Trail braking - on the road?

[Wossname]

As the title says - is it useful? I've always looked on it as a track technique for squeezing extra seconds, but does it have a place on the road? Matey below thinks so.

Do you, and if so, when?

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q ... 1Vp3zS_iZe

[Couchy]

Braking while in a corner is essential on the road surely ? , not to the extent as you would on a track but still it’s needed

[Yorick]

It's a useful thing to be able to do in an emergency.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

What's trail braking, if it's braking while leant over, it used to be pretty normal when bikes had 18" front wheels, skinny tyres and weak brakes.

[The Spin Doctor]

As the title says - is it useful? I've always looked on it as a track technique for squeezing extra seconds, but does it have a place on the road? Matey below thinks so.

Do you, and if so, when?

Yes you should be able to do it on the road, and this video is probably the worst explanations of why. If you watch it, you'll see at least a couple of places the 'expert' rider cocks up and runs wide.

Guess what I'm talking about in my next scheduled webinar in the SURVIVAL SKILLS ONLINE TALK SERIES on WEDNESDAY 3 NOVEMBER?

'BRAKING THE CIRCLE'

will consider whether or not we should be BRAKING IN BENDS' - is it an 'avoid at all costs' manoeuvre, or essential skill?

Not every rider manages to slow down AND keep control braking in corners - it leads to far too many crashes.

From the author of the 'Science Of Being Seen' presentation, this LIVE WEBCAST looks at how braking and steering inputs can work together without overwhelming tyre grip. TICKETS ARE JUST £5. Link to the presentation will go out approximately 24 hours before the event.

BOOKING LINK http://thq.fyi/se/a6831b869ea8

[Skub]

I think I've always done it,if I'm having a bit of fun,I thought everyone did. Maybe it's just a matter of degree.

[KungFooBob]

I think I've always done it,if I'm having a bit of fun,I thought everyone did. Maybe it's just a matter of degree.

Yup, always done it, thought everyone did.

[singlesman]

Bloody hell! I don’t do it on the track never mind the road.
# feeling inadequate

[Hairybiker84]

I think I've always done it,if I'm having a bit of fun,I thought everyone did. Maybe it's just a matter of degree.

Yup, always done it, thought everyone did.

Me too!

[Bigyin]

It’s also easier to do on those pesky telelever front ended BMW bikes

[Hairybiker84]

It’s also easier to do on those pesky telelever front ended BMW bikes

Oddly enough, it didn't seem to have much beneficial effect on mine - If you weren't careful there would be lots of clattery clunking from the back end as the rear suspension struggled (even more) to cope with the mass!

[Yorick]

Funnily enough, it's only beneficial on certain corners.

[Dodgy69]

Yes, if I'm going in a bit too quick.

[Couchy]

So those that don’t brake in corners wtf do you do when you have to slow in a corner ?

Another thought, has everyone who has abs actually tried it out ? 80mph then grab the brakes till the bike stops ? It’s impressive especially in the wet, if you haven’t go try it don’t wait till you need to do it. Same applies if you haven’t got abs but less of the grab and wait for the abs to sort it out

[Horse]

It’s also easier to do on those pesky telelever front ended BMW bikes

Oddly enough, it didn't seem to have much beneficial effect on mine - If you weren't careful there would be lots of clattery clunking from the back end as the rear suspension struggled (even more) to cope with the mass!

Typically, braking affects the balance by increasing weight on the front.

Why, then, would the rear struggle?

[Horse]

So those that don’t brake in corners wtf do you do when you have to slow in a corner ?

Isn't trail braking when you brake before the corner then continue it into the bend?

Braking in a corner, for example, is if there's an obstruction, Isn't it?

[wull]

Funnily enough, it's only beneficial on certain corners.

It’s beneficial in all corners, if you’ve already loaded the front end by trailing the brake and then have to apply more brake because of an obstacle or whatever it may be then there is much less chance of the front locking up and washing away.

If you weren’t trailing the brake and then had to grab it for whatever reason the front will lock up much more easily.

But I personally don’t see the need for it on the road, I’m not saying I don’t do it and I suppose it’s how you ride on the road etc but at the end of the day you’ll do just fine without doing it.

On the track it’s a different story

This is a good video from Sylvain explaining it well.

[wull]

So those that don’t brake in corners wtf do you do when you have to slow in a corner ?

Isn't trail braking when you brake before the corner then continue it into the bend?

Braking in a corner, for example, is if there's an obstruction, Isn't it?

Trail braking is when you brake for the corner and then as you turn in start to reduce the brake pressure as you go round the corner or in track terms go towards the apex.

This method allows you to brake later so essentially you are at full throttle for longer, so when you turn in you are still reducing your speed towards the apex. Also, it allows the bike to turn in faster because the front end dives reducing the rake of the bikes geometry. Also, the front tyre will have a larger contact patch giving more front end grip.

[Mr. Dazzle]

So those that don’t brake in corners wtf do you do when you have to slow in a corner ?

Crash

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Sounds like braking for a corner and keeping the brakes on while leaning the bike, pretty much normal riding road or track 30 years ago, when I did motocross and Super Moto I braked all the way to the apex on tight corners.