Covering the brake

I took a decision the other day when a stupid bird ran into the road of
'**** it' and just carried it.
It moved, but I wouldn't have cared if it hadn't - cue cries of my lack of
compassion towards animals.

Is this actually true though? There are times when I've rolled off mid-bend,
thinking "oh shit" (usually for other reasons) , and the bike has opened
it's line slightly, but it doesn't actually react that violently. I guess
this is possibly down to it being a modern bike (which makes me not want an
old/non-sports bike ;-) ) or me riding slowly or something.

That sounds very familiar...

 

There is a theory though that using the throttle only possibly does slow
down your riding or at least isn't that helpful. It's in my local IAM rag
this month - basically saying that if you ride around all the time using
only the throttle the day you really need the brakes will be the one you end
up on your arse - (this is all to do with a long(ish) standing argument for
and against track days). That and slowing down _miles_ earlier then
necessary - very smooth, but very slow.

 

I don't "not" use the brakes.

 

On some of the older 70s Jap machines I've owned it certainly wasn't a
good idea as it would seriously unsettle an already pretty fidgety
suspension.

I can more or less do it with impunity on the Guzzi and MZs

 

Neither do I, but I do know I occasionally slow down miles too early

 

It certainly varies a lot with the bike, as does the use of front
brakes in corners. This latter would seriously unsettle the Sprint ST
( and most other bikes I've owned) causing them to sit up big stylee
and often tending to start a weave in high-speed bends as the front &
rear suspenders tried to catch up with each other.

The same amount of front braking on the gixxer goes almost unnoticed.

Reasons why everyone should have a gixxer thou, #25 in a series of
infinity.

 

And your point is?

They probably don't recommend stoppying into bends on mountain roads,
consistently overtaking on solid[1] white lines, doing 160+mph and all
sorts of other things I deem to be part of my uncivic duty, either.


[1] Double, for you UK types.

 

I seem to remember the IAM reccomending filtering at no more than
15mph faster than the traffic...
--
O
1 Black, shortly to undergo extensive surgery.
1 Red, undergoing lightweight surgery. -----
1 Blue, for Power-Ranger baiting. | o |
Numbers ... | o |
Stuff ... | ooo |
Life ... -----

 

As long as you're not ridding like a complete twat I don't suppose
they're too bothered...
--
O
1 Black, shortly to undergo extensive surgery.
1 Red, undergoing lightweight surgery. -----
1 Blue, for Power-Ranger baiting. | o |
Numbers ... | o |
Stuff ... | ooo |
Life ... -----

 

that's when you first get on the bike, isn't it?

 

My commute involes a lengthy section of double broken white lines with
diagonal stripes - I am working on the assumption that this is the
"motorcycle lane".

 

Just check it works for the MOT / Scrutineering.

 

You are indeed correct in that assumption

 

Er, is that a dig, or a serious question?

 

The *theory* is, if you are near the limit of the amount of grip you
have on the front tyre, then shutting the throttle will transfer
weight to the front and may overwhelm it. In practise, this is
unlikely on the road.

However, shutting the throttle hard will unsetlle the suspension,
which may make a bad situation worse.

 

Used to, pre-gixxer. Now trying to brake the habit.

 

I should have clarified that by "except on the CD, where the back
brake is better than the front".

I do use it *very* occasionally - I'm thinking of when riding down
steep hills covered in wet leaves or some other non-grippy situation.

 

I will, this weekend.

I feel dirty now.

 

"What would Jesus do?"

 

That's right, I bet he could shave at least 10% off his commute time
by sliding the back at will, and hoiking a wheelie with his knee down.