Braking

N350zYR6 · 11-14-2007, 11:30 PM

Hey guys, i just joined this forum... i dont have a bike yet but will be getting one shortly. I probly have one of the biggest noob questions you've ever heard but here it goes: Ive heard that when braking on a motorcycle you use 90% of your front brake and about 10% of your rear to avoid the back tire locking up. Is this true?

Aqualung · 11-15-2007, 01:10 AM

I think it's better to break more with your front break than your back, just because you have more control, but 90/10 seems really high. Plus, it depends in what type of situation you're in. If you're breaking on really rough ground (like a gravelly shoulder or something) you'll want to use more front break to try to prevent skidding.

By the way, I'm from Spokane. Howdy, neighbour.

N350zYR6 · 11-15-2007, 01:44 AM

thx for the input, probly going out to get an 08 kawi 250 for a starter bike tomorrow... have you seen em? they look way better now! live in spokompton huh? nice. winterized your bike yet?

damooster · 11-15-2007, 06:34 AM

I think you're talking about braking power. In our MSF class, they told us that your front brake has 70% of your overall braking power. You are taught to use both brakes equally at the same time to avoid locking up and skidding.

11-15-2007, 10:30 AM

Using brakes is very important to safe sucessful MCing.

There is not any one formula for proper braking. Each MC and rider is different.

Some MC have features that equalize and control front/rear brake pressure (ABS), Some MC have dual disc up front and single disc in the rear causing different handling/stopping chartisteristics than a MC with single disc front and back

Braking can be very different in different seasons. Stopping on ice, snow, Black ice(Idaho), sand is real different than summer stopping on good clear pavement. Yank to hard on the front brake on ice and your front end will pull down and out from under you!

I am bad about braking too much with the front brake, I tend to over use it or use it exclusively, bad, bad, bad. . Proper braking should involve both brakes in coordinated, balanced manner. In stead of worrying about formulas, learn to 'feel' more.

Motorcycles are different than cars (gee, ya think so?), you can feel the brakes and road surface/conditions more directly and customize & coordinate front and back brake pressure to fit current conditions and circumstances.

You also have opportunities to incorporate mechanical braking with engine braking to add a third element and achieve more effective slowing/stopping control.

I know this was probably not the definitive answer you were looking for, but like I said many braking dynamics change, MC to MC, season to season, moment to moment, so there is not a set formula or techneque that will cover all braking needs.

MC braking is kinda like the intuition suggested in 'Star Wars'... 'Use the Force young N350zYR6, use the Force!'

Ride safe & long,
Colorado Fats

Aqualung · 11-15-2007, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N350zYR6

live in spokompton huh? nice. winterized your bike yet?

Nah, I don't actually have a bike. College student and all, no money.

11-15-2007, 12:34 PM

CO is right on there being no constant rule for how much brake to use in every situation, experience will be your teacher there.

If you're going to favor one brake over the other, the front one is a better choice and you won't go over the handlebars unless you're trying to(in other words, no stunting). But you still are better using both.

C50-Blvd. · 11-15-2007, 12:47 PM

There is no disputing that your front brake provides the majority of your stopping power on a motorcycle. They quoted the average in my motorcycle safety course. That was many years ago now, but it was either 70 or 75% of your stopping power. That said, while I try to make it a practice of using both front and rear brakes, many times I don't depending on circumstances and frankly my own laziness. And truth be told, a lot of times I downshift to slow down and use very little brake. As COFats said, everyone has a different riding style. Weather and road conditions play a big part as well.

11-14-2007, 11:30 PM	#1
N350zYR6 Motorcyclist Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Couer D Alene, ID Posts: 12	Braking Hey guys, i just joined this forum... i dont have a bike yet but will be getting one shortly. I probly have one of the biggest noob questions you've ever heard but here it goes: Ive heard that when braking on a motorcycle you use 90% of your front brake and about 10% of your rear to avoid the back tire locking up. Is this true?

11-15-2007, 10:30 AM	#5
COFats Guest Posts: n/a	Braking Using brakes is very important to safe sucessful MCing. There is not any one formula for proper braking. Each MC and rider is different. Some MC have features that equalize and control front/rear brake pressure (ABS), Some MC have dual disc up front and single disc in the rear causing different handling/stopping chartisteristics than a MC with single disc front and back Braking can be very different in different seasons. Stopping on ice, snow, Black ice(Idaho), sand is real different than summer stopping on good clear pavement. Yank to hard on the front brake on ice and your front end will pull down and out from under you! I am bad about braking too much with the front brake, I tend to over use it or use it exclusively, bad, bad, bad. . Proper braking should involve both brakes in coordinated, balanced manner. In stead of worrying about formulas, learn to 'feel' more. Motorcycles are different than cars (gee, ya think so?), you can feel the brakes and road surface/conditions more directly and customize & coordinate front and back brake pressure to fit current conditions and circumstances. You also have opportunities to incorporate mechanical braking with engine braking to add a third element and achieve more effective slowing/stopping control. I know this was probably not the definitive answer you were looking for, but like I said many braking dynamics change, MC to MC, season to season, moment to moment, so there is not a set formula or techneque that will cover all braking needs. MC braking is kinda like the intuition suggested in 'Star Wars'... 'Use the Force young N350zYR6, use the Force!' Ride safe & long, Colorado Fats

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11-15-2007, 01:10 AM	#2
Aqualung Verified Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: OR/WA Posts: 53	I think it's better to break more with your front break than your back, just because you have more control, but 90/10 seems really high. Plus, it depends in what type of situation you're in. If you're breaking on really rough ground (like a gravelly shoulder or something) you'll want to use more front break to try to prevent skidding. By the way, I'm from Spokane. Howdy, neighbour.

11-15-2007, 01:44 AM	#3
N350zYR6 Motorcyclist Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Couer D Alene, ID Posts: 12	thx for the input, probly going out to get an 08 kawi 250 for a starter bike tomorrow... have you seen em? they look way better now! live in spokompton huh? nice. winterized your bike yet?

11-15-2007, 06:34 AM	#4
damooster Motorcyclist Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 9	I think you're talking about braking power. In our MSF class, they told us that your front brake has 70% of your overall braking power. You are taught to use both brakes equally at the same time to avoid locking up and skidding.

11-15-2007, 12:34 PM	#7
Uesque Guest Posts: n/a	CO is right on there being no constant rule for how much brake to use in every situation, experience will be your teacher there. If you're going to favor one brake over the other, the front one is a better choice and you won't go over the handlebars unless you're trying to(in other words, no stunting). But you still are better using both.

11-15-2007, 12:47 PM	#8
C50-Blvd. Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Harrisburg, PA Posts: 394	There is no disputing that your front brake provides the majority of your stopping power on a motorcycle. They quoted the average in my motorcycle safety course. That was many years ago now, but it was either 70 or 75% of your stopping power. That said, while I try to make it a practice of using both front and rear brakes, many times I don't depending on circumstances and frankly my own laziness. And truth be told, a lot of times I downshift to slow down and use very little brake. As COFats said, everyone has a different riding style. Weather and road conditions play a big part as well.