Braking

[liamac]

haha! this is great. Its got lots of people talking.

i'll call that number,

Liamac

[MyGSXF:Me]

i'll call that number

Most xlnt..

[UberRhys]

Yes, the ole rear drum brake has next to no braking capacity. If you have discs at each end you should use them....

Guvna! I thought you were deceased! Good to see your not...

[DangerMice]

I have a disc on the front and a drum on the back (which is next to useless). In a normal situation I mostly start with the back just to settle the scoot, but then progressively add more & more front to do the actual stopping, until just before I stop when I'll gradually release the front to stop the forks diving when I do actually stop.

I was initially nervous about applying too much front, particularly in the wet, but eventually I found you can apply way more, way faster than what you might think as a noob.

[duckonin]

Yes, the ole rear drum brake has next to no braking capacity. If you have discs at each end you should use them....

I have left some very serious marks on the road from using a rear drum brake..even after the front has bitten in....

[The Wop]

I have a disc on the front and a drum on the back (which is next to useless). In a normal situation I mostly start with the back just to settle the scoot, but then progressively add more & more front to do the actual stopping, until just before I stop when I'll gradually release the front to stop the forks diving when I do actually stop.

Seems to me it would take you about 2 months to stop then?

I must have demonstrated 1000's of emergency stops. but when something comes across my path unexpectedly I still grab a handful and stamp on the rear brake. My training has my brain quickly overcome this reaction and I unlock the sliding rear (& front!!!) of my bike and also look for a good escape route.

Sometimes you just can't overcome instinct.

Precisely! You need to practice, practice, practice. Until you are confident that you can stamp hard on the brakes and still keep it under control, ride defensively....

[DangerMice]

Seems to me it would take you about 2 months to stop then?

lol, well no, not really. half a second between putting rear and front on, brake normally, let front off about half a metre or so before stopping.

[KelvinAng]

On my Vespa (front disc, rear drum brakes), assuming I'm not e-braking, it's usually front-back-front+back. Seems to give me the smoothest ride to a stop this way without that annoying front suspension bouncing back feeling. When e-braking it's both at once, hard, and then harder still. Seem to work for me.

[Markw336]

use both cause if you use one it will wear the pads down faster and also if you use one brake its easier to fall off

[allycatz]

Well the litle book of instructions that came with my Honda says use both brakes at once.....man in bike shop told me same thing, so I do and so far working okay for me!

[Willdat?]

Well the litle book of instructions that came with my Honda says use both brakes at once.....man in bike shop told me same thing, so I do and so far working okay for me!

A Honda 50 Today has linked brakes....just don't ask me which one is linked, the right or the left! Linked brakes mean that the front and rear brakes will be used in a very efficient bias for stopping quickly. (for drums front and rear they pull up pretty quick!) Now that I think about it, the bike shop advice is sound. Nice and simple

[davereid]

..but when something comes across my path unexpectedly I still grab a handful and stamp on the rear brake. My training has my brain quickly overcome this reaction and I unlock the sliding rear (& front!!!) of my bike and also look for a good escape route...

I'm with you on this one !

I luvs me brakes, and I practise, practise practise with them.

'Cos I don't want to test any of me safety gear, ever.

But, when it all turns to shite, I always hit that front brake too hard.

I might get it right in practice 10,000 times, and then when the dog runs out, I manage to get the front all loose, just like I learned how not to do.

Must practise more !

[The Wop]

On days like today you have to be more careful with the front. While I still use the front brake more than the rear, in the slippery wet you have to be just a little more wary....

[CookMySock]

Which ones to use and when? At the moment I just squeeze both but I'm sure there is more technique available than that.

Nah thats it. Use em both. Particularly important in the wet.

If you want to play with them, try locking the rear brake up in a straight line. My guess is you won't be able to in the dry (unless you lean forward), where in the wet it should be easy. Do it while travelling at about 20-30km/hr - no faster, just in case you come off. Check carefully that you won't alarm someone around you or else they'll take an unsafe evasive action and maybe hit you, and that you have loads of clear space in front of you. Preferably wear some knee and elbow pads if you dont have full gear. Once you get good at it you will be laying rubber marks everywhere.

It's important to discover how hard you can brake in the dry and the wet.

Steve

[UberRhys]

Heard about this website the other day, some info for those new to the road of scooting...

www.scootersurvival.co.nz

The have little vids and this one espically is about braking.

Click here for the braking vid...

Just my 2 cents...