The rear brake is a very important tool when riding. It is used for scrubbing speed if you find you are going a bit fast during a corner you can easily scrub off some speed without reducing throttle because that will transfer too much weight to the front and change the turn dynamics more than using the rear and leaving the throttle where it is. On bikes that have a tendency to raise the front end when accelerating (Not a cruiser), it can be used to keep the front end from rising to high or at all. Using the rear brake alone or in conjunction with the front makes for better control and stopping power thus a safer rider.I'm sure I have a many bad habits, but one that I'm trying to correct is I use my rear brake way too much.
Especially in city riding.
HBU?
Spot on.The rear brake is a very important tool when riding. It is used for scrubbing speed if you find you are going a bit fast during a corner you can easily scrub off some speed without reducing throttle because that will transfer too much weight to the front and change the turn dynamics more than using the rear and leaving the throttle where it is. On bikes that have a tendency to raise the front end when accelerating (Not a cruiser), it can be used to keep the front end from rising to high or at all. Using the rear brake alone or in conjunction with the front makes for better control and stopping power thus a safer rider.
Great advise and I’ll add 2 more gleaned from 50+ years of riding. On multi lane roads (2 lanes or more in each direction not superslabs) never ever ride in the right lane. Did I say never? On superslabs and hiways with more than 2 lanes avoid riding in center lanes where traffic can change lanes from either side. Adjust accordingly for traffic.I’m gonna put a good habit on here that saved my life 2 weeks ago. I get this habit from pulling tankers my whole life and I haul very volatile products. Any time I slow down or stop behind a vehicle I do 2 things. 1 is I never pull up on the vehicle in front of me. I always leave 6 to 8 ft of escape room if need be. I try to always leave an out. 2 anytime I’m slowing down I instantly get in my mirrors to be sure the same thing is happening behind me. While running a 2 lane a guy in a Tahoe in front of me was turning left. Couldn’t make the turn as I approached him to much on coming traffic. I looked in my mirrors and the guy behind me was coming hard. I could tell he would never stop in time. I had passed him about 8 miles back. I was almost at a stop and just jerked the bike onto the shoulder into the gravel and went over right at the rear door of the Tahoe and BAM ! The Toyota Rav 4 plowed into the Tahoe totaling the Rav 4. He hit him doing at least 50 to 60 mph. I was fine but it definitely rattled me. The guy in the Toyota was easily in his 80,s. He had no clue what or why just happened. I’m sure many on here ride as I do just from years of experiences. We’ve all had them and it’s almost daily when you ride anymore. Just a good habit I’m putting out there if you don’t have this one. Never pull up on someone’s bumper always leave room to roll out if need be. And always put brakes and mirrors together.
Especially when riding a motorcycle in a crowd a person needs to be alert. If there are 10 vehicles around you you are watching for 11 as though you were driving all 11 vehicles. You should always leave yourself an out. Even if it means moving to the far right or left to gain access to a shoulder. Staying to the far right driving 1-2 miles an hour slower than the traffic will give you a constant buffer in front of you even if someone fills it in you will have a buffer back in just a few seconds. No one is going to look out for your safety more than you. If things are getting out of hand exit the highway, turn left or right, change routes. Do anything to take yourself out of the equation and harms way.While accidents seem inevitable most are avoidable. Keeping safe distances and looking ahead for any trouble while keeping my head on a swivel seem to help a bunch. Having an escape is a good idea but sometimes is nearly impossible.
Sorry, but using the rear brake while in a turn is precisely the wrong thing to do. Given that the rear brake (even on a 700lb-900lb cruiser) only provides 25% of your stopping power, and the weight of the bike in a turn is either settled at the center of gravity OR front-biased if you were trying to slow down before applying the brakes, if you use the rear brake in a turn you run the risk of locking up the rear wheel and/or having the ABS kick in, which could result in a low-side crash. The proper method for using brakes while in a turn is to use the FRONT brake, which is known as trail braking.The rear brake is a very important tool when riding. It is used for scrubbing speed if you find you are going a bit fast during a corner you can easily scrub off some speed without reducing throttle because that will transfer too much weight to the front and change the turn dynamics more than using the rear and leaving the throttle where it is. On bikes that have a tendency to raise the front end when accelerating (Not a cruiser), it can be used to keep the front end from rising to high or at all. Using the rear brake alone or in conjunction with the front makes for better control and stopping power thus a safer rider.
Sorry, but using the rear brake while in a turn is precisely the wrong thing to do. Given that the rear brake (even on a 700lb-900lb cruiser) only provides 25% of your stopping power, and the weight of the bike in a turn is either settled at the center of gravity OR front-biased if you were trying to slow down before applying the brakes, if you use the rear brake in a turn you run the risk of locking up the rear wheel and/or having the ABS kick in, which could result in a low-side crash. The proper method for using brakes while in a turn is to use the FRONT brake, which is known as trail braking.
Trail-braking: Applying the brakes going into a curve, with the more forceful application of the brakes at the start of the lean and growing progressively weaker until you reach the apex of the curve, at which point you should be at 0% braking power and beginning to apply throttle as you exit the curve.
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As you enter the curve, with front brake applied, the weight is biased towards the front, loading the suspension and INCREASING the size of the contact patch, giving you more traction. That being said, trail braking does not involve a hard "panic stop" type of grab, but a gentle to firm squeeze that gradually lessens as you near the apex.
Never ride in the right lane? So ride in the left lane closer to oncoming traffic? Not arguing, but intrigued as to why. In a lot of states the law is to stay in the right lane except to pass, and the 5-0 will ticket you for driving in the left lane.Great advise and I’ll add 2 more gleaned from 50+ years of riding. On multi lane roads (2 lanes or more in each direction not superslabs) never ever ride in the right lane. Did I say never? On superslabs and hiways with more than 2 lanes avoid riding in center lanes where traffic can change lanes from either side. Adjust accordingly for traffic.
The closer to the left side of the left lane you are, the more visible to oncoming traffic you are. Unless you are blocking traffic in the left lane by going too slow, chances of getting pulled over for a "stay in right lane unless passing" violation are pretty darn slim.Never ride in the right lane? So ride in the left lane closer to oncoming traffic? Not arguing, but intrigued as to why. In a lot of states the law is to stay in the right lane except to pass, and the 5-0 will ticket you for driving in the left lane.