Lets get a discussion going regarding the tricks of Emergency Braking.

Here, sit down and prepare to hear lots of dissension, but...

I believe you don't "practice for emergency stopping". I believe it's fundamentally impossible and flawed-thinking to believe that you can practice for emergency braking situations.

Instead, what you should be doing is 100% of the time, use proper braking techniques; progressive, firm application of the front brake, soft, light pressure on the rear brakes. Avoid jerky application of the brakes, avoid none-to-full application of the brakes.

Doing it correctly every time builds the habit and muscle memory and you will then, completely thoughtlessly, do it correctly during an emergency.

How then... situational awareness and emergency-situation avoidance; THOSE are skills to practice

 

You seem to be overthinking this.

A nice even application of brake - front or rear, is preferred to a hard stab.

Being able to discern when the front or rear is loading/unloading is necessary as well.

So you're judging:
How fast are you approaching
How loaded/unloaded the suspension is
How quickly to apply a) which brake b) at what force c) for what duration


All of these will change over the course of your maneuver.

 

Emergerncy braking = hold firm, even and as hard as you can without making the tires skid. Obviously the back will skid first with very little effort.

Unless you have anti lock brakes, in that case you "stomp, steer and stay". That is you stomp them hard, hold it, and steer the bike.

 

I believe you don't "practice for emergency stopping". I believe it's fundamentally impossible and flawed-thinking to believe that you can practice for emergency braking situations.

Instead, what you should be doing is 100% of the time, use proper braking techniques; progressive, firm application of the front brake, soft, light pressure on the rear brakes. Avoid jerky application of the brakes, avoid none-to-full application of the brakes.

Doing it correctly every time builds the habit and muscle memory and you will then, completely thoughtlessly, do it correctly during an emergency.

Agree. And this is essentially what the "emergency braking" drills in MSF were all about. Trying to get the new rider to understand that there is a controlled method of rapid stopping. A lot of students would lock it up on those drills ... which is okay because it was a good learning experience in a straight-line, low-speed environment.

It's amazing what the front brakes are capable of once the rider loses their fear of giving it a good firm controlled grip.

Look to see more and more bikes coming with ABS as a way to correct for bad braking techniques. The newer Goldwings will almost certainly have ABS standard on all models. No doubt other bikes will as well.

Now then... situational awareness and emergency-situation avoidance; THOSE are skills to practice

Yep. The "sixth sense" here can be trained. I am a much better rider now than I was a year ago. I am light years from being good enough. Always learning.

 

You are talking about the same thing - emergency braking in a straight line and emergency braking in a turn - the only difference is, in a turn you are delayed because you have to stand the bike up straight and then "brake in a straight line'.
If you hit your rear brake in a panic in a turn you will slide low and then probably flip to high side. If you hit your front brake in a panic in a turn the bike will lay down INSTANTLY. Guess what? Plan your turns so that you can see what you need to see and be at a speed that you could stand it up and stop if you needed to. That is generally not the "fun" speed.
As for straight line braking - on my Spirit 1100 the rear will lock and start sliding usually to the right. If you have been practicing on a dirt bike you will have the presence of motor skills to ease off the rear while applying more on the front and then when the rear is behind you again you again put as much pressure on the rear brake as possible and it will probably slide again. Can you rub your stomach and pat your head at the same time? Dirt bike riding practice makes this second nature as you are always sliding one way or another. If you truly practice emergency braking on your street bike you will lay it down. IMHO you should practice hard braking from various speeds and even harder braking and then even harder braking until you know what the bike will do and its quirks when you really hit the binders and your butt is in trouble.
Hope this helps.

 

Mmm, yeah why is that???? Stomp the rear brake, yank the front brake lever....the bike wants to right????? MMMMMMMMmmmmmm?????? Front brake lever on right handle bar....rear brake on right side of bike then stomping on that right side pedal...mmmmm. Anyone see a pattern here???

I adjust my rear brake pedal to give me a lot more travel(than the manual calls for) BEFORE the rear brake grabs/engages the drum. Helps ME from locking up the rearend and gettin' outta shape...then low siding. But I still use the front brake as hard/soft AS I need. Sometimes I'm even gassin' the bike just so the rear wheel does NOT stop spinning from over use of the rear brake.

I don't understand this thing about that's talked about all the time....going over the bars??? I haven't had that happen since I got front disc brakes on my 1969 CB750 KO model!!! Me thinks everyone insists it "going over the bars" when the front end washes out (lose of traction) in a turn with gravel, oil, water, ice, coal dust, diesel fuel??

Just some musings.

Bullzeyet

 

Take the MSF's BRC or ERC -- in both classes they include riding exercises to practice both situations -- i.e., "emergency" braking in a straight line, and around a curve.