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- - Rider down - am I really that cr*p...? (http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=133498)

Re: Rider down - am I really that cr*p...?

You also forgot that keeping the clutch out allows you to use far more rear brake without it locking. Try it. :)

Re: Rider down - am I really that cr*p...?

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamesterror (Post 1935549)

Well I was taught don't grab the clutch, and totally understand why now, you grab the clutch JUST as your about to stop / stall, if the bike stalls it don't throw you about, but if you have just pull everything and hope to stop, lock up, release then reapply the brakes you're effectively rolling as the engine has no play due to the clutch being in.

It'd be best to stall it in my eyes than risk grabbing the clutch and releasing, locking up the back wheel.

I'm a newbie like you mate, you learn from mistakes, a drop at 10/15mph is better than a slide at 60. Just don't do anything daft, I certainly have, over taking on a blind bend trying to keep up with my mate.

Ah that's different. Using the clutch and then dropping it (clutch not bike :lol:) does run the risk of sliding the rear end if you're in a low gear

+1 'though... it's definitely better to stall it than drop it if you can, but as I said before, you shouldn't use the clutch at all whilst braking (unless of course you want to shift down with a blip of the throttle to get some more engine braking, but then you wouldn't hold it for long)

Re: Rider down - am I really that cr*p...?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ophic (Post 1935560)

Perhaps the problem isn't the braking - its that you've gone into a situation where you knew you might have to stop, with the bike leant over. Braking at all with the bike cranked over is a bad thing.

Just some suggestions: go a little slower if there's risk, or take a different line which improves your visibility before the risky area, or perhaps just a different line that keeps your bike in a straight line during the bit where you might have to stop.

But 3 times in 8 years aint so bad - is that only 3 offs total? Think of all the things you must be doing right!

Yeah, 3 offs in 8 years is pretty good going :razz:
If you do need to brake at all in a corner, use the back brake gently, but in an ideal world you want to get all your braking done in a straight line.
Good advice ophic :thumbsup:

Re: Rider down - am I really that cr*p...?

I think being aware of how the bike reacts when you use the brakes whilst turning is a good thing. Touching the front brake whilst leaning over does not automatically = crash, and I can imagine that sort of thinking could put you in some sticky situations if you weren't prepared to touch the front brake until the bike is travelling in a dead straight line.

The way the bike stands up and the way the amount of brake you can apply to a tyre is directly linked to the cornering force already exerted on it is pretty much a motorcycling fundamental in my opinion.

Re: Rider down - am I really that cr*p...?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ophic (Post 1935560)

But 3 times in 8 years aint so bad - is that only 3 offs total? Think of all the things you must be doing right!

- yep & each time 'twas grabbing the front at low speed when confronted by 4-wheel monster :) - last time was a case of the car doing a signal:manoeuvre without the mirror beforehand as I was slowly filtering past stationary traffic, so I had to steer away from said car & break to avoid hitting him...

Cheers for the comments guys: Sounds like "progressive breaking" is the way to go, but in that split second when a car suddenly appears in your sight my brain just goes "must stop" :rolleyes:

Maybe it's also 'cos I ride a pushbike a lot, so pulling hard on the anchors comes quite naturally...

Re: Rider down - am I really that cr*p...?

I've never instinctively grabbed the front brake, having passed my car test 24 years before bike, I always instinctively stamp on the back brake (as if I'm in a car) and lock the back up! :rolleyes: Note to self - get down to Morrisons car park on Sunday!

Re: Rider down - am I really that cr*p...?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ophic (Post 1935560)

Just some suggestions: go a little slower if there's risk, or take a different line which improves your visibility before the risky area...

Taken on board :p ... annoying thing was that I'd virtually done that before it happened - thinking through the impaired viz & likelyhood of oncoming etc .. oh well sh*t happens :p

Re: Rider down - am I really that cr*p...?

Oooh another braking thread. Practice makes perfect. I rarely use the rear now, my bike has fantastic brakes and Triumph don't put twin large discs on the front for nothing. They are very powerful - have taken a bit of getting used to.

As Sinbad says, it is possible to brake in a corner but not really advisable. It was just over 5 years ago (7 June 2004) when I came off in spectacular style when I grabbed the front on my old SV. So I try not to repeat that episode:rolleyes:

Re: Rider down - am I really that cr*p...?

Better vision, so you weren't surprised by the vehicle maybe?

Re: Rider down - am I really that cr*p...?

Quote:

Originally Posted by joshmac (Post 1935558)

You shouldn't be using the clutch when braking. Only pull it in just before the bike would stall. Reason being is that you lose any available engine braking (obviously you want all the help you can get when braking in an emergancy) and so the braking distance is increased a fait bit.
Sorry Adreis, but I don't agree that releasing the brake will cause it to spin. Try it for yourself.. go to a car park or on a quiet road, lock up the back brake (make sure you're going in a straight line with the bike upright! ;)) and then release it. I've never found that releasing the brakes after they've locked causes a loss of control.. only helps in my experience.

Of course I could be completely wrong here, but I'm just speaking from my personal experience

Well, engine braking is just another kind of braking. I don't agree that not using the clutch improves your braking distance. You have more than enough braking on your rear disk to lock your wheel in any situation, so that means that the extra braking power caused by engine braking is not needed.

However, I do agree that releasing the brakes after they've locked will not in general cause a spill. It's releasing too much that I was saying causes that. When releasing too much the wheel would would start spinning again. And by spinning I mean that the engine is spinning the wheel again, not that the wheel would start to spin because of the forward motion of bike + friction.

I did try locking the rear in a parking lot (not that hard as we all know..). I didn't get it to throw me off when releasing, but I was using the clutch.

The point I was making is not personal, I've only read it, so no experience to speak from here :)

Anyway, the best way is to never lock up :p