How do you brake in riding a motorcycle?

Question

I know there two brakes. Front and Back.
How do you break from 50mph on 5th gear.
Please tell me step by step and how to brake and shift the gear when slowing down.
which do you use most front or back and do you have to use both.

Answer 1

Start riding on a dirtbike so ya aren't kild in traffic

Answer 2

Breaking form 5th to first (street) –

This will depend on the situation and the type of bike. Because you are new and I will assume you are not on a sport bike here is the basics.

1) Practice coming to stops in a parking lot. Practice it slow and fast with the intent of building muscle memory. That means you should be doing this without thinking about it.

2) At 50 you see the stop light ahead turn red. Pull in the clutch and down shift and let out the clutch. Use the engine to slow down. When the engine is no longer slowing you down fast enough down shift again. Repeat until you are in 1st gear and apply breaks.

Your left foot should be out a second or two before you stop. Then just lean to the left and rest the weight on your foot.

To stop faster do the same thing but faster. To emergency stop grab the clutch and brakes and forget down shifting. (practice this too)

I don’t want to get into it but if you are on a sportbike the rear brake does not need to be used unless you are on a track squaring off corners and I don’t think you will be doing that soon. The rear also helps with low speed (parking lot turns) otherwise I NEVER use it.

As for the front brake only techniques I know what you all have been taught in MSF and by all means please do that.
I am speaking from a racing and track background on this and it only applies with performance bikes with performance breakes. On a sport bike your front brake is strong enough to raise the rear of the bike in the air; what is the rear brake doing other than causing a highside? Let the rear roll! When you brake into corner hard enough to lift the back off the ground you will know what Im saying.

Answer 3

First off, 50mph is only 3rd gear on my bike at low RPM, 2nd gear if I'm in the canyons and want to keep it wrapped up a little higher.

I'll give you my 5th gear scenario:

- Scoot my butt back in the seat
- Start braking hard with the front brake
- Give a little rear brake for stability
- Blip the throttle with each downshift until I get to 2nd gear
- Let off the rear brake and go all the way to 1st gear
- Come to a complete stop with both feet off the pegs

Basically, you use the front brake most often, and it can be applied quite hard. If you're not experienced enough yet, you'll be surprised at just how much power the front brake has and how mych stopping power you have before you lock up the front wheel.

Answer 4

The most basic thing to know is 'set up and squeeze', in other words, dont just grab a handful of the front brake and pull the lever in instantly, ot you'll lock the wheel, and possibly propel yourelf over the front. A setup, where you take up the slack in the lever and a gentle but firm squeeze on the lever will stop you just as fast. The secret here os to practice, where you will come to no harm (an empty car park, for instance).

If you haven't already done so, you should go to a rider learner school (compulsory in Australia).

As other riders have noted, braking is mostly with the front brake; except for slow speed riding (u-turns, roundabouts, etc), where the rear brake is used so that the front wheel is free to turn.

With a little practice, you will be able to come to a quick stop from 50mph without skidding. Build up to that speed from, say 30. It is MOST important to be able to come to a stop safely in traffic. As one writer put it "it's OK to ride at 100 mph; providing you've practiced coming to an emergency stop from that speed"

Another important thing to know is not to grab a handfull of front brake, if you find you are going too fast into a corner. There will be only one result - you'll go straight across the corner; possibly off the side of the road, or into oncoming traffic. So it is important to praxctice cornering technique as well as braking.

Finally, remember that the bike will go where you are looking, and if you fix your sight on something (a ditch or tree, for instance), that is where the bike will head (this is known as target fixation).

Answer 5

Fordman was correct in his answer, use 60% front and 40% rear, this saves a lot of wear on the rear brakes and tire. When coming to a stop, let off the throttle, pull the clutch lever towards you and push down on the shifter peg one click and release pressure on it. From there you can either release the clutch slowly and let the engine help slow you down or after a few seconds push the shifter peg down again and release pressure on it, to the next lower gear. This is called down shifting and takes a little practice to coordinate. You do not have to release the clutch each time you shift but you should be in 1st gear before coming to a complete stop. Make sure you have the clutch handle towards you when stopped or the engine will die. When using the brakes, use the least amount of pressure possible but enough to make the stop. I have an HD Ultra Trike and I have come to a complete stop using the front brake only, at about 25mph, so don't be afraid to use it. Hope this helps~desertrat

Answer 6

most of this people are right but no one said anything about leaned turns.
1.don't brake when turning hard
2.brake before it or after it never during a turn or you may high side the bike.
3 if you think your going to fast for a turn . just stay steady on the gas and push hard.

what i mean by push hard is:
when turning right - you push down with you right hand on the handle bar.
when turning left - you push down with your left hand on the handle bars
i know this sounds weird put if you are riding now you probably all ready do this and don't know it.
a bike is like a gyroscope the more gas you give it in a turn
the more the bike wants to stand up straight.
so don't let up on the gas or your turn will become wider try to stay the same speed.and the bike will not slide out from under you.
take it slow and good luck

Answer 7

Downshift through the gears gradually, don't go down at high rpm's. Braking would be about 60% front and 40% rear & keep control of the handle bars. Weight shifts forward ( same as a car ) so you want a little more front braking.

Answer 8

This is for dry concrete roadways.

You always use both brakes applied at the same time, gently applied pressure. Pull in the clutch and just low to 15 MPH before shifting down to stop, no need to down shift and engine brake from that speed.

Answer 9

Short answer is that the front brake has more stopping power but you want to use both brakes smoothly with progressively more force. Stopping from 50 in 5th will require a couple downshifts too.

If you want more detailed info, this site explains it pretty well:
http://www.motorcyclegiftshop.com/motorcycle_braking.html

Answer 10

you will get the feel for it but anyway you should gently apply the front brake first then a fraction of a second afterwards apply the rear, dont just grab a handful of brake she may throw you off

Answer 11

the ballence is actually 70% front 30% back that way the bike doesnt put exess pressure on the front an lighten the back. you dont have to gear down. when you need to stop in a hurry id like to see one of you gear down.