How to stop a motorcycle in an emergency - Episode 10 MCrider

[@MCrider]

If you are a new rider or a rider who wants to continue to grow (That should be all of us ;) ) and you are not a Member at MCrider you are missing out on the best part of MCrider. Go to www.MCrider.com/Member and get access to the Forums and Field Guide. - The Forum is an active, friendly place where riders share riding tips, ideas, travel photos, and show off their new motorcycles. Riders and instructors from all over the world are active on the forums and ready to share in the adventure with you. - The Field Guide is a section of the forums that have very specific training exercises that you can work on in any open parking lot to develop your riding skills. In addition to these resources, you can discuss every MCrider video, suggest future training videos, read and share gear reviews, and more. By becoming a member you help support MCrider and keep the weekly videos coming but you also get access to a world of riders who share tips and techniques to help us all enjoy the ride and increase our skills. www.MCrider.com/Member

[@jonasamadeolucas1801]

You are saving lives with those videos. Thank you man.

[@LITTLEBRAT775081]

he saved mine just yesterday

[@tooakki]

I agree.

[@anthonyd5651]

Kevin, you the king of motorcycle tutoring....... One of your videos literally saved me from a major accident while on my 1000cc...... I owe you big time mate!!!!!!! And I just luv the calm way you talk in your vids..... Keep them coming........👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍❤❤❤

[@dfamfulik]

The best motorbike tutorial online, hands down. Found a ton of useful tips, including real life-savers, thank you!

[@clutchless4t5]

Best response ever to an "I had to lay my bike down" story! 00:14 blow and pop the bubble, pause and stare in silence!!! lol can't wait to use that. lol awesome video, nail on the head as always.

[@lordpaul1390]

I love this series! I recently found this channel after I "had to lay down" my 2004 Electra Glide. By this I mean, "I got myself into a bad situation and couldn't ride it out with my current level of training so I crashed." Thanks be to God for watching over children and fools like me. Not only did He bring me though the crash with only road rash, I was able to upgrade to a 2013 Road Glide with stupidly low mileage. Now I'm going to the local parking lots to practice low speed turns, emergency breaking, and other skills I'm picking up here. I never took a training course, I just bought a bike and started riding. I'm planning on taking at least a basic course as soon as I can. I didn't realize how much I was doing wrong just by being able to manhandle a heavy bagger. Thank you for what you do and for sharing your testimony. God bless.

[@BobJJ9999]

Really enjoying your lessons before I begin to learn to ride at the age of 46. Thanks.

[@nontoxicjonny]

You are the man! Best mc instructor on the interwebs! Thanks a million times for the awesome, informative videos!

[@arrrrblacktoe]

I haven't been on a motorcycle since 1973. I am looking to buy a Yamaha Roadstar, and I was browsing when I found M C rider. THANKYOU! Now I can back onto a bike with much more knowledge and confidence. Of course 28 years of being a trucker doesn't hurt either.lol

[@silverwiskers7371]

been riding 40+ years and your exactly right and still I'll pay attention to what people have to say about mc safety, it's good guy's like you take time to share the riding tips, thanx brother and well done

[@gonplay1998]

Perfect season to give thanks to MCrider Kevin for sharing all their expertise and skills through his videos and KZbin! Thanks to what I learned from him, I will be sitting at a table this Thanksgiving very thankful for another year of happily riding my motorcycle and having the skills which avoided quite a few accidents!

[@MCrider]

Thank you!

[@jrarizonapatriot7570]

Your videos have made my riding calmer and safer. Thanks for all you do 🙏

[@garyhalsey7693]

Hi, just passed my Mod 1 in the UK today. This is exactly how my instructor taught me to do the emergency stop exercise. It works!! I’ve watched a lot of your stuff to supplement my training. What you’re doing is awesome and I’m a huge fan of your channel!! Keep up the good work and you have a subscriber for life in me!!!

[@sherifalcon3059]

Hello, sending this from my wifes youtube account. This is sfalcon, and want to say thanks for a good video. I just failed my msf course after passing everything but made a big mistake. During the emergency braking skill test I grabbed my front brake thus locking the wheel and dropping the bike. Instant fail! Thanks for explaining in a way that the instructors did not!

[@MCrider]

Sheri Falcon thanks for the message. A lot of people have good success on a second run at it. Best of luck, Kevin

[@AndrewFosterSheff69]

I'd never even noticed your eye until you mentioned it. God bless you brother.

[@LITTLEBRAT775081]

for the record you have saved my life or at least prevented me from serious injury and a totaled bike . I hope to see you around one day and that k you in person .

[@mazeoffury2930]

The beginning of this video cracked me up. Oh by the way Kevin, from watching your videos and practice what you teach, you have saved me from a couple possible crashes. Just yesterday I had a deer run in front of me and on the same ride I had a truck pulling a trailer pull out in front of me.

[@peterrees9902]

I've been riding for just on 50 years. I'm absolutely gobsmacked that the myth of dropping the bike to stop crashing is still around. As a young guy in the '60's there was no motorcycle training available. So you learnt by doing or dying. The discussion of 'How to avoid a crash' was common when motorcyclists got together. I was lucky. I met an off duty Police highway patrol officer. I asked him this same question about dropping the bike. His answer - when you are upright you have control. When you lay the bike down, you have lost control. Why do you want to lose control? Good video helping to dispel a really stupid myth. Cheers, Peter

[@mikesbeesllc]

Great lesson Kevin. I had to "lay my '49 panhead down" on two occasssions back in about 1970. It was due to not using the front brake in emergencies. Of course, I didn't have a front brake, just a spool wheel on that 16" over springer front end. As an Infantry Combat Vet fresh out of the Army in 1969, I was looking for something that was dangerous as I think you can relate to. I ride a HD Touring today. My first bike at 13 years old was a Zundap 100.

[@locoslair]

As a new street rider, again I’m getting a wealth of golden info from your vids. Rode motocross and many trails in the 70s on everything from pentons to huskys etc.. I have taken the basic safety course but will take another soon. Great school lot practice ideas and enough to keep me busy learning street riding. Went with a 650 Vstrom for my beginner street bike, figured it was a good street refresher bike. Thank you so much for the videos..

[@janarobinson7661]

I guess I can safely say you saved my life! I grew up riding dirt bikes so at age 55 I bought my first street bike, a vstar 650. Great starter for dirt bike background since it has to be manhandled basically the same. As my confidence grew 2yrs later I got a harley heritage softail classic...a true beauty! Metallic purple with seafoam pin stripes 💜. On my third time out, first over 100mile one way trip. Oh I should mention there was a difference in strength and manhandling!! Imagine driving a 60's truck with no power steering and then drive today's Cadillac with power everything. Back to the trip....about an hour in we stopped to fuel up and I removed my gloves, I kept on my new tightwad jacket, leathers and had my above the ankle biker boots and my icon full face helmet. After 10min back on the road we got into a town of four lane road with no divider or turn lane. I was following my buddy, him on the left of left lane n I a safe distance staggered on right of left lane with my other buddy doing the same behind me on my left. Traffic was awful and my buddy motioned follow his lead, he was passing once safe to get out of a jam of cars and pickups. He safely passes the tahoe in front (blocking my view of vehiclein frontof him)...I prepare to pass and as I started over the Tahoe abruptly moved where I was going...leaving me to discover why...a pickup with a huge drop hitch had abruptly stopped to turn. So, luckily I'd seen gobs of your videos for beginners and remembered emergency stopping. I hit my back brake and grabbed at my front while remembering if pulled too hard I'd lock it and be thrown, but I was too close by then and both locked. I remember the squeal, the smoke, seeing my right leg flop front to back, then some instinct said your going down, tuck and roll to protect your limbs. The bike hit the far right hitch and as it went down I hit on my right shoulder and right temple. Rolled down lane of traffic on the right and thankgoodness the car next to me saw what was happening and stopped and missed me but I rolled right in front of the buddy following me. His harley cruiser hit my right side between my arm I still had drawn up and my hip. He launched like hitting a jump ramp and only his front tire touched me. He landed in a plowed area of the field beside the road uninjured. I had a nickle size roadrash on my left palm, about a teaspoon of blood from it is all you could see but I knew my leg was broke and something was wrong in my abdomen as well as my shoulder was trash. I was careflighted 100miles away, lost 6pints blood before landing. I was hospitalized 4 1/2mo and 4 surgeries. I have a plate from knee to ankle with 13 screws, 2 emergency abdominal surgeries that first day to repair tear in liver, fix shredded stomach lining walls, remove a foot of intestines and tried to strengthen ab muscles and fix a puncture on left hip. It took 6mo for abdomen to heal and had shoulder replacement with 4 tears in rotator cuff fixed last week. I have 2-3 more surgeries on abdomen and knees. I truly think if I'd had more experience on my harley, practicing emergency stops like I learned on your videos and practiced on my vstar it might have been better outcome but I know your video stopped me from immediately grabbing n getting completely down on front and back brakes...maybe it only gave me time to think fast enough to tuck and roll preventing an even worse outcome. So thank you soooooo much! FYI, I advise all my buddies to watch your videos! Oh, we start rebuilding my totalled harley in 2weeks once my dr says I can. May only get to end of driveway but I HAVE to ride again!! THANK YOU!! Jana and Peacock

[@pauls3414]

Just put one of my fellow co-workers/rider on to your channel. I appreciate the time you are taking to give me tools to help me improve my ride!

[@MCrider]

Thanks Paul, I appreciate it! I am sitting in front of the computer right now working on episode 15 and the continuation of the Cornering Series...it will be out on Tuesday.

[@4wd35]

And you should always be down shifting, so if you need to escape form the danger you can. I'm a motor trooper, we are taught that our motors are 90/10 on braking. We ride Harley's. Great stuff, keep it coming. Be safe!!

[@LaEscuelaDelEncanto]

You provide the most important videos on KZbin

[@MCrider]

WOW! Thank you. :)

[@Metalbrygg]

I am so happy that I come accross your channel. I have been driving motorcycle since 1989 but I learn and I have been reminded about so many important things - so thanks a lot for your exelent channel! I am listening to every word you say :-)

[@CscorpioartCsorpio]

Nearly 14 years later this video has enabled me to take accountability for my Faults. I did exactly this and I blamed the driver 💯 %... I wasn’t a seasoned rider and in all fairness I did hit the brakes but they sure locked up. I retired the Ninja and have been dreaming of riding again ever since.Watching your videos has taught me I wasn’t experienced enough to handle the situation. I’m happy to say that I’m getting back in the horse and even have a close buddy of mine sell me his 2010 Honda shadow phantom. Super excited and plan on getting the field course. Thanks so much Kevin. Your videos help make riding Fun and exciting. Take care - Chris

[@sgpsimonb]

Very happy I found your channel old boy! I'll be swatting up on back-issues while back in the UK and away from my ride... Cheers.

[@paymanmodarres8088]

This explanation was spot on! (UK bike instructor)

[@RichGrueber]

My wife and I run a Facebook page for learners, P platers and Cruisey riders I have been posting links to a few of your videos to help us all out. Especially big the topic comes up during our group rides.

[@nickaguado7]

Subscribed. Beautiful explanation backed by reason

[@malcolmmcclughan6188]

Thanks for all your help. Northern Ireland.

[@emmeenguyen2844]

Best CLEAR PRECISE explanation ever!!! Please come train these CA CHP MC instructors!!! They need to watch you instruct and learn from you! I’ll send them your KZbin link. Also newbies need to understand the technical aspects like squeezing the brakes cause lock up front tires and push u forward and get thrown off the bike.

[@josephloeb1916]

Hey Kevin! Just wanted to say thanks for the knowledge! Wish I would have found your channel earlier but unfortunately, I only looked for it after a crash. I didn't actually "Lay her down" but I did lock up the rear and slid/crashed when a car made a sudden left in front of me. Thankfully I came out unscathed and my bike suffered some damage to the exhaust. I don't even remember if I applied my front brake. Wow! Poor riding skills and poor assessment of my surroundings resulted in a situation that could have been easily avoided. I was very lucky. I am now on a quest to become a better rider and I plan on taking an advanced rider course. Until then I will be watching your channel and be practicing the techniques that you are advocating. Thanks again buddy and stay safe!

[@danjacobsen4909]

I found this by accident but really appreciate the info; I’m that returning rider after 30 yrs hiatus. Very helpful to me. Thx

[@MCrider]

We have a lot of videos that will be helpful, make sure and subscribe. www.MCrider.com/KZbin

[@cisium1184]

Though I have no experience with this, I am starting to get the impression that "I had to lay 'er down" really means, "I panicked and low-sided because I don't know how to emergency stop."

[@MCrider]

Bingo

[@bobbyhatcher887]

Great video and explanation regarding the most important skill to know, train and practice. (ProRider Instructor)

[@LIFEBATTLEHARDENENHEART]

I love it, that was great. I've been riding a long time, track and road. I've heard that bull line before, lol. Some of my friends would show up, battered and bruised and say " I had to lay my bike down, some fool pulled out in front of me" I would laugh and reply " a little heavy on the rear break and not using enough of the front. I've watched a few of your videos and I have to say that you're spot on, and know your stuff. I will definitely be sharing your channel with friends I meet while out riding and encouraging them to take a safety riding courses. Keep up the good and informative videos. I'll be subscribing to your channel. Thanks again

[@adorabledeplorable7598]

you're amazing iLearn from every one of your videos finally someone that knows how to explain it thank you

[@MCrider]

+adorable deplorable Wow! Thanks for the kind words.

[@ABJR-bt9fo]

adorable deplorable

[@fvcostanzo]

Excellent installment -- thanks, Kevin!

[@No_one1776]

I have heard the same thing. I had to lay it down. I think the best advice is to practice in a controlled environment (aka a parking lot). Great vids.

[@davidsantiago6189]

I've said that, it happened last Saturday. Luckily it did fall if not I would've hit the truck broadside. But I have a lot to learn. Ty for your vids

[@marekstawicki8811]

So well explained! but for anyone of us who gets this as a "so obvious" do watch this again and again, as I bet: we have missed out so many important things! I know I did.

[@zypp33]

Brilliant ......people seem to use this story almost like it's the hero's technique......love the gum bit !

[@REAPERxx420]

I have my final day of on-bike training today and we are going over emergency stopping and maneuvering at parking lot speed. Thank you for the quick knowledge before I take the class. Wish me luck hahaha

[@JamesBowles]

I really appreciate your videos, especially this one.

[@gorillaau]

This series of videos is really excellent. What about traction control and slipper clutches?

[@MCrider]

+gorillaau Thanks, great ideas I will add it to the list.

[@bruceherman405]

learn to ride your bike properly - if you rely on traction control, ABS and other 'safety gimmicks', then your not a proficient rider ...

[@robw2326]

Gimme a break.

[@lowgascostsorangeman2688]

Thanks for this so important lesson. You're my favorite channel for training. That frog that jumped out of the way didn't think you were going to stop in time.

[@MCrider]

+Shadrack Meshack Thank you!

[@5lelik5]

Thnx Kevin for your videos, very usefull. Hello from Latvia, Europe.

[@joecaetano]

Good work

[@MultiDlittle]

Kevin, great video, I noted one thing you did as instinct and understandability did not mention. That is standing the bike up straight with the weight of the M/C up over the tires. I had a near miss this week all most identical to yours and noted the things I did that contributed to situation. "ie" in a hurry to get home, mentally distracted, lack of focus. In my situation I was in a hard curve to the right and a road intersecting my road to the left. My traveling distance from the car in front of me was around 2 car lengths at 40 miles an hour. My focus was on the cars approaching the stop sign on the side road. I did not realise the car in front of me made a sudden stop to turn left. When I realized this I was right on top of the car. Somehow I new if hit the front brake in that hard curve I would go down and of course the moment I touched the back brake the bike started to slide and the bike go sideways. I immediately released the back brake and turned to the right to avoid the car, went to the right off the road in the grass and rode it out and went around the car and back onto the road. It was a rough bouncy off road ride but, I tried to keep my weight up over the bike and avoid the ditch. Thank God (and I do mean "thank God") I had a place to go and the thought to go there because there was no time to stop it was just faction time. I rode a lot when I was a kid in the dirt and when I started riding again 5yrs ago, I took the motorcycle safety course. I believe the mental practice of always leaving yourself a place to go and the practice of making emergency maneuvers saved my life that day. I totally lost my mental focus and put myself in a bad situation. Like you said in your video what did I gain and learn from this? To keep my head in the game and do not ride when I am mentally distracted or tired from work. If it means stopping and relaxing, do it. Kevin, thank you for what you are doing and allowing me to tell my story. It somehow helps! David

[@RealBelisariusCawl]

It’s usually scarier to try and keep the bike up on two wheels since you sometimes have to do some crazy stuff, but it’s also usually the best shot of getting out of the situation without any damage done. You’re in deep doo-doo either way, but I’ll take the “ride my Harley off-road for a few feet in a surprise ADV test” over “layerdown” any day.

[@ElplebeTex]

You are set for success. Thanks so much for all this extremely valuable information. I'm sharing your channel and telling all my friends about it. Keep em coming.

[@u0aol1]

Just last week a car pulled across at an intersection, my instinctive reaction was to go for the breaks. Foot down on the back break and a nice calm squeeze to the front. Technique in this case was instinct and instinct saved me and my beautiful bike. - I would never have thought that somebody would use a forced crash to avoid a crash, that's like eating all of the food in the fridge now so you won't eat it later. Extra special kind of special people shouldn't be allowed to drive anything with an engine.

[@richardbernstein1259]

I look forward to each episode. Always great! Thank you

[@MCrider]

+Richard Bernstein Thanks Richard, I appreciate it very much.

[@Lokey_8664]

Great advice. Reason why I use the 2 finger Technic when breaking

[@michaelklinge1857]

great video ive heard that i had to lay my bike down thing over and over theres been some close calls and i have avoided a few collisions but never even considered dropping it I agree with all you have said I would rather ride it out than dump it

[@mylesbryant7166]

Just found your channel this morning, and will be watching all that you have posted. Great Job! I bought my first street bike back in 1964. Rode it for a year, and yeah, 'put the bike down to avoid an accident' was the common teaching back then. And I used it a few times! In this theory you got on top of the bike do avoid the Honda Hickies (road rash)! Though I have had 3 MSF courses, and one military safety course, along with 53 years of experience, I'm still learning! Today I ride a cruiser style motorcycle, and pull a camping trailer. I've been pulling a trailer since 1994. Today trailers are becoming more, and more popular with MC riders to help haul camping gear, etc. I would love to see some videos, from you, on safely pulling, and stopping a trailer. I know that it takes a lot longer to get a bike stopped when pulling a trailer, and try my best to allow for the added stopping distance. Looking forward to many more videos from you!

[@johnmadsen37]

I’ve had to do this a few times. Braking straight in a rain storm, it will do what it does. In a turn, I try to straighten it up as much as possible to to apply maxim7m braking until the last second to turn. On a slippery surface, better hope you’re driving appropriate speeds since there’s not much except straight braking again. I had a fjr1300 with esc and abs so the bike did so much. Old school, have fun…. Each t8me you ride, at the beginning, you should calibrate yourself by brake testing, slow speed turning, and all that. It’s like a quick training session a few times a day.

[@hoodratcustoms6205]

Loved your expression with the bubblegum! Against your level tone and delivery it tells me you have a bigger sense of humor than you let on! Loved it HAHAHA! Great videos Kevin!

[@MCrider]

I often tell a joke but never smile. It keeps them guessing whether your funny or just crazy. 👍

[@hoodratcustoms6205]

MCrider I have a thing for deadpan humour. I’ve been a Monty Python Fan for years and these the masters at deadpan delivery. A bit like you I’m returning to riding after a long pause and am starting my closed circuit training next week. I have a bit of advantage since I live on a dead end street I’m watching your videos and taking my 79 Goldwing for little practice sessions. I do restorations and maintenance, check out my videos. I’d really be interested in learning about your editing techniques as I have my own video production studio at home. Professionally I’m a screen and voice actor, and ex military as well, so we have a few things in common. Check out my website at www.skvo.net if you ever have a moment. Be well sir, time to get my boys at school.... cheers!

[@loz4thebush]

bloody fantastic Kevin,keep your good work going

[@robertlowers6001]

Me rider Bob Here I have AHonda Cb1100 2014 have you ever seen ABS on rea Brakes only this Bike Does

[@ellencolonna2588]

I'm a brand new rider...actually, just learning. I wouldn't even call myself a rider yet, but I have heard so many stories about people laying their bike down, I actually thought it was a thing! Thank you for the great information! And thanks for the giggle in the beginning of the video. :)

[@opijules]

Good luck with your riding career, Ellen!

[@ellencolonna2588]

Thank you!

[@mrkman858]

I need to practice this, I had a car do a quick lane change on me last week on the highway and like Kevin said I grabbed that front break hard. The bike has ABS but you can sure feel that weight shift and center of gravity change. I never felt out of control, just felt like I could have reacted better. I'll work on it...

[@joeeckert5128]

Always loved that line. Right up there with "If I'd been on my Harley, she would have heard me".

[@ianallso2541]

Maybe it is covered in another video, but you didn't discuss use of the clutch to remove power from the rear wheel or the need to keep your head and and eye up in order to maintain balance. I was instructed to role off, set up and squeeze front break, rear break and clutch.

[@ThomasOzOsburn]

Good info. New riders really need to be taught this. Thanks for the video.

[@MrMichaelx3arts]

i need to practice some of that front brake, any time i do stop i use back all the time,

[@emfl4437]

Thanks for the video. Going out to practice today, can't do it enough. Ride Safe

[@MCrider]

+EM FL Awesome, that's what I like to hear.

[@Danny-fs1hk]

What a great video! Thanks

[@DJ-mk5ln]

Thanks again another lesson learned :) and I do be passing on word about this channel whenever I can.

[@63CommonSense]

You didn’t mention the use of the clutch while emergency breaking. Does that mean you should and that’s implied with stooping or you shouldn’t ? Great videos, I have your how to ride a motorcycle like a pro body and can’t wait until we get some dry weather to get out there and practice with it.

[@davidquinn5430]

Ha the ABS!!! Well the old style that radle is...old I heard from a dealer.He also told me the newer style are much better and more progressive....Great vids,I am hooked.

[@michaelgurgone2825]

One thing I would add, depending on the direction my motorcycle is heading dictates how I apply my brakes. In straight line braking, I first smoothly apply my rear brake to stabilize and reduce front fork dive and then apply front brakes to blend in with my rear brakes to bring the bike to a straight smooth stop. Additionally, I release the front brake just before coming to a complete stop. This technique prevents front fork dive which can prevent a rider from losing balance just before a complete stop. I can’t tell you how many times I seen a rider hit the front brake first, fold up the front forks and do a header over the handlebars, especially on slick surfaces and when cornering. I always recommend using your gearing and engine breaking skillfully in concert with your brakes to assure fast true stops when time and space permits.

[@iquitmyjob6154]

Great vid. What is the reason you would downshift during emergency breaking? Why is that important? I would on just breaking.

[@christinamoneyhan5688]

Kevin, this is great information but while you are doing the breaking you need to also be looking for an escape route in case you do not have enough stopping distance. Thank you.

[@skyfever111]

i've been riding for about a year and half. learned on a 50cc and recently bought a 155cc. i was always under the impression that the front brake is the more important thing to use because everyone keeps saying "its 70% of your stopping power" and that's led me to lock my front wheel up and tip over several times. i've now retrained myself to hit the rear brake first (or rear brake only) and use the front brake as the supplementary rather than the other way around as i was taught. i wish people would stop emphasizing the front brake so much.

[@opijules]

People emphasize it because it is the correct way. If you lock up the front wheel and tip over then either you haven't yet learned to control your machine or the front brake is grabbing for some reason - maybe a buckled rotor.

[@hellbilly6532]

Luv the videos , keep up the good work

[@raphaellaurindobonini338]

Regards from Brazil! Great Job!

[@noelespirtu8165]

kevin do you have video on turning in traffic ? should you turn from the middle of your lane ? or vere off in the direction of your turn, encouraging traffic to swerve around you even while you're still making and completing your turn ? or start your turn from the far side of your lane ?

[@onementality9781]

Common sense isn’t ver common these day’s:) it’s like do we need to remind people to blink and breathe every few seconds? Kevin is a good teacher and I enjoy learning why I do or don’t do some things as it’s always important to keep learning and growing:)

[@kennethvernonprivate]

Thanks Kevin....I do use my brakes properly but I don't practice emergency braking....I will now! All the best....

[@MCrider]

Thanks for the comment friend. All the best.

[@birdbreaker]

Great training aids! Thank you

[@fvcostanzo]

That opening bit is hilarious! A little levity on a difficult, scary subject.

[@ilyketrainz]

I typically try to practice using both brakes (front and rear) unless I'm going low speeds then I tend to bias my rear brake only, in an emergency I begin only slightly earlier on my rear brake than my front because it loads my forks and settles the bike in for heavier use of the front, on my xsr 900 if I don't do that or begin doing heavier pressures in my front without beginning the rear earlier my bike tries to lift my rear tire off the ground!

[@phitns]

Great advice as usual!

[@medusaschild6102]

Thank you for number the steps.

[@deet4787]

So yeah I did it I went out with basically no front pads left and was using my brake mostly and my front very little just trying to get a ride in then I need to stop quickly and couldn’t ended up sliding into a ditch !!! Ik it’s my fault it was a rookie mistake but yeah I’ve definitely learned my lesson

[@1madmax22]

That is a hilarious beginning to this video. Great videos. Keep it up, I'll have a question sooner or later.

[@340rps]

Wish we had these videos years back. I grew up thinking to never use the front brake. it cost me and a buddy when he stopped and turned his bike in front of me , I locked up the rear and laid the bike down . he got a broken leg, I lucked out with just road rash. If I only knew how to stop!

[@maxmaxov1003]

Good job

[@michaelggriffiths]

Another great video! I 100% agree with this in principle, but disagree in practice somewhat. Here in the UK we are trained to squeeze the break lever progressively to bring the bike to a stop. Now, the only way that anyone, and I mean ANYONE is going to get this right; is by them learning to observe correctly and to correctly anticipate dangers. If they are continually assessing all relevant information all the way through the system, they dramatically limit the need to do an emergency stop. You can train someone 'until the cows come home' to squeeze the lever, but if they aren't observing and anticipating, when that car pulls out in front of them and surprises and frightens them, they WILL grab the lever... It's biology. Many 1000's of ree and point to the fact that they themselves always squeeze, but I guarantee that, yes they may well be correctly squeezing; but they are also (sometimes unconsciously) scanning ahead and anticipating. This gives them an edge and allows the conditioned reflexes to kick in. We say, "teach a man to break, get him through his test. Teach a man to observe. get him through life!" Many will disagree, and that's fine, because all those disagreeing are more than likely good riders who are practising good observations.

[@Trike2017]

Great videos! Can you do a video on how to come to a stop without being off balance? Sometimes I can come to a stop, but both feet down with precision. The other half of the time I am off balance and it looks like I am about to tip over when the bike stops.

[@opijules]

I had trouble with this in my early riding days too, and judging from what I see, I think most people do. It turned out that I was holding the handlebars too tightly, and relying too much on counter-steering to keep my balance all the way down to the stop. The problem with that technique is that as you come to a stop you can't move the front wheel out to the left or right (i.e. counter-steer) enough to keep your balance. It'll take practice, but you need to lighten your grip on the bars, and use slight shifts of your body to maintain balance while you're riding in a straight line. This results in slower direction changes than counter-steering, so isn't as useful in "spirited" riding, but if you can use it you'll be much more relaxed. And the benefit in the context of your post is that you'll be in better balance as you come down toward a stop. Now you can release the front brake below about 5 mph to improve low speed stability while keeping your foot on the rear brake to complete the stop. At that point you put your left foot down first, hold the bike at a standstill by reapplying the front brake, then put your right foot down - the "elegant" (and correct) way. If you use this "body balance" technique when you pull away, the bike will be be in balance from the start, and you'll look and feel a lot smoother then, too. A rider who is in balance and who doesn't wander around the road at anything below 5 mph looks really sophisticated and experienced to, in my opinion.

[@wanderlpnw]

LOL @ your reaction. Another great video. It's counterintuitive but the area in contact with the surface doesn't increase friction alone. It's only dependent of force, or the pressure on the object and the coefficient of friction. So, having a larger tire patch in contact with the ground doesn't increase friction. One of the other reasons "laying it down" doesn't decrease stopping distance.

[@MCrider]

Interesting comment, thx. So are you saying force alone increases friction and not the combination of force and increased contact patch?

[@SteveEwe]

Will Ashmore that's an interesting idea. Are you saying that if I modified a car to have 8 tires, and asked you to carry 4 extra tires in your car (to even the weight of the tires) our cars would both have the same stopping distance?

[@wanderlpnw]

Sorry it took so long to get back. Didn't see the notification on KZbin. Kevin Morris , the size of the contact patch isn't relevant unless it increases the coefficient of friction. So, if a tire was completely smooth, then increasing the contact patch won't increase friction at all. It gets kind of complicated with off road tires because they're sometimes designed to be deflated. However, in general it's just the force that increases traction, not the area of the contact patch.

[@wanderlpnw]

I don't understand the question, 009blush . It sounds like you are putting the extra tires in the car. That would increase the weight of the car, thus increasing the force (mass x gravity) on the tires, therefore increasing the friction. But now you have more momentum to stop, so you may not stop faster.

[@MCrider]

+Will Ashmore thanks Will, interesting point. Not disagreeing with you, I honestly don't know but why do guys at the track reduce their tire pressure? I thought it was to increase the contact patch. However, I guess it could be to just get more heat in to the tire.

[@stevejohnson7354]

I remember learning 75% front and 25% back brakes. Yes, brakes first and then downshifting, if time permits

[@PeterVred]

Question about the rear brake, I don’t see exactly WHEN you apply the rear brake; slightly before, right with, or slightly after the front brake. Being as the rear brake has less stopping power, do you try to use more pressure on the rear, since you are starting lightly on the front? Will too much rear make the rear wheel slide out from under you? Do you gradually bring in the rear, increasing as you go, or just the opposite?

[@windridr66]

Great video. Thanks, man!

[@JamesR23]

@MCrider - motorcycle training I’m curious, if your stopping distance is not compatible with the distance of the object in front of you and a collision is inevitable - do you lowside into it or get flung into it/over it by braking going head on into it?

[@spraetter]

When I took my license here in Sweden we were taught NOT to progressively squeeze harder and harder on your front brake, because it will cause the motorcycle to stand on it's front wheel (stoppie). Instead, one firm pressure from the beginning and then keeping that same pressure throughout your braking is the way to go. Which is correct?

[@opijules]

You squeeze harder as the front suspension compresses, the contact patch broadens, and you get greater friction. It also allows your own body to adjust too. Progressive squeezing keeps you focusing on stopping efficiently too, and is part of learning not to grab hard and freeze, which stops the front tire and causes a skid and an end-around. If you grab too suddenly, you can "snap" your weight too far forward; which increases the likelihood of a stoppie. The only problem I have with Kevin's description is that it sounds a little too leisurely. You're trying to stop in an emergency, so you don't have all day to come to a halt, but the progressive squeeze is still the correct way to go from a very sound, scientific perspective. In reality, you're going to take between one half and one and a half seconds to make the move, depending primarily on the weight and CG of the bike, the type and travel of suspension, your weight, the tires.

[@unhombrelobo]

Trust me, the other day i didn't have time to "slowly squeeze" the front brake..it happened in split second, and i hammered down on it. I slid and managed to maneuver around the cars thank goodness.

[@TheOutlook12]

Great video! Thanks Kevin.

[@MCrider]

Thanks Jimmy, I appreciate it!

[@ksdad2two]

Do you have a glass eye, one is dilated and the other has a bigger pupil. With my 2002 Honda Shadow spirit dc I may be wrong but I've had to do a "quick stop" and used 80% front break and kicking down gears (no clutch used) it worked for me but may not be right.

[@planefloat]

I saw an old WWll motorcycle training video recently that showed the riders being trained to " lay her down" on the dirt. Maybe that's where that notion came from. As a kid in the early '50's, that was what I always heard. Braking hard on a 200cc Ducati when crossing a shiny sewer cover, locking the front wheel, landed me in the hospital with a concussion.....