i dont have a bike. im just curious how do you brake during a high speed emergency?

becuase technically like on a bicycle if you brake hard with your front brade you flip over. is it the same with a bike? if you lock both your front and rear brakes wont your fishtail or just completely wipe out?

 

contrary to what many may think, most of your braking should be done with both brakes. the front brakes amke up for about 3/4 of your braking power on a bike. at high speed, you should try to shift your weight and move around the obstalce. if you have to brake, use both brakes IMO.

 

True, brake hard but try not to lock the wheels - especially the front one.

 

i've heard that when braking hard most riders dont even use the back brake because all the weight is shifted to the front therefore making it useless.

 

yes, the weight is shifted to the front hence the front brake comprise of about 70% of the braking power. Using both brakes -> stops faster than just using one


[Modified by SlayANT, 10:51 PM 2/23/2002]

 

Cant say i am a GP racer but, wet or dry or in an emergency the same ratio is used. The harder you apply the front brake the more weight is transfered to the front of the bike. The forks will be compressed and the rear will lock very easily. I use the rear mid corner to stabilise sometimes and also when i am riding really slow around cones etc but generally not much. The front will wash out and although it is tempting to use the rear bugger all 'real world' braking is to be had from it i think.

 

i hear you guys but the shortest braking distance is always achieved with both brakes. period.

 

both brakes definately, it get's hairy using only the front

 

I think you could probably use both as hard as you want, as long as you hit them at the same time and don't lock them up. Although I could be wrong, but that's how it works on my mountain bike.

 

I use BOTH. Depending on the situation. Where I really use the back exclusivly is in the final approuch to a stop so the front forks don't dive. Although my XX thwarts this finesse by useing that doubious Linked Braking System. (LBS) Albeit the LBS should save people who panic and do something wrong which is good.


[Modified by figment, 9:20 AM 2/27/2002]

 

i say both.
they showed us in the rider saftey course what happens when you apply only one or the other too hard. . . best bet in emergency is both.but not too hard to lock em up .