Motorcycle Braking Guide
Braking a motorcycle is more complex than it appears. You can’t just squeeze both brakes at once and expect everything to work out. Proper motorcycle braking technique takes time and experience to master. That’s why the experts at Boise Indian® Triumph® Motorcycle have created this motorcycle braking guide.
Front And Back Motorcycle Brakes
Besides just giving yourself enough time to safely stop, you also need to learn what ratio of front vs. rear brakes to use when stopping your motorcycle. Normally, your front brake (which is the more powerful one) should be doing about 70% of the work, with the rear brake providing the remaining 30%. If you’re coming to an emergency stop, that number becomes 90% in the front and 10% on the rear.
Dealing With Lockup
If you over apply your brakes, your wheel might start to lock up. If this happens to you, stay calm, keeping both your eyes and your feet steady. If your bike is going sideways, steer into the skid until you straighten out and then release the relevant brake (front if the front wheel is locked up, back if the back wheel has locked up).
Use Your Clutch
Squeezing your motorcycle’s clutch will allow you to decelerate faster by shifting your bike into a lower gear. Just keep in mind that engaging the clutch will not activate your brake lights. If you’re using your clutch to slow down, squeeze on the brakes at the same time to alert other motorists of your intentions.
Practice Emergency Braking
It’s easy to panic and forget your emergency motorcycle braking techniques when things are going wrong. Practice emergency braking techniques in a safe spot so that you'll be ready to use them should the need arise.
Special Road Conditions
Unusual or difficult road conditions should prompt you to change up your motorcycle braking technique. For instance, you’ll need to give yourself extra time to brake when riding on slippery roads. Riding through standing water is also dangerous since it can cause you to aquaplane or lose traction. To avoid this, ease off the throttle and try to keep your bike as straight as you can while riding through standing water. Trying to stop your motorcycle while on a slope can be particularly tricky. Your best bet is to hold down your brakes and plant your foot on the ground to keep your tires from slipping.
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