On the street I employ both the CMC fronts and the CMC rear In an effort to
squat the weight transfer whereas on the track I only concentrate on
the CMC fronts... CMC are super light weight Ceramic Matrix Composite disc...
Braking Technique
For a quick stop, apply both brakes simultaneously, squeezing the
front lever progressively harder over one second and easing up on the
rear pedal to prevent a rear-wheel skid. As forward energy dissipates
toward the end of the stop, ease up on the front brake slightly to
prevent sliding the front tire.
It's a good idea to squeeze the clutch as you brake, to remove engine
braking from the equation. Squeezing the dutch allows you to
concentrate on modulating the brakes. To make the shortest possible
stop, you need to modulate both brakes to the point where the tires
just begin to lose traction. Maximum tire traction occurs at about 15
percent slip.
Toward the end of the stop, it's good practice to snick the
transmission into first gear, then support the machine with your left
foot as the bike comes to a complete stop. Your right foot should
still be applying the rear brake. Make a habit of glancing in your
rear view mirror as you stop, checking for drivers dosing on you from
behind 'as would happen in traffic. The only way to get good at
braking is to practice in a 'controlled' environment. Use these tips
as a starting point.
Practice Makes Perfect
You can't expect to be skillful at braking just by reading about it.
You need to practice. I suggest finding a quiet area away from traffic
and making a series of quick stops, preferably at the start of your
riding season. Perhaps you can borrow a vacant portion of a parking
lot early on a Sunday morning. If it's your first attempt at
practicing quick stops, spend two or three hours honing your braking
skills.
Layout a straight 'braking chute' about 100 feet long, with lots of
run-out room at the end. You can mark the chute with small cones or
tennis balls cut in half, with double markers for the point where you
start to brake. Be cautious at first, making your first run at no
faster than 18 mph. If you slide the rear tire at that speed, you need
to correct that problem before bumping your speed up.
Regardless of your experience level or the braking system on your
bike, you might be surprised at what you can learn from quick stop
practice. There is a big difference between slowing from 70 mph to 40,
and making a quick stop from 40 mph to O.
Do us both a favor and wear your best abrasion-resistant riding
gear-just in case you make a little boo-boo. I've seen more than a few
experienced riders who crashed while attempting a quick stop-typically
a result of an inflated image of their braking skills. Even if you
think you're very good at braking, I advise you to start slowly and
gradually work up to higher approach speeds as you demonstrate to
yourself that you have the techniques down. And if the mere thought of
practicing quick stops makes you break out in a cold sweat, I suggest
signing up for a training course where you can build skill under the
watchful eye of an instructor.
Rear Wheel Slides
Be ware that as you approach speeds increase, forward energy increases
and rear wheel traction decreases. If you skid the rare tire into a
slide out and then panic and release the pedal, the bike is very
likely to snap back to center and throw you off the 'high side.' To
avoid a high-side crash, you need to know if you're sliding the rear
tire, and that's not easy to detect from the saddle. I advise you to
find a riding partner who can take turns observing stops, and watch
for a skidding rear tire.
Front Wheel Skids
Front wheel skids result from grabbing the lever too quickly or
holding a death grip on the lever even as the tire begins to slide. An
impending front tire skid causes steering to feel light and
unresponsive. If steering suddenly feels funny under aggressive
braking, you should ease up slightly on the lever. If the front tire
suddenly begins to slide, ease off the brake to restore balance, then
squeeze again-only more smoothly this time.
$2,500 fronts $800 rear CMCeramic Matrix Composite disc...