brake gently till apex to encourage turn-in, accelerate to the corner exit to straighten the bike up.

He does say the part in bold in the video and a lot of riders believe it to be true but it isn't quite correct. Rolling on the gas does widen your line but does not stand the bike up. The bike stands up when the rider steers it back upright; something most of us do while rolling on the gas.

 

[Holeshot]

There is a difference in trail braking and covering the front brakes in case of.

If you are truely trail braking on the street......you are going too fast for road conditions.

You do not "need to trail brake" on the street. I can ride all day long in the twisties and never trail brake and still carry a pretty good pace. When I start trail braking on the street........I'm going faster then I need to be.

How's that front contact patch working out for ya?