The rear-brake is dangerous, and thereby useless.

[Dysco]

Downshifting isn't what I suppose could be called a uniform stopping pattern. As the rpms drop so too does the braking power. Downshifting woudl work well with lower speeds. But when your going 100 and want to drop down fast I drop the bike in the gear I think I'll want coming out of the turn all the while holding the clutch in and using the brakes.

Now being able to match your rpms by downshifting and taking up the slack with your rear brake as the rpms drop is what I would consider a very experienced rider.

Whatever happened to matching RPMs with the throttle?

Going fast>brakes>clutch>downshift>release rear brake (or don't)>yank the throttle>release clutch>release front brake (or both)>going slower

or motard style:

Going fast>brakes>clutch>stomp down the gears>feather throttle>release/dump clutch>yank on the front brake>feather rear brake (opt)>lean>slide>think about direction>wonder why you haven't before>bring tires into line>release brake(s)>yank the throttle>go again

[Canuck]

Whatever happened to matching RPMs with the throttle?

Going fast>brakes>clutch>downshift>release rear brake (or don't)>yank the throttle>release clutch>1release front brake (or both)>going slower

If you don't do this,(the rear brake aspect is debatable) one is asking for trouble,and it would be only a matter of time before you go wide and/or lowside.

Learn the simple art of Trail-braking

[BHeth]

Whatever happened to matching RPMs with the throttle?

Seriously, isn't this common practice? At least for the canyon carvers out here? Like heel-toe downshifting in a car?

Holding the clutch through a corner? That's a joke, right? No one honestly does this, do they???

[Nick_Ninja]

Downshifting isn't what I suppose could be called a uniform stopping pattern. As the rpms drop so too does the braking power. Downshifting woudl work well with lower speeds. But when your going 100 and want to drop down fast I drop the bike in the gear I think I'll want coming out of the turn all the while holding the clutch in and using the brakes.

<snip>

God --- I can't believe that you said this.

[Kendo]

Downshifting isn't what I suppose could be called a uniform stopping pattern. As the rpms drop so too does the braking power. Downshifting woudl work well with lower speeds. But when your going 100 and want to drop down fast I drop the bike in the gear I think I'll want coming out of the turn all the while holding the clutch in and using the brakes.

Now being able to match your rpms by downshifting and taking up the slack with your rear brake as the rpms drop is what I would consider a very experienced rider.

HUH? I thought when you pull in the clutch it cuts the power to the wheel.....why would you cut the power to the wheel while in a turn.....

or am I wrong here? I'm with Beotch... I sometimes downshift to slow down..but then again I also keep an eye on what gear I am in and where my RPM's are at... I never downshift if I know the gear down is way to low....


I sometimes use the back brake in a turn to calm the bike down a bit.....so far it has worked well.... I think I read this in the "Total Control" Book......

[Mel]

n

HUH? I thought when you pull in the clutch it cuts the power to the wheel.....why would you cut the power to the wheel while in a turn.....

or am I wrong here? I'm with Beotch... I sometimes downshift to slow down..but then again I also keep an eye on what gear I am in and where my RPM's are at... I never downshift if I know the gear down is way to low....


I sometimes use the back brake in a turn to calm the bike down a bit.....so far it has worked well.... I think I read this in the "Total Control" Book......

For some reason, a lot of inexperienced riders have a panic reaction/fear to turns and think cutting all power will somehow slow them down faster (though this is way wrong). Downshifting properly, smoothly, and matching rpms will make for very cleans turns, lean angle and acceleration because you are not fighting the torque of the bike. I have been working on breaking my husband of this tendenacy (he has about 1-2 months of experience now).

For reference Bassil, there are several reasons I was breaking the rear end loose on downshifts: 1) it was cold as hell and slightly wet out, and 2) (the main reason) I was out for a spin on the 600 and was messing around with it (the bike now feels like a toy to ride compared to the beast). Though the 6 has like 1/3 the torque of my TLR, if you wrap it up in rpms, you slide into corners and trail braking while sliding can be fun when you know what you are doing.

[Kendo]

Totally agree with ya.

...... I have been working on trying to get my turns smoother, I come into the turn well but cant get the timing of applying the throttle at the right time on exit...sometimes I get it right and sometimes its choppy....Miyagi-san says mo practice Daniel-san.

[RAGrote]

After thinking about the situations a little more, I realized that all were while slowing and downshifting.
I have therefore concluded that since downshifting can cause the rear to slide, it is dangerous and therefore useless as well.

Finally the sarcastic wit that this thread deserves.

To the original poster...
Your conclusions are erroneous.
Learn to use the rear brake and it'll save your hide.

[macktastic brake grabber]

soo.....I am going to add my experience of useless bike stuff to this thread.
I got in like a couple months of experience this summer (like maybe 2K miles), and during that time, I have felt the rear of my bike slide numerous times when decelerating. After thinking about the situations a little more, I realized that all were while slowing and downshifting.
I have therefore concluded that since downshifting can cause the rear to slide, it is dangerous and therefore useless as well.

when the back tire is breaking loose a little too often it is wise to check the rear tire pressure ... if this is correct you might want to let a little out to adjust for your weight... if this does not help the way your bike handles then dont get on the back brake so heavy. if this does not help , dont get on the front brake so heavy, if this all fails just stand on the back brake as hard as you can and low side your bike into something really hard , and you WILL stop very well
btw the tires i have seen on the back of the bikes in this club , it does not surprise me that the back brake does not work
mack

[Mista Black]

well since you should be accelerating through the curve, i'd have to say holding your clutch in as you say here is bad. i usually have the rear brake on most of the way through a curve (even a very high speed one). on the bemmer at least it seems to keep the back end of the bike calm. and i rarely feel the back in slide when down shifting at high speed, so i guess i'm a very experienced rider... thanks.

[pilot]

well since you should be accelerating through the curve, i'd have to say holding your clutch in as you say here is bad. i usually have the rear brake on most of the way through a curve (even a very high speed one). on the bemmer at least it seems to keep the back end of the bike calm. and i rarely feel the back in slide when down shifting at high speed, so i guess i'm a very experienced rider... thanks.

OK, now the clutch is bad and therefore useless. Soon we shall find that the whole motorcycle is useless.

[Mel]

OK, now the clutch is bad and therefore useless. Soon we shall find that the whole motorcycle is useless.

OMG! I can't believe I didn't think of this before! However, I will disagreeon one point: the bikes are built to tolerate far more than the average rider can ever give. I therefore revise my previous conclusion, and sub this:
Since the rider can't handle a slide, or handle the bike to avoid the slide, I find that the rider is dangerous and thereby useless.

Finally the sarcastic wit that this thread deserves.

well at least you saw that...but hey since that went over some peoples heads, I got a lesson on how I am supposed to be taking my turns (apparently at high speed and with the cluch in ). I am so glad I have people who can tell me how to turn.

[No-coast-punk]

I find that the rider is dangerous and thereby useless.

Yep, I think we finally nailed the problem on the head.

In the IT world this is called a PEBKAC.

Problem Exists Between Keyboard and Chair

In the mechanics world this is simply known as a defective nut behind the wheel.

Insurance agents might call this a negative cash flow acquisition.

A riding instructor might call this A FREAKING BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY.

It always scares the bejezus out of me how many riders go for a very very long time with no real knowledge how a bike really works.

[Mel]

In the mechanics world this is simply known as a defective nut behind the wheel.

No, that is a bad driver module.

[dallas]

So, what I am getting out of this thread is my rear brake is useless and downshifting is useless.

By listening to the advice of the group, I should just accelerate as fast as I can and use heavy stationary objects to stop myself.

I don't know how I survived this long on two wheels with out you guys!!

Thanks!!!

[Dysco]

So, what I am getting out of this thread is my rear brake is useless and downshifting is useless.

By listening to the advice of the group, I should just accelerate as fast as I can and use heavy stationary objects to stop myself.

I don't know how I survived this long on two wheels with out you guys!!

Thanks!!!

No problem. That method totally works in every motorcycle game I've ever played.

[R1chie]

So, what I am getting out of this thread is my rear brake is useless and downshifting is useless.

By listening to the advice of the group, I should just accelerate as fast as I can and use heavy stationary objects to stop myself.

I don't know how I survived this long on two wheels with out you guys!!

Thanks!!!

Personally, I don't like using the heavy stationary objects, I like the heavy portable ones. When I get going fast, to slow down I throw out a boat anchor, that way I don't have to use engine braking, front or the rear brake.

[CYCLE_MONKEY]

Personally, I don't like using the heavy stationary objects, I like the heavy portable ones. When I get going fast, to slow down I throw out a boat anchor, that way I don't have to use engine braking, front or the rear brake.

Your R1 IS a boat anchor......

[R1chie]

Your R1 IS a boat anchor......

LOL... I suppose I deserve that for all the ugly Suzuki comments I have been throwing out lately.

[BHeth]

Cycle Monkeys signature is killing me! I can't see the white letters too well so it looks like:

I TAN by heritage.

A MAN by choice.

Sorry, please continue.

[CYCLE_MONKEY]

LOL... I suppose I deserve that for all the ugly Suzuki comments I have been throwing out lately.

R1CH is useless, and therefore dangerous......

[*GSXR~SNAIL*]

So, what I am getting out of this thread is my rear brake is useless and downshifting is useless.

By listening to the advice of the group, I should just accelerate as fast as I can and use heavy stationary objects to stop myself.

I don't know how I survived this long on two wheels with out you guys!!

Thanks!!!

Well, duh!

[~Barn~]

I'm with Dallas.

[Bassil Duwaik]

lol