Braking

**wkid_one** · 26th January 2004, 08:31

Questions for you.....

I use my middle two fingers and NO rear brake...and use engine compression heaps

**Hitcher** · 26th January 2004, 08:40

Now this is one thing that has stayed with me since my advanced riding course! Both brakes, every time. Take up the slack to set up the squat, then as hard as you need without locking anything up.
When coming to a complete stop, I'm in first gear and ready to go. Hard to get used to at first but now it's an automatic response (manual gearbox but).

**riffer** · 26th January 2004, 09:58

I just use the front brake - I used to use the rear but locking it up on the last corner down Haywards towards the Hutt Valley put an end to that...

I am finding that I am relying on engine braking heaps though for corners instead of brakes where I don't need to slow down that much. But I have gotten into a (bad?) habit of punching down a couple of gears to slow down and relying on the engine braking rather than the brakes as much.

Is this bad for the bike? I suppose it is, but how bad? I'm obviously stressing something, but it doesn't lock up the rear too often so I'm not feeling too bad about it. Is this one of these things where, I will know after I fall off that I shouldn't have done it?

**Hitcher** · 26th January 2004, 10:10

Originally Posted by celticno6

I just use the front brake - I used to use the rear but locking it up on the last corner down Haywards towards the Hutt Valley put an end to that...

I am finding that I am relying on engine braking heaps though for corners instead of brakes where I don't need to slow down that much. But I have gotten into a (bad?) habit of punching down a couple of gears to slow down and relying on the engine braking rather than the brakes as much.

Is this bad for the bike? I suppose it is, but how bad? I'm obviously stressing something, but it doesn't lock up the rear too often so I'm not feeling too bad about it. Is this one of these things where, I will know after I fall off that I shouldn't have done it?

You could always buy yourself a slipper clutch...
I thought the question related to braking i.e. use of brakes, rather than slowing down?

**wkid_one** · 26th January 2004, 10:37

I used engine compression all the time - was a great feeling having the back end squirming under you when you chopped down gears...

I never used the rear tho unless I had a pillion (so I never use the rear as I took the pillion pegs off).......

**James Deuce** · 26th January 2004, 10:45

One of the big things hammered in on the two advanced riding course, and the road-racing course I've done was separation of function.

In an ideal racing environment you should be either on the throttle or braking and using the brakes for adjusting your speed. I picked up four seconds a lap at Manfield with the simple expedient of holding the clutch in and selecting the gear I would be using once it was throttle time. This had the added benefit of less stress on the rear suspension so the bike was more settled turning in. Some bikes like a bit of throttle to hold a line though, though this can be dialled in or out with suspension adjustments. You have to be real smooth with your brake/throttle/clutch transitions though and you have to match engine speed to road speed fairly well when letting the clutch out.

On the road you need to make sure that you can brake or accelerate at any time so I tend to go down through the box while I'm braking, but ALWAYS match engine speed to road speed or you can have the rear wheel hopping about, especially on a twin or single. Again though the brakes are for adjusting your negative acceleration and the throttle for positive, and you shouldn't really stress drivetrain components if you can avoid it as this has a marked effect on a bike's handling as well as eventually costing more money than brake pads, fluid, and rotors.

**Jackrat** · 26th January 2004, 11:17

I use a little of every thing an just try to keep it smooth.
In an emergency situation I tend to look for away out/around before I go for the brakes.I mainly use my front for stopping hard and the rear for set up coming into a corner.I like to find a quite car park an practice braking with any new bike I buy,just to see what works best,Plus it's a lot of fun

**Lou Girardin** · 26th January 2004, 15:02

I emergencies, I use all fingers, all toes and shincter too.
Lou

Yamahamaman · 26th January 2004, 15:11

Why doesn't anyone include a 'None Of The Above' option when setting up a poll?

**madandy** · 26th January 2004, 15:14

I dont use the rear much at all when commuting...but on a twisty stretch of road the rear helps for steadying the bike and I like to trail the rear a little on slower, decreasing radious bends.Esp. when engine compression is finnished ie: after main braking when roling back on,towards corner apex.

**Hitcher** · 26th January 2004, 15:16

Originally Posted by Lou Girardin

I emergencies, I use all fingers, all toes and shincter too.
Lou

In theory the anal sphincter is the only muscle in your body that can distinguish between solid, liquid and gas. Of course you all needed to know that...

**k14** · 26th January 2004, 15:29

I always use my index and middle finger to brake, nothing else. Never use the rear brake for setup into corners etc, sometimes use it when i come up to intersections and cant be stuffed using the front brake.

if you watch the motogp they sometimes show the camera view of the right hand, rossi uses his index and middle finger, not sure about anyone else. but i guess no one here will be able to confirm that now

Yamahamaman · 26th January 2004, 15:36

Originally Posted by k14

if you watch the motogp they sometimes show the camera view of the right hand, rossi uses his index and middle finger, not sure about anyone else. but i guess no one here will be able to confirm that now

I still have some MotoGP tapes for past seasons - I'll have to take a close look.

**k14** · 26th January 2004, 15:59

I know for sure that rossi was filmed in one of the last races of the season. maybe japan and malaysia. might have been valencia aswell. cant remember them doing it for any other riders though.