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How do you emergency brake effectively? How do you emergency brake effectively?
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Old 1 Feb 2008
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How do you emergency brake effectively?
Hi, Just finished riding school, license not far off.

Simple question, How does one emergency brake effectively ?

My bike exemple : Transalp model 2004, one person up, dry, tarmac road. In what order does it all go down and how long to stop lets say from 50km/h to a dead stop. I don't want to learn the hard way. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks ta-all-the-way
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Old 1 Feb 2008
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front brake medium (to load the front end and get traction), rear brake, then steadily apply more front. Once coming to a halt, clutch in to prevent stalling.

Practice, practice, practice (away from traffic). Be aware of when you're locking the rear (either because you clutch in too early, or apply too much pressure on the pedal).

The easiest way to avoid learning the hard way is to look further down the road, and learn to anticipate what's dangerous and prioritise the hazards.
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Old 1 Feb 2008
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Thanks Dougie
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Old 1 Feb 2008
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if you can get a copy of the police bikers handbook in the UK (Roadcraft) you'll learn a lot from reading that. probably on Amazon, etc.

for european road riding, staying upright has a lot to do with observation and planning. braking hard is an essential skill, but a tool of last resort.
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Old 1 Feb 2008
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Practice
I'll endorse the comment above about finding a stretch of deserted road and practice braking hard. Keep applying more pressure until you have a feel for when each wheel will lock. Then go back and repeat in wet weather. Then go back again when you get a different bike, etc.

It is great to know the theory of emergency braking, but when the moment arrives you will forget everything. If you have time to think about what you are doing, it's not a real emergency. That is when all that practice turns into instinct. You will (well, should) do the right thing instinctively.

None of this should replace total concentration and anticipation to avoid needing to stop in an emergency.

A wise man (who was teaching me to ride a motorcycle at the time) told me "with perfect anticipation all the time you will never be faced with an unexpected hazard, and will never have to perform an emergency stop. Such total concentration all the time is not possible for humans, so learn it".

I've proved the second part right so often now...
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Old 3 Feb 2008
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emergency stops are not always done in a straight line (eg car park practice) and your life may one day depend on braking on a sharp bend or slippery surface.

if you practice enough, you will develop muscle memory for braking (and how to breathe when under pressure) and you will develop the feeling for an impending skid and how to get out of it.

I'd recommend practising in a car park and on a MX/enduro circuit - the reason that most road racers start out in MX is that you learn to ride beyond normal limits of controllability. ie you master power-steering, braking on slippery surfaces etc.
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Old 5 Feb 2008
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Braking
I agree with Rich , the best way to be safe is training and if you can do some off road riding you will sharpen your reflex. I will recommand you to go a parking lot and test your front and back brake at low speed 5Kor or a bit more and almost block the front wheel to just get the feel of it, once its almost blocked just release the brake and the bike will roll, most of the accident are due to lack of reflex, not knowing your bike , excess speed ( guts).

Take your time and have fun , keep your distance and you will avoid tough braking( watch for animal on the road and don't forget that for car or truck we are invisible.

Take care
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