| There's nothing like the feeling you get when | | | | physics, grip, and sudden inputs. These |
| you're on your favorite road with a familiar | | | | elements are mastered only with practice and |
| bike. You flow through corners as if on a | | | | are the foundation for nearly every other |
| rail, senses peaked, adrenaline raging | | | | element. |
| uncontrollably throughout your body. When | | | | |
| it's done right, it's almost as though | | | | Braking is probably the single most important |
| everything is moving in slow motion. | | | | element used in controlling your bike in an |
| | | | emergency. When done correctly, it can |
| You've done it dozens of times before; coming | | | | produce several Gs of stopping power, easily |
| into the corner hard on the brakes. You feel | | | | lifting the rear wheel completely off the |
| the rear tire slide and skip slightly to the | | | | ground and flipping the bike over completely |
| side as you approach the corner. You ease off | | | | if you have the grip. The front tire of a |
| the brake as you push the opposite grip, | | | | street bike is responsible for 70% to 90% of |
| forcing the bike to lean into the turn, with | | | | braking power under normal or semi-hard |
| your knee sticking out as if it were a wing. | | | | braking, and up to 100% in emergency or |
| You continue to slow until you reach full | | | | stunting situations. The only exceptions to |
| lean and approach the apex, covering the | | | | this are in low traction conditions such as |
| brake and looking deep into the turn. | | | | wet, dirty or oily roads, or while at high |
| | | | lean angles. |
| Then you see it. From the corner of your eye | | | | |
| you see what appears to be a rabbit running | | | | Under low traction conditions, the front |
| towards the road. In an instant your mind | | | | brake can be extremely dangerous and should |
| calculates paths between you and the rabbit, | | | | be used with extreme care, or not at all. |
| and you realize they will intersect. You've | | | | When the brakes are applied (either front or |
| already committed to the corner, and you know | | | | rear), weight is transferred to the front of |
| if you remain on your present line you'll hit | | | | the bike. If traction conditions are less |
| the rabbit. You also know that at that speed | | | | than favorable, front braking will load the |
| and lean angle, hitting even the smallest of | | | | front tire which will result in a skid and |
| animals will greatly upset the bike and | | | | likely a crash. |
| likely result in a crash for you. | | | | |
| | | | Braking while leaning over in a corner will |
| What happens next has many variables. Some | | | | cause the bike to either stand up, changing |
| were determined before you ever entered the | | | | your line drastically, or a loss of traction |
| corner; others will be determined by what you | | | | causing the bike to wash out from under you. |
| do next. Motorcycling can be an absolutely | | | | Which is often called a low-side. Be sure to |
| great sport, but it can also be frighteningly | | | | allow yourself enough extra grip and lean |
| dangerous if you get into a situation like | | | | angle reserved (not used) in case you need to |
| the one described above without the proper | | | | get hard on the brakes in a turn. It's not a |
| skills or preparation. | | | | good idea to EVER go into a corner at max |
| | | | speed unless you're on a race track. You need |
| Your riding skills are something to be | | | | to have an out in case of emergency, like a |
| mastered through practice, patience, and as | | | | rabbit running into your path. Changing |
| you will (hopefully) soon find out, common | | | | course mid corner in a split second requires |
| sense and natural reaction. These skills | | | | at least a small amount of reserve lean angle |
| should be honed into a natural reaction by | | | | and/or braking ability. Going in at 100% |
| those of us who weren't born with them. | | | | doesn't leave you any wiggle room. |
| | | | |
| The first and most important element of | | | | Get to know your brakes and your accelerator. |
| riding is acceleration and braking. They | | | | They can be your best friend if you get to |
| involve (and are largely dependant on) | | | | know them well or your worst enemy if you |
| several other elements including dynamics and | | | | don't understand them. |