My bad run of luck

[ital916]

Man, looks like i'm posting quickly again. Yeah i dropped my bike...luckily i was only going at ten k so the damage was minor a few scratches...she still looks mint. I was unsettled to say the least as i didn't do anything wrong in my eyes. Anyway my friends came over straight away to my house on their bikes and checked her over. They said she looked fine but took her for a test ride to double check. Here is the troubling bit. They stated that the rear break is uber sensitive and thats why i crashed, they said they were surpsrised i hadn't before as the back break locks almost instantly even with the slightest squeeze. I'm sorry to be asking for help again but is there any way to rectify this or do i have to learn to ride with it. I ride an 1998 RG150.

Still lovin ridin although slightly nervous bout going out again

D

[Mikkel]

Well, if you lock up the rear wheel... DON'T FREEZE. Just let the brake go and try and get your balance back. I did a big fishtail last night (~3-5 m or so) due to locking up the rear wheel - no worries.

But I guess you should be able to get that adjusted...

[car]

Well, if you lock up the rear wheel... DON'T FREEZE. Just let the brake go and try and get your balance back.

Don't forget to lock it up again 100m down the road, just to make it look like the first one was on purpose, like.

[90s]

Man, looks like i'm posting quickly again. Yeah i dropped my bike...luckily i was only going at ten k so the damage was minor a few scratches...she still looks mint. I was unsettled to say the least as i didn't do anything wrong in my eyes. Anyway my friends came over straight away to my house on their bikes and checked her over. They said she looked fine but took her for a test ride to double check. Here is the troubling bit. They stated that the rear break is uber sensitive and thats why i crashed, they said they were surpsrised i hadn't before as the back break locks almost instantly even with the slightest squeeze. I'm sorry to be asking for help again but is there any way to rectify this or do i have to learn to ride with it. I ride an 1998 RG150.

Still lovin ridin although slightly nervous bout going out again

D

What were you doing on the rear brake?
RGs have excellent brakes front and rear, and you could ride without needing the rear brake at all.
Without seeming patronising, you do realise how braking works on bikes - ie. for an RG 85+% of your braking power is delivered to the front brake? (kicks off huge braking thread inevitabley - covered many times elsewhere)
When to brake and when NOT to brake?

And yes, I owned an RG and did the RRRS course inc. all the braking tests on it.

Could you describe the incident to us?

[PirateJafa]

Oh man, and there I was drooling over it's immaculate condition just the other day.

Well we're all meant to have one drop whilst learning? Let us hope this is your one done with!

[cold comfort]

What were you doing on the rear brake?
RGs have excellent brakes front and rear, and you could ride without needing the rear brake at all.
Without seeming patronising, you do realise how braking works on bikes - ie. for an RG 85+% of your braking power is delivered to the front brake? (kicks off huge braking thread inevitabley - covered many times elsewhere)
When to brake and when NOT to brake?

And yes, I owned an RG and did the RRRS course inc. all the braking tests on it.

Could you describe the incident to us?

As the man said-answer is twofold (a) get the system checked/adjusted (b) check your own riding. A Roadsafe course is a must to get you into using the front brake before you arse off at higher speed.

[car]

As the man said-answer is twofold (a) get the system checked/adjusted (b) check your own riding. A Roadsafe course is a must to get you into using the front brake before you arse off at higher speed.

No comment on the OP's riding, as he's not even confirmed that this might be at fault, but do they not teach basic stuff like distribution of braking on the basic handling course NZ learners have to do before they can get on the road?

My missus is talking about getting a L plate, I suppose I should nip off to whichever part of KB has this info and bone up.

[90s]

do they not teach basic stuff like distribution of braking on the basic handling course NZ learners have to do before they can get on the road?

Not really - and it is fairly contraversial in some ways. Simply put many people are scared of the front brake because of what they are told riding push bikes (also inaccurately). I don't think basic handling corrects this. The road code line etc is about both brakes, and I think for basic handling and when it comes to non-real bikers that people assume learners may find the rear more comforting and maybe somehow 'safer'.

Of course this is not true.

Search through braking threads and you will find much info and controversy. One the safe side -
1 - most braking on the front (70% cruisers to 100% super-sports)
2 - both brakes give best performance in emergency, but concentrate on the front as the rear adds only a small extra benefit (see 1)
3 - best to aviod braking in a corner initially by developing a better slow-in fast-out style of riding (but in corner braking can be learned)

My riding style uses the rear brake only for hill starts and rare steep wet descents. I would use it very very seldomly.

Although other will be quick to note racers tuck the rear in by feathering the rear through fast corners, learners are likely to take a corner too fast, hit the rear brake on the lean - lock the rear - et voila senor lowslide. Factor in gravel, oil, tarsnakes or manhole cover and you're gone buddy. Bin 101. Sound familar drider87?

[ital916]

Hey, yeah i do know about the braking distribution but i reckon i am partly to blame but yeah the awesome sensitivity caught me out lucky i was travelling slow. Haha no worries jafa she is 99.9 percent mint you cant even tell she fell so she is still to me the best RG150 . I will take this as a learning experience and not make to same mistake again. I think ill stick to the front brake. Thanks 90s for the info i will work on my slow in fast out corners and stay away from the rear except in a brown pants situations. If anyone is keen for a little bit of riding this sunday, maybe one to two hours drop me a pm I would be very grateful for riding mentors.

Ride safe

D

[wingnutt]

gidday,

Its good policy to use both brakes together, always. and when the bike is upright. most of the braking performance comes from the front brake, and and easily locking rear brake is dangerous, and should be seen to as sson as.

if you have both brakes employed,and the back wheel locks, and the bike begins sliding, releasing it slowly may allow you to ride out, or it may cause a 'high side' drop.

I'm sure you would have seen high sides in bike racing, you really dont want to go there, as the bike has a tendency to follow you. if a drop cant be avoided, keep the back wheel locked, and allow the bike to 'low side' allowing you to slide away.

keep safe,

cheers,

Robby

[McDuck]

What is the back tyre quality like? a cheep tyre will lock up quick.