Getting back your bottle

Just go steady and watch for traffic on those roundabouts. Looks like a good kneedown track for a early Sunday morning.

[mattSV]

Daimo wrote:-

Im cool with racing lines etc, all clued up in that, and im very good with the car and lines, but actually DOING it on a bike is a lot different im discovering lol...

And trying to do racing lines on the road is not always the quickest/safest route. Have a think about doing a Bikesafe course - I did one about three years ago, and learnt loads about braking, gears, road positioning, cornering etc - it made my riding a bit quicker, but a hell of a lot smoother. It taught me to prepare better/earlier for corners, and has reduced the number of BTMs I have had.

Braking with the front in a corner on most bikes tends to make them sit up and run wide - not what you want on a tightening bend. Higher spec bikes with better chassis/suspension/brakes are not so prone to this (note to self - do NOT try to outbrake Fizzwheel or Peter Henry )



BTM = brown trouser moment

Originally Posted by JakeRS

As would I, well known fact in both road and off road racing

I use the front brake in corners loads of times. It's all about timing and speed. If you learn to do it properly, there is no reason why you can not use both brakes into a corner.

I would say that it's all down to knowing your bike and knowing your limits. Judge your speed and braking correctly and there is no reason why braking into corners is not possible.

If i find i have entered a roundabout or corner too fast i just countersteer and fix my gaze to a point that the bike will steer towards and not the kerb...obvious i know

Originally Posted by TC3

If i find i have entered a roundabout or corner too fast i just countersteer and fix my gaze to a point that the bike will steer towards and not the kerb...obvious i know

but the hardest thing to do

i wouldn't be riding at 90 mate there if you've not got confidence at the moment, all it'll take is one mistake and you won't be getting on the bike ever again - as others have said, bikesafe will be a good start or read roadcraft

[21QUEST]

Sorry can't add much to what has already been said.

One thing I will add is possibly to leave the bike in a gear where you don't actually have to change down. Even if it means the bike is screaming a bit(or just reduce you max speed) by the time you have to start braking. One less thing to think about.

Best of all would be to take some additional training. That's what I'll do. Good luck

Originally Posted by BigApe

I use the front brake in corners loads of times. It's all about timing and speed. If you learn to do it properly, there is no reason why you can not use both brakes into a corner.

I would say that it's all down to knowing your bike and knowing your limits. Judge your speed and braking correctly and there is no reason why braking into corners is not possible.

Same here. In fact my bikes are normally set up with that in mind.

Originally Posted by sv_dan

I would say never, ever use the front brake while cornering. Unless you are racing you should not need to brake hard into the apex etc etc..

I'll agree with the above but do you really think anyone does brake hard into the apex on the road?

Originally Posted by sv_dan

Many a people have binned it from grabbing a handful of the front and washing out.
Best of luck.

Exactly , you don't grab a handful. Only practise can make you better at using the brakes.

IMO a few accidents can be avoided if people were better at using there brakes. When the brain has be trained to accept only use your brakes when upright then when a situation arises that calls for it then all bets are off IMO

Even if you don't routinely brake into corners/tipping in it's a useful skill to have IMO. I'll add not just getting on the brakes but also coming off the brakes.

Personally , I practise being able to smoothly get on the brakes , reduce reduce braking and increase then braking(NB you are never off the brakes). It becomes almost second nature after a few years . It's all about practising and training your mind so in situations where the untrained(mind) and unpractised rider would panic , you don't.

Cheers
Ben

I have to say aswell I use the front brake in corners if I need to, its way more precise than using the rear brake. In fact sometimes I intentionally use the front brake as im slowing down and leaning into the apex ( curb in this case lol ), just have to be progressive with loading up the front wheel. If you snatch it - of course your gonna lock the front and fall off.

I can think of a few times ive leaned it right into a corner and realised the other side of it all the traffic has stopped and without the front brake I would of definately crashed, so to me ruling it out as a vice in a corner aint a good move?

Originally Posted by Gnan

i wouldn't be riding at 90 mate there if you've not got confidence at the moment, all it'll take is one mistake and you won't be getting on the bike ever again - as others have said, bikesafe will be a good start or read roadcraft

The confidence of riding a bike isn't the issue. I commute 26 miles each way every day and are fine riding a bike.

The confidence is riding smooth and fast without upsetting anything, being able to lean the bike over confidently etc..

PS, i went back there friday, roads dried. Concentrated on making the braking and lines smoother.

I think its gonna take some practice But it will come with time. No plans on stopping riding

This weekend I think I cracked the whole speed/entry into the corner thing. For me, the key was to find a gear that appropriate for that road (so I didn't need to keep upsetting the bike with changes) and not to launch it on every straight. I got into a rhythm, did most of the braking with the throttle, got my road positioning right for visibility (even tried some "off siding"), looked for vanishing points and tree lines etc. I got a lot smoother and that helps massively.