Using the front brake...

[sAsLEX]

This thread is about braking.
I'm not a cruiser rider either (though they are all bikes) but have to concede that the geometry of such bikes often affords better braking. The stoppie as we know it, whilst fun and a bit of showmanship, is actually the limitation of a sportbikes braking as the CofG tries to pitch itself around the front axle..
Once again you can look to design trends to show us how front braking has evolved. There was a time when there were reasonably complex anti dive type arangements fitted to bikes that stiffened the front forks when you applied the front brake. This supposedly allowed for a more even spread of front/rear braking. My 82 GSX1100 has it, though it also has a powerful rear brake. However you will notice that modern bikes have gone away from this and tend to let the bike dive onto the front wheel during braking. They have well developed front brakes and just a token on the rear. The theory being that as the bike dives, the CofG shifts forward thus loading the front wheel more, offering better traction and naturaly more braking. This is done with the tolerance and, in some cases, advantage that the bikes steering will sharpen as well. The limitation to this configuration is, as mentioned before, the stoppie.

The BWMs etc still use there telelever front end which is meant to stop brake dive is it not?


The idea is sound, but I think most struggle to get it to work right, they reckon the Brittian would of been soo much better with a set of Ohlins forks in it rather than its unique front end...... but then it wouldn't of been a Brittian would it!?

[Blackbird]

If you search on here there's loads of threads on this, plus a link to a high-level report where they tested scientifically to get some idea of optimal braking strategy (using both a cruiser (Valkyrie) and Sport bike (Fireblade)). Emphasises again that most braking is, of course, front brake on the road, but for sport bikes this pretty much is all their braking.

I presume you're referring to the attachment.

Cheers

Geoff

[F5 Dave]

Well cover me in honey & throw me to the lesbians. Most Cruisers I've seen have had pathetic brakes & skinny front tyres designed in the 80s that lock & push + forks that are so soft they bottom locking the front wheel (GN250s were good at this trick back when I used to help instructing this didn't help the learner riders stop safely). Antidive braking was a nice theory if we never encountered any bumps. Obviously we do & it makes the whole situation worse, although Telelever/Hossack/Hub systems sidestep this in another manner but not really in this thread's scope.

Am well aware of the rotate issue. My race bikes are based on early RS125s that were made for midgets. I've raised the seat ~ 50mm so I could ride it, but it does make for stoppies into hairpins. But I'd still be fairly confident lining up against someone on an average cruiser, say a Hardley or a Virago.

Can't remember if it was Twist of the Wrist or Kevin Camerons book where someone was saying a racer really needs 4 bikes, one for braking where weight is moved back and low, one for turning in, one for cornering & one for accelerating.

[Matt]

I'm surprised some of you blame Trials & dirtbike past for not using the front brake. OK I've gone the other way but all that has made me do is start using the rear brake on the roadbike a bit more. Trials bike esp I use the front brake a heap, severe down hills etc, amazing the grip you have.

Have you ever ridden a JCM SR though?! makes the head angle on a Buell look like a cruiser! Think it's also a speed thing, I'm usually going quite a bit faster on the roadbike (and sat down, which still feels wierd!).

Great advice though guys, I just need to put it into practice

[cbr guy]

i remember going from road to dirt bikes using the front brake, ouch lol, after time you should just click and it will be natural, i guess. im a bloody noob though! good luck anyway

[90s]

I presume you're referring to the attachment.

Cheers

Geoff

That's the bunny - thanks.
I think I remembered it all correctly.

As a study its major flaw is that in an attempt to homogenise the testing by fitting the bikes with stabilisers they undermined a major factor in braking - that bikes are not stabilised.

This shows itself in the 'clutch in' result, which gives best times. However, in real life the lack of control 'clutch in' creates is more of a problem and - contraversial advice here - is probably best avioded.

[Chrislost]

i find the back brake helps stop the back from sliding side to side when braking into a corner.
i also find it useful when the front wheel is above the ground.