finally some true tests on fastest braking technique

[Danny]

Taken from another site:

A certain Motorcycle group did 198 electronically monitored braking tests. (Accelerometers, timers, speed radar etc etc.) To really find out what the quickest stopping technique is.
It's too much for me to scan at the moment.

The short of it is: Rear brake application slightly before Front brake creates the shortest stopping distance. Due to center of gravity dropping initially and stopping so much forward weight shift. (providing you apply easy pressure on the rear and don't skid out--
they had outriggers for rider security)

Downshifting while stopping didn't shorten stopping distances for panic stops.
Use of clutch in was recommended due to the tendency of the rear to chatter if you left clutch engaged during the stop.

Covering the brakes took reaction time off the stops and that translated into a shorter stop by XX number of feet.
Riding with a passenger didn't significantly increase panic stop distance, since the passenger created extra weight on the rear wheel for more stopping power.

[iCraig]

SInce I Passed my test in 2001 Ive always used my rear brake more than my front if I slam on (more down to my GS's soft suspension)

Probably 60% Rear to 40% Front, stops me from going over the bars and the front end diving too much and does seem to stop me sooner

I was always told never to cover my brakes unless I was sat a traffic lights then was told to cover my rear brake, but even a ROSPA Instructor told me NOT to cover my front brake whilst riding.

[Josh]

I always "cover" my rear, and I underuse my front :<
But I have never skidded out or gone over the bars yet, a few little skids but nothing oncontrolable, and only when panic stopping.
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[iCraig]

[mr.z]

Brake balence is dependant on they typr of bike your on, bikes like yours and mine are generally 60/40 or 50/50 a bike with better brakes are often more like 80/20..

Cover your brake if you see a potential hazard, covering it any other time is not much use and will just increace fatigue...
you will often get different opinions from different instructors even at a high level, all of whom often think they are right with completely different techniques, youd be supprised just how different their take on one thing is from anothers... did he simply mean don't cover it all the time?

Thanks for that danny, very interesting and reminds me i need to do some emergency stop practiceing...
I can see why this would work, if you jam the brakes on it would unsettle the suspension a fair bit, if they are closer to the optimum point then it would make a significant difference..
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[Robby]

It had to be you that would tell us about stopping quickly.

[Danny]

[Dusty]

Personally the only time I would use the rear brake is if I was at a standstill on a hill. But I nearly always cover the front brake with two fingers. This maybe be because I'm more used to riding a bike with a fairly hard front suspension.

The rear brake on my bros doesn't actually do anything anyway.
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[iCraig]

[G]

Very few people get to the point that they would benifit from using the back first I suspect... as this means that the back will lift up later.

Thus personally I'd say you want to work harder on using the front brake to the point you can go stop with the rear just about to lift before you start trying to use the rear brake properly.

Also note that they had outriggers for this testing.... the rear still turning is considered a good thing generally .

[Mr C]

both my big Kwaks have had utter shite rear brakes as stock

in fact the rear on my 12 won't hold it on a steep hill start

I'm just about to fit a braded line to it but I rarely use it anyway for serious brake work

I use it around town and for slow manoeuvering and also al little for generally balancing the bike when "cruising" but for heavy stopping forget it

I have braded hoses on the front and any more than two fingers applied in anger lifts the rear anyway
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[Zx6man]

I agree with mr C on the rear kwak brake, although I only use mine to steady the bike on fast sweepers, never as an aid to slow down. The front does all the work on mine

[McJamweasel]

Ditto that.

Although when Shaun had a ride he hardly used the front because the rear alone scared him!
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