Locking front wheel vs stoppie

**SMOKEU** · 2nd April 2010, 17:06

I know that both of those are caused by excessive braking using the front brake, but provided the road conditions are good and dry, if I brake too hard with the front, which is most likely to happen? What is the difference in technique to do a stoppie compared to locking the front wheel?

**Jonno.** · 2nd April 2010, 17:08

Your weight dist: http://www.cbr600f4.com/secondary_pages/phuzzy3.html

**The Stranger:Me** · 2nd April 2010, 17:13

Originally Posted by SMOKEU

I know that both of those are caused by excessive braking using the front brake, but provided the road conditions are good and dry, if I brake too hard with the front, which is most likely to happen? What is the difference in technique to do a stoppie compared to locking the front wheel?

Grab a handful without giving the forks time to compress and you will most likely lock the front.
Grabbing too much (but giving the forks time to compress) and you may stoppie.

**Maki** · 3rd April 2010, 08:01

Keep your ass on the seat and it is unlikely you will stoppie. Lift it up and you probably will...

**Drew** · 3rd April 2010, 08:08

Originally Posted by Maki

Keep your ass on the seat and it is unlikely you will stoppie. Lift it up and you probably will...

Ummm, not really. The key to a stoppie is to load the forks up. Ya ease the brake on to compress the forks a bit and "tweak" the brake lever to lift the rear wheel. Then ease back off the brake again till the back wheel stays at the desired height as you roll along. Lifting your arse a bit is used to kick the back out sideways while the wheel is up, by loading one peg.

**OutForADuck** · 3rd April 2010, 08:13

Pretty much what the The Stranger says: riding a CBR 250 there's a good chance you will just stoppee no matter what as long as you use the brakes proper like and the road conditions etc allow good grip. Difference is weight distribution (yours and bikes) and yes how you use the brakes.

But given good use of brakes, a CBR 250 will stoppee eventually, because they have good brakes, good tires (I Hope) and are short with a steeper steering head.

Now take your harley.. well forget the stoppee!!!! Just physics really.

**Drew** · 3rd April 2010, 08:36

Originally Posted by OutForADuck

Now take your harley.. well forget the stoppee!!!! Just physics really.

Now this could be fun. Only problem is finding someone with a Harley that'll let me try and stoppie it.

**Metastable** · 3rd April 2010, 11:27

It depends.

If you grab a hand full of brake while the front wheel is unloaded (think accelerating), then the front will lock. On a sportbike, if you are at constant throttle and don't completely hamfist things, then you should stoppie. If there is some sand or dust, then that may change.

When I practiced emergency braking, the last little bit of stopping usually caused the back end to pop up a little doing a small stoppie. I have also experienced the opposite, where I was accelerating grabbed a handful of brakes and down I went. That was my first crash (2nd month of riding 10 years ago) and that is the one that taught my dumb ass I needed to learn A LOT. So like I said before, practice practice practice, then do it some more until it is second nature. You do it enough and you will learn how to release the brakes fast enough so that the front doesn't stay locked if it is unloaded or you happen to hit something slick.

**CRF119** · 3rd April 2010, 11:30

It is probobly good to practise both in controled conditions so the day it happens buy mistake you know how to react.

**CookMySock** · 3rd April 2010, 13:16

The first stoppie I attempted resulted in an instant end-over. Lucky it was only on the pitbike down at the park.

Steve

**Maki** · 3rd April 2010, 15:13

Originally Posted by DangerousBastard

The first stoppie I attempted resulted in an instant end-over. Lucky it was only on the pitbike down at the park.

Steve

That's why they are sometimes called endos.

**cheesemethod** · 3rd April 2010, 19:06

I've managed some minor stoppies while practicing emergency braking. I discovered this entirely by accident, but once you've done it you'll want to do it again. I'm not just yanking back on the brake lever as hard and as fast as possible, but progressively squeeze on the brake... it probably takes half a second or more to apply full braking pressure, but that gives time for the forks to load up smoothly. It is a very calm and controlled motion, rather than anything agressive. It gave me a bit of a fright the first time when the back end hits the ground again once you stop. I'm sure with a bit more practice I could let the back down smoothly too. As for body position I'm not too sure if I was leaning forward or backward, but I know that I was keeping good grip on the tank with my legs.

**Drew** · 3rd April 2010, 20:25

Originally Posted by cheesemethod

I've managed some minor stoppies while practicing emergency braking. I discovered this entirely by accident, but once you've done it you'll want to do it again. I'm not just yanking back on the brake lever as hard and as fast as possible, but progressively squeeze on the brake... it probably takes half a second or more to apply full braking pressure, but that gives time for the forks to load up smoothly. It is a very calm and controlled motion, rather than anything agressive. It gave me a bit of a fright the first time when the back end hits the ground again once you stop. I'm sure with a bit more practice I could let the back down smoothly too. As for body position I'm not too sure if I was leaning forward or backward, but I know that I was keeping good grip on the tank with my legs.

That's the ticket mate. But instead of applying the pressure on the lever smoothly the whole way, give it a sharp stab once it's diving a bit and you'll be having heaps more fun.

**SMOKEU** · 3rd April 2010, 20:42

I've just never had the balls to brake hard with the front brake for fear of locking up the front wheel and having to pick up my fairings off the tarmac. I really do need to practice emergency braking though. Before I buy a 1000cc sports bike.