You are correct about rear brake usage being helpful. In the dry a sport
bike doesn't need the rear brake under max braking. But using the rear can
help keep the back end of the bike from trying to pass the front. The rear
is also effective in preventing wheelies during hard acceleration or when
cresting hills. Wheelies are not good on the race track which is why you
only see small ones during races. It is also good for controlling wheel spin
on corner exits (if you happen to be Mick Doohan). Punks like me never touch
the rear brake on the track.
On the street with a sport tourer it's a completely different story. I can
lock the front wheel on my Concours on clean dry pavement so the rear brake
will definitely add more braking force. I also use the rear brake a lot in
the rain or when traction is sketchy.
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On
Behalf Of Byron_Black
Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2000 8:06 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: Braking weight on front vs. rear
Can you make generalizations like this, without taking into account factors
such as the speed of the machine, position of the rider(s), geometry of the
motorcycle, etc?
I've heard riders, commenting on Mick's thumb-operated rear brake, brag that
they never use it, 'cause the rear wheel's waving in the atmosphere under
hard braking. I say they're blowing smoke (as we used to say back in Texas),
and that everybody uses the rear for machine control. Read the excellent
3-part interview with Mick in MotoGP: he discusses using braking for
balancing.
Henry, just a note to say how very much I enjoy your thoughtful submissions.
BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
-----Original Message-----
From: Henry S. Winokur <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: Multiple recipients of list <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Tuesday, October 31, 2000 10:39 AM
Subject: RE: Superbike kit effect on steering: much lighter; misc questions
>> Since 90% of your stopping force is generated by the front tire I
>
>It's a lot closer to 70% than 90%...at least that's what we tell the
>students.
>
>Regards,
>
>Henry S. Winokur
>94 GTS1000, AMA, MRF, MD/MSF Certified Instructor
>West Bethesda, MD
>
>
