Modulating brakes

[R-Soul]

Thank you very mucgh to the NASS guys (from way back when when I used to have enough time to go there regularly). I got to practice braking modulation there, as well as on track.

It paid off for me today when a C#$@T swerved in front of me. There were thee lanes, left one going straight, middle one going straight and turning right, and the right one turning right. He swerved from the left hand lane across both of the others! I was accelerating hard at the time, and saw his indicator at the last second.

I slammed on brakes - front and back, and felt them start sliding. I held them a bit then released and modulated - just as they tell you. I managed to stop in time - with two inches to spare.

Interestingly, having the back tyre slide a little was a bonus because when I released, it effectively turned the bike a bit to turn with the car. It would not have been possible to turn using the bars!

Maybe I need to make a bit more time for NASS again.... and the track.

[Road kill]

In other words you had shit loads of room and were never in any real danger.

[chasio]

In other words you had shit loads of room and were never in any real danger.

You're all heart, ain't ya?!

R-S: Glad you're OK and it does sound like the braking practise helped you in your situation. The typing (compared to your usual standard) made it seem like you were still a bit hyped as you wrote your post. What's your analysis today of how your situation arose?

[Phantom Limb]

Some of the biggest laughs I've had are during rear wheel lockups.

My favourite:
Come round a blind bend at 80KPh or so. Theres a lady stopped in the middle of the lane turning right, and a ute towing a massive boat creating a big que in the oncomming lane. Nowhere to go so I pull on the picks, about 2 seconds later I knew I'd be able to stop in time, so I just let the back wheel dance a bit.
Anyway, the lady looks in here rear view, sees me snaking about (having a ball I might add) and she drives forward to give me room (straight past the drive she was turning down).
So once the que in the oposite lane moves off, I'm stopped and she's 50M down the road from where I was sitting

I rode down the shoulder past her as she reversed back up the road

[R-Soul]

In other words you had shit loads of room and were never in any real danger.

I guess, if stopping with two inches to spare is lots of room..

[R-Soul]

You're all heart, ain't ya?!

R-S: Glad you're OK and it does sound like the braking practise helped you in your situation. The typing (compared to your usual standard) made it seem like you were still a bit hyped as you wrote your post. What's your analysis today of how your situation arose?

Thanks - you are right I was a shaken and pissed off.

Edited now.

analysis? I was probably accelerating too hard (although not speeding) to get ahead of the cars at the traffic light just before (pulling off hard while turning right). Although he did put his indicator on and start turning at the same time. I am just glad he bothered using the indicator, else I would not hav had the extra few milliseconds.

I do believe that a noob or someone that has not actually practiced modulating brakes would probably have hit him. Or slid off. Or both.

Practice is king.

[bluninja]

Of course there's always ABS

[R-Soul]

Of course there's always ABS

*homer simpson voice*
mmmmmmmm..... cbr......

[Metastable]

Practice is king.

It is!

Best braking practice I ever had was at a track school. They had 5 "stations" with instructors around the track and the objective was to teach you the last possible moment to hit the brakes.... go in as fast as possible, and hit the brakes as late as possible. You had to stop in line with the instructor. SO MUCH FUN!!!! .... and you learn a ton too. It isn't easy to do on a road where you have to keep an eye out for people and on the road it is hard to get up to a good wick.