Triumphrat

Pickaxe · 03-10-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by graeme

Are the brakes "grabby", or is it just that when you pull the front brake there is so much suspension travel to take up, that they feel as if they're not doing anything so you apply more pressure without realising it, then when the suspension travel is taken up the brakes grap because of the pressure ??

Is it bad riding style or bad brakes ??

I'm asking that as a question as I don't know the answer.

I must admit I use my rear brake in most urban situations and "normal" riding, it's only when I'm "making progress" that I'm forced to use the front.

I'm sure there's alot of people that wouldn't recognise warped discs. However, if you do a lot of riding and you've got a modicum of mechanical knowledge, you'd definitely tell the difference.
you're right though, alot of people use front brakes at low speed, which, causes excessive fork dive and therefore instability.

p2gee · 03-11-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by graeme

I must admit I use my rear brake in most urban situations and "normal" riding, it's only when I'm "making progress" that I'm forced to use the front.

Maybe I'm wrong or just different but when I ride, the front brake is my primary go to brake in all traffic situations with the rear rear brake used for support. To stop a motorcycle quickly in a emergency situation requires proper front brake use. By "practicing" using the front brake in normal traffic situations I feel I'm better prepared and comfortable using it in emergency stiuations. I just purchased a used 06 Tiger and will admit the front binder tended to be a little grabby at first. But now I am better at modulating it and can whoa the bike on a postage stamp if need be.

iansoady · 03-11-2008

I agree absolutely - the front brake is the one that does all the work when you really want to stop. People can be astonished by how quickly you can stop by using it properly - and if you don't use it regularly then you're unlikely to use it in those situations where time is of the essence.

The rear brake OTOH is of course essential for low speed manoeuvring, tight turns etc. I'm ashamed to say I was riding for over 30 years before I learnt how to use it properly - after dropping the Tiger twice in my first couple of weeks with it.

graeme · 03-11-2008

2pgee,

As Pickaxe mentioned earlier, he is a Police motorcyclist and I'm sure he'll have all the relevant advanced (I hate that word, it's not advanced, just a logical well planned approach to riding) riding qualifications to go with that.

I'm a motorcycle Instructor, in my spare time away from the Fire Service, and teach all the way from basic training up to RoSPA Advanced Riding, and I fully understand why he would use the rear brake for most normal riding situations. If you are reading the road ahead, planning your ride, in a flexible gear, using "acceleration sense", you should'nt need to do much braking anyway.

When I'm out and about I also see riders who've passed their tests and taken no further training, and they've got into bad (probably not a good choice of word) habits. The way some of them use the brakes, in particular the front, is an absolute joke.

I suppose it's down to personal preference, but the benefit of using the rear brake in urban situations, especially on a long travel suspension bike like the Tiger, is:

There is little fork dive.
You can still blip the throttle to downchange through that notchy box.
The bike is more evenly balanced, instead of loading the front.
Most importantly, you've still got the front as a "back-up" if anything unexpected happens.

I would recommend taking Advanced Rider Training to everyone. There is so much to learn, and you never stop learning. I don't know what organisations do this type of training in other parts of the world, but I'm sure the Brits will have heard of IAM and RoSPA.

If you think you use too much front brake, why don't you have a go at using the rear brake more in situations where you would normally use the front. See what difference it makes - good or bad.

Pickaxe · 03-11-2008

While we're discussing my CV, also a police motorcycle instructor for the last 15 years. But hey, we all ride motorcycles in vastly different ways and all for our own enjoyment.
Nobody's got the definitive say on how we should do it and I always listen to other peoples points of view/ideas.

I just don't like to see people having accidents.

Jonny955 · 03-11-2008

My Tiger(s) are the first bikes I've owned where I can really stomp on the rear brake and use it properly. Other bikes, like my Ducati 900SS, needed a very delicate touch to avoid lock-ups and this is typical for most sports bikes.

The exception to this has been my Moto Guzzis, two of which had the infamous linked brakes so I did not include them as a 'rear brake'. Never had a problem stomping on those to good effect!

It was my IAM training which taught me proper use of the rear brake too.

Jon