Observations on braking...Long winded.

[smileyman]

So this is probably something you have all noticed, but it hit me all over again...The other weekend I was riding with some really powerful literbikes through the Ozarks and as the pace heated up, I found myself getting into "race mode" having to push my 636ccs harder to keep pace. Now save the preaching on proper time and place for another thread, I want to discuss braking.

I noticed I was rusty and as I started riding in a more track oriented spirit I started to lean off, get my body position right, get my downshifts right and timed, stopped using the rear brake and concentrated on the front. Then after struggling a few corners i realized i was still having trouble braking and getting slowed efficiently. I came to notice after a few miles it got better and looking back i realized I was using street/hiway braking technique at too high a pace and then eventually started braking like I would on track and became much more comfortable with the speed.

On the road you typically increase braking pressure as you near your stop or corner. Grab the brake, then slowly increase pressure until you have reached your desired lower speed or stop altogether.

On track you brake as hard and as late as you can, scrubbing off the majority of your speed, and then easing lever pressure as you reach your desired speed and line through the corner.

Using road technique had me way too deep in the corner before my brake pressure slowed me enough and had the forks so compressed that it made turn in feel wrong and unbalanced. I know this also slowed me thru the corner and made it that much harder to make time on the liter bikes (cause in a straight line fuggettaboutit.

Just my thoughts and observations, but I think technique places an imortant part in keeping everyone safe soWhat are your thoughts...