Rear tire lock up

[WarEagle07]

Has anyone else noticed how easy it is to lock up our rear tire?

[MikeN02]

Originally Posted by WarEagle07

Has anyone else noticed how easy it is to lock up our rear tire?

I pump my breaks... still paranoid from my accident in the rain last january when I locked up my rear and low sided on my Ninja.

So I haven't really felt it yet.

[dart1963]

First thing I did when I got the bike was adjust the rear break lever down about 1/2".... it helps, but I've had a couple of "emergency" stops where I've leaned into it a little too much and felt it lock right at the end of my stop.

It's just a muscle memory I still need to develop, hit the rear a split second before the front, otherwise all the weight's off the back and it's pointless using it.

[husker525]

I found this thread rather interesting. I have yet to lock the rear tire, even under extremely hard braking, although, I am sure that I could. Of the members that posted, do you use primarily the rear brake for stopping? Can you give a percentage of front/back braking under hard stops?

I use probably 85% front brake, and just enough back brake to set the suspension in a more horizontal attitude. The back brake will also help keep your bike straight up and down in a panic like stop, as long as you are hard on the front brake. Now, this is just my opinion only, I do not want to contradict any MSF or safety course instructions or techniques. I have used this technique from my racing days, and just translated it on to the street.

[99vengeur]

To be honest, I have actually never locked the rear tire. I have even had to nearly endo my bike to avoid an idiot cager turning in front of me.

I have found that if you are going to use the rear brake, use it all the time so you get a feel for how it grabs and where the break point is. With that said, the key is to apply progressive pressure to the rear brake, and not sudden pressure. I use the rear brake all the time, sometimes, it's the only break I use.

[WarEagle07]

I have locked up twice. once while going down hill and once on some new asphalt. Both times I was able to release the braking the reengage

[JonKerr]

The worst thing you can do if you lock the rear is release it. You're asking to highside if you do that. Picture this, you lock the rear and it moves just a few inches to the right, you release that rear brake and the tire snaps inline with the front. What's going to happen to you? Ejection! Locking the rear is no big deal as long as you leave it locked. I've done it a couple of times in emergencies. It's no easier on our bike than any other sport bike. In fact I'd say it's probably harder since our weight isn't as far forward on the bike. I lifted the rear tire off the ground once in an emergency stop. Again, not a big deal. It's all about how you deal with it. If you lock the front brake, yes, let off immediately to keep from lowsiding and loosing the front end. But don't do that with the rear. You feel or hear it lock just keep holding it.

Also, pulsing your brakes is a big problem too. It'll upset the suspension and cause all kinds of weight transfer that you don't want. Apply the brakes once, smoothly, and with whatever force is needed to make the stop.

[99vengeur]

+1 to what he said!

[Superfly]

Originally Posted by husker525

I found this thread rather interesting. I have yet to lock the rear tire, even under extremely hard braking, although, I am sure that I could. Of the members that posted, do you use primarily the rear brake for stopping? Can you give a percentage of front/back braking under hard stops?

I use probably 85% front brake, and just enough back brake to set the suspension in a more horizontal attitude. The back brake will also help keep your bike straight up and down in a panic like stop, as long as you are hard on the front brake. Now, this is just my opinion only, I do not want to contradict any MSF or safety course instructions or techniques. I have used this technique from my racing days, and just translated it on to the street.

+1

I've never locked the rear brake and I use it prob 95% of the time. The rear in a panic stop is not very effective so I just use it when slowing around town at light braking stops and most times in conjunction with the fronts. By using both brakes all the time youre more likely to use both in a panic.

I read long ago the correct method of stopping using max braking would be to hit the rear a fraction of a sec before piling on the front. This should lower the bike's CofG as the rear squats and then as you shift weight forward with the front brake the rear may lockup or come off the ground and stall the engine(if the clutch is not pulled aswell). But in any case the front does most of the work...This is panic stop stuff.

I also read that in a great number of accidents the rider never comes close to using all the brake force that is available to him/her. The G's a sport bike can generate under braking is similar to holding your body weight on your arms only...most people cant do that unless youre in pretty good shape...which is another reason to hit the gym. I think somewhere to teach people what it was like they were flipping the bike up on a 45 degree jig to show the riders what max braking would feel like...

Motorcycle Braking: 15 Questions and Answers - webBikeWorld

[99vengeur]

Something else worth mentioning that many people may not consider, is that under hard braking conditions, the body naturally wants to continue moving forward (inertia baby!). This shifts more weight forward and off the rear tire, permitting it to lock up easier. The way to combat this is not to lock your arms, but rather squeeze the hell out of the tank with your thighs. This keeps your body back and behind the tank, and keeps your arms "relaxed" for maintaining control of the handlebars and controls.