What to do when you lock up the rear tire.

[J'Man]

Let's keep it simple. Just remember the 75/25 rule. When stopping quickly put 75% pressure on the front brake and 25% on the back.

[BusaWizard]

I think I'm going to attend the next wheel school the department has for the wheel officers, learn the brake and escape, keyhole, ect. If you watch the way those training officers handle those Harleys and Kaws, you'll know you're not riding the Busa to its full potential.

[hottrodd7]

As a MSF instructor we teach students to use both brakes. As stated above approximately 70% braking done with front, 30% with rear. The first time students lock up the rear --they scare the shid out of themselves. The first time they lock up the front--it scares the shid out of me!!

[BusaPebbles]

I have had this exact thing happen to me, and all I can say is that God was riding with me, because I was coming off an exit and not going straight. Somehow I recovered the bike, but I have no clue how. I was obviously in auto pilot. I didn't go down, but I couldn't tell you what I did to recover. It is the scariest thing I have ever experienced in my life.

[Dino]

Originally Posted by hottrodd7

As a MSF instructor we teach students to use both brakes. As stated above approximately 70% braking done with front, 30% with rear. The first time students lock up the rear --they scare the shid out of themselves. The first time they lock up the front--it scares the shid out of me!!

I am with you 100% on this one.

Originally Posted by BusaPebbles

I have had this exact thing happen to me, and all I can say is that God was riding with me, because I was coming off an exit and not going straight. Somehow I recovered the bike, but I have no clue how. I was obviously in auto pilot. I didn't go down, but I couldn't tell you what I did to recover. It is the scariest thing I have ever experienced in my life.

You down shifted too fast and lost traction. Locking the breaks would have been a bonus.

[xedus3]

most of us are not pro riders, locking the rear is a bad idea as we all know. Controling a slid would be very difficult for most of us. I f the rear tire locks, if at all possible keep it locked until bike stops.

[Bosshound]

If You Feel you are about to Go Down..................Let Go and land on your Side or AZZ Cheeks (Less Damage)..................Yes LOW SIDE is MUCH Better than HIGH SIDING your Bike

[brpo]

Locking the back brake is not a big deal unless you are in a turn... then it can be very tricky. Get off the brake if you're not going to immediately hit something, let the tire roll out and let the bike stabilize momentarily. Ride out the curve as well as you can... remember you can almost always go lower and more aggressively in turns in order to recover. It gets really tricky if you locking up because of aggressive/unwise downshifting. This is were a slipper clutch comes in handy. Basically the same advise holds get off the brakes momentarily, let the bike set up and take another stab at braking and steering out of the curve.

[gunmetalhooligan08]

Awesome info fellas

[goblinsix]

Here in MD I was not impressed much with what they were turning out from the MSF classes based upon the skills from two of my buddies who are new to riding and just graduated. I didn't take the MSF here in MD since I got my license in Ohio back in 1986. The MSF is better than nothing, but it didn't do much for a couple guys I know other than teach them to go around a parking lot. I often recommend the Total Control Clinic (by Lee parks) that is often give at MSF locations on alternate weekends---it's more about cornering and braking. Here in MD they don't do much work with skid control from what I understand---but of course it's better than having nothing.

From riding on the track, and even some aggressive street riding let's say...I've locked up a tire or two on my Ducati and R1 You are right....if you skid the back tire it is best to stay on the brakes until you come to a stop...unless you know what you are doing. The danger is the obvious highside when the rear tire regains traction. It can happen to even the best of pro riders on the track. My buddy did it on his 999 right in front of me running at VIR. He crashed and did $3600 damage to his bike.

The only time that I will let off the brakes in a skid is if I can somehow get the bike skidding straight with both wheels in somewhat of an alignment. If the back tire is out to the side and you let off the brakes you're probably going to get bucked off. It is really a case by case thing. As you know

[Jake918]

Good stuff here

[tclause]

Originally Posted by Mr Bogus

Yea but most are pretty much incapable of maintaining the slide either (no dirt bike experience) Any guesses on how many could ride the slide?

Really a bad situation for most... let up, get highsided, dont letup, lowside....

Learning this skill on a busa is a bad bad idea too.... you better have it down pat before hopping on and trying it...(well unless you got lots of $$ for plastic)

Couldn't agree more, I grew up in motocross most people will say that off road riding has little to do with street riding which is mostly true until the chips are down. Being able to power slide a bike has saved me more than once when the back tire has stepped out in a corner. Allot of the things that are counter intuitive are hard to learn but are invaluable. Panic is what puts most guys down not their abilities or their bikes limitations.

[tex_garza]

hold on

[tdrcomm]

One thing I was taught to do is find an empty parking lot and practice hard stops, gradually increasing speed and rear brake until you start to break traction. One thing it does is gives you the feeling of how much brake v. speed it will take to lock up. Nice to remember that for the future. It also gives you practice in riding out a slide in a controlled place at lower speeds. I'd rather have the "learning" experience there than on the road.

After that, try the same tactic with the front brake (very carefully), then both at the same time.

Sometimes the best preventative measure is knowing how the bike will respond in a certain situation BEFORE the situation. A split second is all it takes to turn a pucker moment you tell your friends about into an ambulance ride.

[carlsbadbusa]

Keep it locked if it locks and ride it out, I use my rear brake a lot in combination with the fronts, more specifically in slow manuevers and mastering the art of a lock up has saved me some headaches specially going through cars when i got to make a sudden stop but dont want to upset the front just in case i have to manuever out , sometimes i lock it up, it does slow you down...but to someone who does not know how to react can be pretty bad...the whole not using the rear is a big myth IMO, its just a matter of balance, the front provide most stopping power and even more when combined with the rear...i think its just a matter of preference and better yet experience and knowing how. The problem is a lot of riders STOMP on the rear instead of gradually applying it.