Check fully after an off

boys and girls,


dont wait till you have an off to check things over,

its a good idea to have a look at stuff on a regular basis, have a look at your brakes, stearing, levers, bolts etc even just giving things a little tap or a shake now and again just to make sure everythings as it should be, things have been known to work loose, between services and for no apparent reason.......

[KnightRider]

I am currently learning and my instructors have given me the following advice:
- 70:30 as a general rule until the bike is at 10mph and then rear only
- 50:50 in the wet
- Never use the front whilst on a corner

Naturally it took some time to get used to this but my instructor actively checked that I was using the right brakes at the right time. My overall impression is that some instructors just teach you how to get you through the test, and others teach you to ride properly and safely!

Originally Posted by jonwestuk

I am currently learning and my instructors have given me the following advice:
- 70:30 as a general rule until the bike is at 10mph and then rear only
- 50:50 in the wet
- Never use the front whilst on a corner

Naturally it took some time to get used to this but my instructor actively checked that I was using the right brakes at the right time. My overall impression is that some instructors just teach you how to get you through the test, and others teach you to ride properly and safely!

Now, is it me or is this complete toss? No offence Jon, you're just doing what you're told, but you should be using 70/30 AT ALL SPEEDS! Yes there is a small chance of a front wheel lock, which isn't pleasant, but your back brake simply will not stop you quick enough! I would question the instructor about this. It may well be that he has a valid reason for it, and if so fair play, but it seems completely wrong to me. The front brake has two discs rather than one and a lot more power than the rear, so why not use it?

Ask the instructor next time you see him and post the result here so we can discuss further.

Cheers and good luck with the lessons!

[squirrel_hunter]

While it is good to check the bike over regularly and not just after an off I cannot see how any checks other then x-ray would identify the problem with the brake leaver you described.

I have had this happen to me also, a couple of days after and off and I'm back on the bike (a TZR125 about 6 years ago) riding it hard and having fun pulling stoppies up to the red lights. As I get home and am trailing the front brake as I wheel it back down the drive the leaver snaps off in my hand. It broke just after the big pivot block along the main leaver part.

So would the thing be replace your leavers even after a minor off?

[timwilky]

It gets worse. I was out for a tyre scrub with Dave and Lisa and she told me that their instructor had said the front is for emergency stops and for less than 10mph stop. she rides her R1 on the back only. Now I understand why she has some of her riding problems. They were taught by an idiot

She is now scrubing in her new tyres by not doing faster than 50mph for the first 100 miles. How the feck do some DAS instructors pass their exams?. It sounds as if the old way of you get on a bike and learn by throwing a 250 round at your leasure at least teaches you how to ride.

Originally Posted by timwilky

It gets worse. I was out for a tyre scrub with Dave and Lisa and she told me that their instructor had said the front is for emergency stops and for less than 10mph stop. she rides her R1 on the back only. Now I understand why she has some of her riding problems. They were taught by an idiot

She is now scrubing in her new tyres by not doing faster than 50mph for the first 100 miles. How the feck do some DAS instructors pass their exams?. It sounds as if the old way of you get on a bike and learn by throwing a 250 round at your leasure at least teaches you how to ride.

Every line in your post is deeply scary!

It terrifies me that there are riders out there who don't know how to use their brakes properly. I'm no expert so I can't and don't say that I'm right but my approach is much more like Bear - possibly 80/20 front/rear.

Jon, I'd love toknow why the instructor recommends rear only.

On one point I do agree. Avoid using the front whilst leaned over on a corner, the result is painful and expensive

Now I was taught 70/30 (dry) but was also taught that for last 10 to 15 metres of an approach to any normal stopping situation, generally use your back brake only. Now the back brake, even on the SV is perfectly capable of bringing you to a stop at the very low speeds you would be travelling at, at this point and you avoid front dip as you stop (especially useful with pillion)

My instructor also stated that as with most junctions, the majority of oil and crap deposited by cars is at or near the stop line so if you catch a particularly nasty bit while holding the front brake it can be interesting. While on the back brake you would have generally more control.

Now ive tried both ways and find the above smoother and does offer (me anyway) slightly more control.

Originally Posted by ian2001

On my DAS I was told to use mainly front brake above 10 mph and under that use rear for slow speeds, this seems to work great.....when I remember so as not to make the front dive!

Passed my test last week and this was the advice i was given also. When doing the CBT last year, the instructor got on the bike and slammed the front brake on to show us that you can grab the front brake as hard as you want and wont go over the top.

I normally use 100% front brake (& engine braking) until I'm under 5mph and then use a touch of rear. If I'm emergency braking then I'll use some rear as well. In the wet, I'll use more rear too. When I was learning (about 13 years ago) we were told 75% front, 25% rear - which is fine for learners. Experience tells me to use more front, but the engine braking is so great on the Speed Triple that it almost removes the need for the rear brake.