Hey fans, I bought a motorbike the other day and have been riding a total of 2 hours. I have a braking question, and this is based off how I drive my car, do you or should you, engine brake coming to a stop? Or slow down, clutch in, shift to first and then use brakes? Or do both? And if that’s the case, in what situation?
I’m not a very experienced rider yet, but here’s some key points from my extensive classes (required in the EU, I can only recommend taking lessons!):
- always use both brakes. The front has the most power. Especially if you don’t have abs, practice hard braking but do so carefully, as front lockups are super sketchy but further away than you might feel at first
- if you have abs, practice braking as hard as you dare to make it come on. Drive straight and find when it kicks in (feels jittery) so you know more or less when it happens
- as others said, gently using the brakes so the lights come on is always a good idea
- engine braking is good, but only for controlled deceleration
- in an emergency stop situation, NEVER engine brake. The movement of the engine will slow down emergency stops. Pull the clutch and brake as hard as is safe to do
- always keep an eye on your mirrors, and look if there’s someone close behind before braking. Signal with a light tap of the brakes to get the light on if needed, or move aside before braking
- while you may accelerate faster than cars, due to the lower weight you may actually stop slower!
Always practice in an empty lot or street, while driving straight. Make sure the surface is clean and dry.
Happy riding brother/sister(or others which may apply)!❤️
Alot of these points I have in my mind as I ride. Conscious of them is one thing and then putting it into practice is another. Yes, I plan to practice techniques each time I ride. Focussing on certain ones each time to get better at them.
Thank you for taking your time to write a reply!
