I nearly crapped my pants...

**howdamnhard** · 2nd January 2008, 00:13

Well done for keeping it upright and get those tyres replaced.

**skidMark** · 2nd January 2008, 00:25

it's not a tyre issue.

you cannot get anything even close to decent for a gn believe me i tried.

just don't use the rear brake.

and put motorcross handlebars on it instead of those lethal curved back ones

$30 at botany honda or $25 or something.

9 trugood drive east tamaki....off ti rakau (can't spell it when drunk fuck)

the difference is amazing...not relevantto your problem but do it.

**skidMark** · 2nd January 2008, 00:26

Originally Posted by Badger8

The brakes are generally the preferred method for decelerating the bike

Using both brakes, guess i applied the rear a little harder than i should've in the situation.

don't use rears at all.

**turtleman** · 2nd January 2008, 00:34

Originally Posted by skidMark

don't use rears at all.

Does this comment apply to any bike, or just GN's ?
Or is this just your preferred method ?

I'm curious, because surely the designer put a rear brake there for a reason other than cosmetics...

**howdamnhard** · 2nd January 2008, 00:49

Its fine to use both front and rear brakes.Just be aware that most of your stopping power is on your front.You need to be aware that as you decelerate the weight transfers to your front and therefore the rear tyre's contact with the road decreases and the rear is more likely to lose grip if you maintain the same braking force on the rear.Also remember as you decelerate to gear down and use your throttle to help control your speed.(don't gear down to far otherwise you will lock up back,if you do pull clucth in quickly)

**Subike** · 2nd January 2008, 01:06

years ago when I first started riding, a suzuki 50, drum brakes, my loving brother de-adjusted the rear brake so that it didnt work.....forced to rely upon the front brake only i soon developed a reflex reaction in the right place.
Not a thing I would recomend on the road for normal riding, but if you want to get a bit of a mind set for using the front brake only, well, it worked , front brake is my first reaction for any incident except a front punture.
Tyres may cost money, but whats the value of you life? A set of cheap plactics?
There are only two black things between you and the road, make sure they are the best for your ride, and not your pocket

**howdamnhard** · 2nd January 2008, 01:09

Pm Blackbird for some really good info on emergency braking,it explains the dynamics of braking very well.

**howdamnhard** · 2nd January 2008, 01:13

Yea when I got my GN250 the guy before me had dropped it and bent the back brake lever making it hard to reach and I also got into the habit of using the front only.There are times though that the back brake is required.

Originally Posted by Subike

years ago when I first started riding, a suzuki 50, drum brakes, my loving brother de-adjusted the rear brake so that it didnt work.....forced to rely upon the front brake only i soon developed a reflex reaction in the right place.
Not a thing I would recomend on the road for normal riding, but if you want to get a bit of a mind set for using the front brake only, well, it worked , front brake is my first reaction for any incident except a front punture.
Tyres may cost money, but whats the value of you life? A set of cheap plactics?
There are only two black things between you and the road, make sure they are the best for your ride, and not your pocket

**PrincessBandit** · 2nd January 2008, 07:00

Originally Posted by RantyDave

The stock tyres on a GN are shocking.

Agreed, especially that hideous front one. I had all sorts of niggly things with my GN (Chinese made one, so maybe that was my problem), but having said that we haven't replaced either tyre on it after nearly 18 months from new. Maybe the three of us who ride it have just been lucky or ride like great-grand-nanas.

**RantyDave** · 2nd January 2008, 07:12

Originally Posted by PrincessBandit

[shitty GN tyres] Agreed, especially that hideous front one ... we haven't replaced either tyre on it after nearly 18 months from new.

That's exactly why it's so hideous - it's a really plasticy compound rather than a rubbery one. Great longetivity but terrible for, y'know, sticking to the road and stuff.

Dave

**skidMark** · 2nd January 2008, 07:50

Originally Posted by turtleman

Does this comment apply to any bike, or just GN's ?
Or is this just your preferred method ?

I'm curious, because surely the designer put a rear brake there for a reason other than cosmetics...

my preferred method because it's the proper way to do it

only time i use rears is if i want to slide under brakes into a corner on purpose....

or if i gotta stop in a fooking big hurry .....or slide the rear out to avoid a hazard then get off the brakes regain traction and keep going.

they are a useful part when used properly...

but they lock up too easily to be using them all the time...because it turns into a bad habbit when you on the open road pushing it or the track....

and you have use it round town heaps....can really screw ya up on the road.

so put simple yes i prefer it...

and any bike.

SM

**Monsterbishi** · 2nd January 2008, 08:16

In normal riding conditions, ie, asphalt/chipseal road - forget that the rear brake exists, it's more trouble than it's worth.

I can count on my hands the total amount of times I've used the rear brake on any of my bikes over the last 15 years, and every time has been to avoid a fubar situation.

**smoky** · 2nd January 2008, 08:34

Originally Posted by skidMark

just don't use the rear brake.
and put motorcross handlebars on it instead of those lethal curved back ones

Originally Posted by skidMark

only time i use rears is if i want to slide under brakes into a corner on purpose....

Best advise I can give – don’t get your riding advise from KB

I won’t get into the rear brake use discussion except to say there’s all sorts of reasons to use your rear brake other than backing into a corner, as skidmark suggests, like anti-dive, compressing the suspension, stabilising the bike, bla bla bla
Get some good advise from someone who's been around a while and qualified to give instructions - if you haven't already done so.

**Badger8** · 2nd January 2008, 09:40

Originally Posted by smoky

Best advise I can give – don’t get your riding advise from KB

I won’t get into the rear brake use discussion except to say there’s all sorts of reasons to use your rear brake other than backing into a corner, as skidmark suggests, like anti-dive, compressing the suspension, stabilising the bike, bla bla bla
Get some good advise from someone who's been around a while and qualified to give instructions - if you haven't already done so.

indeed. i use the back brakes more for trailing to increase stability/smoothness than i do for general braking. often good in traffic too, soft trailing and a light squeeze when necessary is great for low speed stability and smoothness.

i have my own riding style, and own ideas about whats best (as we all do), but i am always open to input (taken with a large grain of salt no matter who you are, no offense to anyone it's just the way i am)

i may not be stuck on the GN for too much longer, going to go for an exemption at some stage, so will see how things play out before i worry about doing her up too much. For now i'll just keep riding like a nana