STOP Being Afraid of your Front Brake. Be afraid of this instead.

[@soujrnr]

That demonstration of a tire under an abrupt load versus a gradual load is great! It really does solidify how important smoothness is for handling, traction, and braking. I have watched so many videos of yours that talk about smoothness on controls and it saved me just last weekend. I was riding "The Snake" in northeastern Tennessee and into Virginia. I came upon a very poorly marked turn that turned out to be barely less than a hairpin turn. I was riding my Gold Wing. I was already trail braking, so I just had to apply quite a bit more front brake going around the bend. I manage to make the turn without crossing over the double yellow lines. I must admit that I was nervous because the turn was totally unexpected, but due to your fantastic training on trail braking, I wasn't in the throttle going into the turn, weight was already shifted to the front tire, and I was able to apply all the braking I needed to stay in my lane. Great stuff, Dave!!!

[@MLSInVA]

Years ago, someone I know expressed your message as "don't surprise the bike". You're a great teacher. Thank You!

[@ghostpepperrides4805]

At 68yo this is the best video on braking I’ve seen. I’ve used both brakes all my life. Dirt and Street riding. I’ve tried with some success to teach others who never use a brake in a corner.

[@letstacoboutvallarta1498]

Slow is smooth and smooth is fast. Practice, practice, practice

[@RiderofDeath91]

Trailbraking immensely helped me negotiate downhill corners and saved me multiple times in corners that suddenly got a lot tighter. I stay on the brake just a tiny bit but noticing that you slow down a little instead of gaining speed is so much more comfortable when riding.

[@maxcassidy5809]

I just started riding recently and this is the nuance I think safety courses miss. Motorcycles are dangerous and I get the need to give quick easy to follow guides, especially in a limited time. Thank you so much, I had thought many of these things before so to have an experience perspective is absolute GOLD!

[@redbynight]

Smoothness seems to be the key in most things... Another good video! Also, that clip on the gradual application of pressure on the leaned tyre is a piece of gold!

[@CanyonChasers]

The clips of me grabbing the front brake were scary AF and I had such a hard time doing it. I was actually able to activate the ABS, straight up and down, on a hot day, on a pristine bit of road. Yikes!

[@848evo4]

much like my women I like my riding smooth

[@TheAsheybabe89]

What’s a tyre?

[@CanyonChasers]

It's exactly like a tire only it's in the UK.

[@TheAsheybabe89]

@@CanyonChasers clearly. I was more so making a joke at how illogical the spelling is. But the again perhaps I was just “tyred “ after a long day.

[@Zookeeper101]

Another great video! I tend to late brake into corners, and even braking smoothly my corner entry isn't smooth. After going thru Champ school online I focused on being smooth, specifically paying attention to how my bike was responding. It's more then just being smooth on the controls, it's keeping the bike happy at the same time, but the first step is smooth control inputs. When I'm just riding around town I'll emergency brake at stop signs and lights, out in the twisties I brake mid turn to practice and set the muscle memory smoothly, I'll go thru using no brake, only front brake, only rear brake, and both brakes just to understand how each work independently and also together. Adjusting my technique and changing my mindset has made me faster, but most importantly it has made me much smoother, I'm comfortable and my bike isn't upset. Learning to be smooth takes time, I think smoothness should be the main focus of any riding school.....

[@acehandler1530]

Excellent! Most riders are too lazy to do what they could do to improve their skills (other than wheelies/stoppies) and it shows in the myriad of videos we find on KZbin. I've been riding a 'big' bike (FJR1300) for 3 years now and haven't activate the ABS once yet (in 20K kms). Guess I'd better get out there and Just Do It! Thanks for reminding me 🙂

[@b1tho]

Just wanted sincerely congratulate you on this simple message. In australia the industry still does not communicate effectively to new or mature riders about the skills required. Your simple and well explained advice can assist. Keep it up . Bob

[@CanyonChasers]

Thank you!

[@Porsche996driver]

You did a good video a year ago iirc on trail-braking. Especially good on unknown roads and hazards.

[@zbfire1389]

Love the way you explain reality to the average rider. I'm not Rossi... I wish, but I completely understand and take your words to heart.

[@CanyonChasers]

Thank you!!

[@terabit.]

I've learnt so many thing from this guy in the past 3 years! God bless you!

[@willmcgregor7184]

So much great information from CHAMPU. I appreciate hearing some of it again. Smooth inputs (throttle, brake, lean) = better traction, stable chasis, safer ride. Another Required Technique When riding in urban areas, P lots & wildlife corridor have 2 fingers resting on the brake lever. At hwy speed, travel every .5 sec= about the length of a tractor trailer. Less delay & less abrupt

[@CanyonChasers]

Yes! So much YES! Coving the brakes seriously saves lives!!

[@seniorrider9337]

I always fall back to the mantra, " slow is smooth, and smooth is fast". I practice it every time I ride to try to remain as smooth as possible on the controls. It is now automatic for me to be smooth on the controls. When I took the returning rider course to get my endorsement, I lost points on the field test due to "slowing" in the corner. I did not use brakes, just slowly rolled the throttle off a little. I laughed at the instructor grading me and said, "it is hard to unlearn superior techniques" He laughed also as he took 5 points. 95 wasn't so bad a score!

[@josepg.2479]

Good advise because is simple. As you said in another video, ride on a mountain bike or a dirt bike can give us amount of sense of front break control

[@ironviper42]

Best advice I have heard about braking & accelerating

[@carolinap4150]

Great way to explain it. Thank you. Videos like this trigger our brain to review how we drive in all types of conditions and be aware of what we need to improve and adjust and apply on our next rides.

[@hugodacosta]

Perfectly explained. Great advice for riders, doesn't matter how long we've been riding.

[@lylemacdonald6672]

Your videos gently encourage and illustrate, using plain language, the advantages to riders in becoming more technical in their operations of a motorcycle; to hone their craft. After 50 years in the saddle my conclusion is that over 90 percent of riders just focus on getting from point A to point B while mastering the technical or appreciating the Zen of it all never enters their mind and probably never will. I am actually surprized there are not more riders going down. I had a guy tell me he always goes at least 10mph below the posted speed on a curve because "bikes can't take corners as quickly as cars". Really?! Love your channel, keep them coming. 🇨🇦

[@gnarthdarkanen7464]

There's still a few of us who appreciate it as a meditative exercise... I might generally cruise just a mile or two below the actual pack speed, but it's mostly to let the other lunatics get along as their pack, so I can take up all the wonderful real estate between packs... ...when I'm not in a mood for mischief... haha... BUT seriously, I still describe riding as a slow dance, rather than trying to wrangle a herd of horses under control, because it's all about grace and skill and technique. If someone's breathing heavy from riding, it's because they're inventing work for themselves... ;o)

[@johncasteel1780]

@@gnarthdarkanen7464 Agreed. Especially on the highway, I adjust my speed (+ or -) to work my way into the gaps between clusters of cars.

[@gnarthdarkanen7464]

@@johncasteel1780 Yup... Let the idiot cagers "duke it out to be leader of the pack" if they want... I'll enjoy the six hundred MILES of real estate between... where ALL the lanes are clear, and if someone pops into view tear-assing to get down the road, I've got OPTIONS... lots of them. It gets almost comically confusing as to why everyone seems to have trouble with cars and traffic... ;o)

[@233kosta]

I used to believe the corners line until I actually got on a bike... I feel safe going about 10mph over the posted 'recommended' speed in those bends and I know with some confidence that there's more grip available, should I need it. In contrast, my current car tends to understeer quite badly, which means one wouldn't dream of taking some of those bends any faster than the posted number...

[@gnarthdarkanen7464]

@@233kosta No doubt... It's one of my favorite parts about getting the "empty real estate" to play... triple digits... hahahaha... Obviously you "feel out" a bike's handling in stages, and make adjustments as necessary... BUT a decent bike can actually perform quite a bit better than any car through a corner, as long as you're not too busy getting unnerved by a pack of morons around you... ;o)

[@gregd.88]

Holy crap, someone actually putting out good information on the Internet? Unheard of! Thanks for getting the word out man.

[@ZediMaster]

Gr8 vid, canyon. Ride safe, god bless u.

[@davebramsen100]

Great teaching style. Thanks! I'm enjoying the ride 55 years after starting at age 16, but there is still learning, improving out there. (Of course, there are bonus tweaks of pains that come on at this stage. I rode from Calif. to the Arctic Ocean (Tuktoyaktuk) this 2024 summer and told my wife, "This is not the body I rode to Alaska in 1980".) (And don't forget life's short. John 3:16). Great channel here.

[@davidmccormack7021]

I’ve been roaring on the road for coming up to a year now and it’s these videos I like to watch as they continue to help me learn. Thanks and keep up the good work.

[@Asperaetastra]

Very encouraging! Thank you for that important video.!

[@vijayam1]

Stop being an emotional rider and start being technical rider. Quote to go by! Dave, your inputs are helping lots.. 👍🏻

[@David40S]

Absolutely agree! Great video.

[@brentfrank7012]

Speaking of clinical, at 4:54 min you say hitting the front brake does not make the bike stand up, quite the opposite. Hitting the throttle makes the bike stand up. Feel free to lean in and drag the front brake. Roll on the throttle as you exit and the bike will stand as you wish depending on your level of throttle pressure. In time with practice it becomes a ballet dance. 😁 As usual, great video.

[@CanyonChasers]

Exactly!

[@FREE_PUREBLOOD333]

Great advice and something we all should make a muscle memory. I always trail brake in bends and cover that front brake as I ride with one or two fingers at all times . Makes the application of that front brake so much quicker when required . 🇬🇧 All the best from Derbyshire, England, U.K.

[@CanyonChasers]

Hello Derbyshire!

[@acehandler1530]

R U a 'ton up' boy? 🙂

[@johnhinds6540]

So essential. Smoothness, calm, prepared… anticipate and scan , scan , scan. Thank you Sir!!

[@CanyonChasers]

Yep!

[@machinedgod]

Could't agree more with this whole video! I ride 2019 R1M, that thing has more electronic systems than my whole apartment.. slip control, traction control, lift control, launch control, power curve adjustments... I mean, bike can as well just ride itself without me being on it. Yet - I ride it like its a bike from 90ies, and treat all these systems as a failsafe, in cases where inevitably, I will make an error or two...

[@CanyonChasers]

This is the way!

[@tommeyer6033]

These braking vids of yours, combined with an upgrade to stainless braided brake lines, have really increased my riding confidence and pleasure. Thanks. Make more!

[@CanyonChasers]

I love it!!!

[@simonaustin8332]

That’s awesome, really great , shared it with my brother who’s thinking about getting back into riding, Thank you for taking the time too make these

[@79sketches]

I started using my front brake on curves since you first publish it. I have been improving its use. Taking it slow until i felt confident.

[@Freemanf4]

I saw a lot of videos where riders put their bike down instead of touching the front brake. Like you said. This can be life changing. And there are riders with modern technology like cornering ABS which still fall because they do not know or do not trust their skills regarding the front brake. And yes, unfortunately this is what they teach you, not to press the brake while cornering. In my 15 years of riding i took a lot of bad corners and the front brake saved my life more than a few times. Personally i've learned real trail braking on the race track with extreme grippy tyres, but it's something i do each and every single day on the road with your normal sport or touring tyres. And it's not to be faster, it's just like you've said, being safer and more confident. Very good and informative video. Hope a lot of riders see this. Thank you for the info and be safe.

[@CanyonChasers]

Thank you!! And yes, you are exactly right. Very well said!

[@williammahaffy4642]

Excellent as always!! As a ChampStreet Grad , this is terrific info and please keep getting it out there. I finished the course several weeks before a big solo road trip and it was the key element for my safety and increased enjoyment. I have "R=MPH" sharpied on a piece of tape stuck to my tank bag! Keep up the great work! You and the YCRS crew are making the riding community safer and better with each encouraging lesson. 🏍🏍

[@fallinginthed33p]

"Brake when you feel nervous" has saved my behind too many times. Better to carry less speed through a corner and then speed up, than to run wide because you carried too much speed and the radius of the curve intersected with the guardrail.

[@acehandler1530]

@@fallinginthed33p Oh yeah!

[@acehandler1530]

I'd never heard of "R=MPH" and really...probably could've figured it out...but Gooble is always here and what an interesting rabbit hole - thanks! I won't be doing track days on my FJR as there aren't any around here and I'm pushing 70yo (been riding since '76 - got a late start) but the theory was interesting to explore and the trackdays vids on Reddit were really fun too!

[@williammahaffy4642]

@@acehandler1530 Not sure where you're located but look at www.ridelikeachampion.com. There may be a one-day course within a reachable distance. Age, bike, experience... none of that matters. Just the desire to learn new $h!t and be better at the craft, the sport, the rider community. The bit of track time during ChampStreet was the best place to practice the techniques from ChampU (the online offering) and the fantastic in-person explanations from Nick and Mark and others of the YCRS team. If it's not the most fun you've had in your life, you have had a FREAKIN awesome life!! Well worth it. PS... Pushin' 70 just means we've seen a thing or 2. We have more wisdom than luck in the bucket of life. Go for it!!

[@meditativeturtle]

Such a simple but deep and useful advice. Practice will make you better. Understanding the dynamics of a motorbike will make you better a better rider. Theory is one thing, practice is what you really learn from.

[@meditativeturtle]

@CanyonChasers , does OfficialBlaines have anything to do with you?

[@chrisrader8547]

Such good advice. A motorcycle tire has a tremendous amount of grip, even when leaned over.. But if you upset it by grabbing the brakes in panicky fashion, you WILL crash. Ask me how I know. (Actually don’t and it was a long time ago.) Smooth, progressive pressure is the order of the day.

[@CanyonChasers]

Exactly!

[@stilldajoker]

@@CanyonChasers and if you flat land a lot of miles on your tires to screw up the profile ... replace them before you carve a canyon road. CA G20 by Laguna Seca --- if a tourist doesn't hold you up.

[@rudetuque]

Great video and commentary...I live rurally, 5 km of twisty gravel (some washboard with a medium traffic load on 1.5 lanes) until hard top... on the KLR, good fun. On the Ninja 250... it's a bit sketch. Nonetheless it is a vital bit of concentration training for me, I have to be smooth on the controls. I have to anticipate there will be truck going 80+km'h in 'my' lane headed straight at me. I rely so heavily on my bicycle experience (road, trail, downhill, ice) to understand braking and leaning on two wheels. I have hit the ditch, low sided, high sided and all combinations of those over the years on skinnies. No desire to do it on a motto at double the velocity with hundreds of pounds of metal following me. I think you guys vouched for how great mountain biking is for motorcycle handling skills... keep pushing that! I strongly urge anyone who hasn't been on a bicycle for years to get on one... do rear wheel skids, do brakies, do wheelies learn those feelings of "ohhh, a wheel is leaving the ground!" and not getting scared... Thanks for the great tips and content...

[@_skud]

good video. makes me even more proud to know that my last training coach told me I was very smooth on the bike!

[@CubanRider]

Another excellent video. Keep sharing the wealth of information my friend, there's way too much misinformation and bad advice when it comes to motorcycling.

[@zeplin4078]

Thanks for sharing, great way to explain..

[@multibusa]

I’ve watched a few of your rider technique videos now, the very first one was admittedly with some scepticism. Why? Well as you rightly point out many other such rider advice courses often tell you the exact opposite to what may need to be done. Here is a great example that you point out, being that all too often we’re told it’s dangerous to use the front brakes in a corner. I’ve heard this so many times that I’ve repeated this bad advice to others over the years believing it to be true. However having listened to several of your videos now, you have totally changed my way of thinking. In fact I feel somewhat foolish now having had you explain various techniques because a lot of what you say makes perfect sense to me after having made serial mistakes in some 30 years of riding. I love the visual demonstration of the guy holding the tyre at a steep angle and showing the difference in grip between abruptly smacking the tyre as apposed to gradually pushing on it and visually seeing the tyre grip the tarmac like glue. A picture paints a thousand words so to speak. I very much like your teaching approach and you make a lot of sense. You have caused me to think about my riding in a completely new way. I no longer think that I’m destined to only ever be an average rider at best. I now believe there are better safer techniques to be employed and practiced which I can say with certainty will and has improved my riding skills which results in safer and more enjoyable riding. Thank you my friend.

[@CanyonChasers]

I love this!!

[@rapatopelosines]

Top explanation, thanks for the vídeo. Congrats.

[@brianperry]

I’ve been riding the twisty mountain roads of Spain for a number of years… During that time I’ve had one or two ..Oh Crap! moments when a bend turns into a switchback. Riding with just one finger over the brake lever suffices for most situations. Learning the art of trail braking has been a revelation in controlled braking.. Thanks for the info

[@impactaustria]

I really wonder why most bikes are setup so that frontbrake- and clutchlevers are covering the full lenght of the grips, inviting the rider to grab them with all 4 fingers. From riding motocross I always preferred to mount the levers further inward, so that the ends of the levers only cover the inside half of the grips, providing only space for 2 fingers. I feel this solves a lot of problems, levers don't snap of on crashes (mostly relevant on dirtbikes), you got maximum mechanical advantage because you're pulling the levers on their ends, giving you a better ability to dose clutch and brake, you can still wrap ring finger and pinky around the grip while applying brake/clutch (feels a bit awkward at first) and you don't run into the risk of "grabbing a handfull of front brake" nearly as easily. Of course levers need to be setup in a way to not pinch your other fingers before fully disengaging the cvlutch or full brake pressure, but thats easily done with most adjustable levers. Most of the time I even only use one finger on each of the levers, that are however permanentely resting there so it won't take some extra time to pull the clutch or brake in emergency situations. You can even use the index finger as a nice reference on the brake lever for smooth throttle control especially during the transition from trail braking to accelerating.

[@MotorcyclePWR]

Thank you for this video, great advice. These days many trainers such as myself do emphasise smooth use of the controls. Sadly, at basic level, use of the front brake is still considered taboo; but with new riders that is for a very good reason. I think its about knowing when to train someone that little bit further and introduce front brake cornering. That would usually be when a rider has completely removed the grab panic response through good training. Its interesting to see how many rider students take so long to actually learn how to use the controls smoothly by default, some really struggle, despite appropriate training. We need to train our riders well and not let them loose with minimum skill levels. Ride safe, al the best from the UK.

[@233kosta]

My instructors (as in the guys who trained me) operate on the "If you _must_ grab something, grab the clutch" advice and it seems to be working, but a lot of other instructors fail to communicate the "yet" part of not touching the front brake and as a result a lot of new riders end up afraid of the lever (when really it can be one's best friend 😉).

[@malarona]

Great advice Dave, your video make me a better and safer rider...thanks and keep it up ... Salut

[@andypryce9452]

Another fantastic video. Once again you describe an issue perfectly and present strategies that give us all hope we can become better riders. Please keep producing these videos. Many thanks from Andy in the UK.

[@CanyonChasers]

Hello UK! You guys have some brilliant riding.

[@busharoundthebeat]

I love this video and your other videos. Very quality content! Only thing is... I miss your old outro music. 😢

[@CanyonChasers]

Oh, it still shows up from time to time. 😎

[@nicholasjohnson1396]

Great video, I sometimes find myself using somewhat abrupt inputs as a novice rider. But I try not to exceed the posted ( for cars) curve speed by a large margin. My curvy narrow country roads are a lot funner at 50 mph than the corn field and ditch is at 90. Also, horse and buggies exist and they like to make "deposits" in unlikely places.

[@jimgravante6497]

Hey Nick. I can mention what really helped me improve my braking smoothness. I would go to a parking lot with 8 or 10 tennis balls cut in half. I would measure out a 40 foot circle. Starting in a straight line, I would head for the circle, begin to slowly Brake before going around. I slowly let the front brake off as I tipped in, turn my head to the center of the circle, (leave it there) and just keep a steady Throttle as you go around. Start at 20 mph, do several laps and leave the circle. Then, enter the circle from the other direction. This will reinforce smooth braking and take the fear of leaning in this size circle.

[@Alastairtheduke1]

One thing I learned from Yamaha Champ School U, is the idea of not only smoothly loading the tire during the turn, but in the middle of the turn, smoothly get off the break when transitioning to accelerate.

[@CanyonChasers]

That's the point that really helped me, personally, a ton. Apparently, I was sloppy getting off the brake. We are big believers in Champ School!

[@farciarz5000]

This channel is awesome! I watched 3 videos today and I learned more about being a better rider than in last 5 years of riding. Thanks

[@CanyonChasers]

w00t w00t! Thank you!!

[@markkumanninen6524]

After a decades-long break in riding, I got a bike with Brembo up front. It's so smooth and effective I've learned to intuit its application. Thanks for confirming my experience.

[@OilyNinja]

Buying my first bike in a couple months. I’m a semi truck driver and I think some things are gonna carry over by listening to you. If you going too fast into a corner and stab the brakes and whip the wheel you gonna “crack the whip” and jackknife or lose stability at best. Slow steady inputs then gradually get firmer. All comes down to grip you only has a certain amount and once you lose it… good videos gonna keep trying to learn so I’m as prepared as a never riden person can be lol.

[@stevenmoore4078]

I attended Yamaha Champions Riding School, and the emphasis on properly using the front brake was life-changing.

[@jediealdasatin7917]

i strongly agree that abruptness of brake inputs can really hurt you so bad..that's why YCRS are putting a lot of hardwork in inculcating their students to make it a habit to cover the brakes when you let off the gas..its a habit that will ensure smoothness of inputs.. 😀😀❤️

[@waldkrause6878]

Great explanation. I would add to also use the rear brake lightly as the geometry of the bike changes less when the suspension in the back also compresses when the front does. Some bikes are prone to want to get up in the corner more than others when applying only the front brake at lean angle. This is my personal experience.

[@CanyonChasers]

Bikes with linked brakes do this for us, which is nice, but it also depends on the bike because ultimately we want the geometry to change - it's how the bikes are designed to turn *BMW Telelever notwithstanding, of course. 👍

[@233kosta]

@@CanyonChasers I rode a 125 with linked brakes for 3 months until I got my unrestricted license. On a 650 now and feel much better braking/accelerating in corners (bigger tyres may have something to do with that). Definitely feel the difference when the rear brake keeps itself to the rear wheel only and I think I prefer that.

[@onerider808]

This is huge, and great info for young/new riders, and a great reminder for older, more experienced riders. You are saving lives and increasing enjoyment with these videos. Bravo!

[@patbradley2905]

Thank you for all your excellent suggestions. I truly appreciate what you are doing for the motorcycle community.

[@jimgravante6497]

Excellent Video! After many years of owning and riding Bikes, I entered my 60's and found my Dream Bike. A 2012 Honda Silverwing with 330 miles on it! Yes, an Automatic Motorcycle (no Scoota) with a huge braking advantage...I can trail break with both levers! If I enter a left handed corner, I use my right brake Lever. If I enter a right handed corner, I use my left brake Lever! Not that chicken strips matter, but I don't have any, Lol! I can ride in total confidence, in any corner faster than any bike I've ever owned. One of which was a Yamaha FJR1300!

[@CanyonChasers]

I love it!! All the really fast guys in MotoGP are running a rear brake on their left hand. I may even add this to my Aprilia.

[@jimgravante6497]

Adding a set of Pirelli Diablo Rosso Scoota Tires and this stupid grin of mine will never leave!

[@thealanford01]

Great video. I'm a proud owner of Honda Africa Twin XRV750 from 1999. and there is no fancy technology. So I had to learn (still learning) how to handle the bike without any assistance. Just be smooth and like you said no abruptness. My bike is really forgiving but .... I had some close calls.

[@martinehulme8743]

Great advice 👌💙

[@elbertbracey7091]

You earned my subscription brother keep the content coming

[@blademanu7]

Awesome top of the range advice…I have been riding bikes over 30 years…always told do not brake on cornering….to my cost overrun and crashed… gradually braking when feeling not confident or worried…thanks for great advice 👍

[@KurtBrown-t4l]

Awesome advice. Thank you!!

[@CanyonChasers]

You are so welcome!

[@magicantler4044]

Everything You said is true. We need to ride in the way to avoid being suprised. It's not always possible. I have to say one thing, when you need to brake in the middle of the corner , it's the rear brake that should be engaged.

[@pity220171]

Excellent video. Thank you.

[@CanyonChasers]

You are welcome!

[@dmoyer2]

Your videos help a bunch, thanks!

[@CanyonChasers]

Awesome. Glad to help!

[@adamakins9748]

excellent video again. Ill be watching for more as I am adding a Yamaha MT 07 to my garage along side 2 Harleys

[@CanyonChasers]

Those MTs are a giggle! Congratulations!

[@adamakins9748]

@@CanyonChasers Thank you, really excited to learn a new riding style, I've logged in close to 100k miles in 8 years on those 2 HD's

[@dagdraam]

Great video- as always! ☺

[@fallinginthed33p]

The Champ U drill to brake progressively while in a curve and to come to a complete stop mid-corner is great for canyon carving. I had a huge grin on my face when I applied the technique while taking a downhill curve that got tighter and became a switchback. I applied light braking before entering the corner to load the front forks, maintained throttle through most of the curve, then gently released throttle while applying more front brakes as the corner tightened up. Lots of fun while leaned over the whole time.

[@CanyonChasers]

It's a fantastic sensation! To be in, what would otherwise be a terrifying situation, and yet be calm and in total control. We're huge fans of the YCRS program!!

[@fallinginthed33p]

@@CanyonChasers Yeah, decreasing radius turns used to scare me and I almost ran off the road once after panic braking. That was before I learned YCRS' lessons on progressive trail braking. Now those curves are a lot of fun.

[@derricksierra4793]

Thank you What you share is appreciated

[@williamhall8421]

Thank you for the Excellent information and training. I wish I had learned this years ago. I am a much better rider now that I am learning from someone who has had training.

[@CanyonChasers]

Great to hear!

[@jefsonb]

Those are the best videos about riding safe!

[@derleichtglaubige4415]

"You really shouldn't surprise the bike like that!" That's a mantra to remember. Love it!

[@LeoTheLion01]

WhT is the proper % of front and rear brake in a turn when the corner is too tight or obstacle!? Look I get it on speed and width of road but is there a vid or suggestion for a baseline!? Thank you in advance *ohh and when to use counter-steering!? So all elements

[@CanyonChasers]

You are thinking about this the wrong way. The majority of our stopping power is with the front brake, but grip comes from weight so we have to load the tire before we can work it. So that means the first five percent is the most critical. Allow the weight to shift to the front tire the we can brake as hard as we need to.

[@TheDenyingDutchman]

The scariest for me is shifting my focus (eyes) from entering a corner to where I want to exit the corner and lean in. And let the bike do what it's designed to do: taking the corner! During every ride I take time to experiment with using the front or rear brake in corners (I prefer the rear, it seems to be more forgiving.) to give myself more control and confidence. (I'm a control freak.)

[@CanyonChasers]

Love the username. Yes, the front brake works, but the front brake works better. Ironically, the rear is a lot less forgiving because it's harder to manage precise pressure with our foot, and weight shifts to the front as we slow, away from the rear brake. The front brake gives us the most amount of control (I too am a control freak) adding and subtracing small amounts of brake pressure give us incredible amounts of control. It's glorious! As far as focus, think of your eyes like a paint roller. We are allowed to glance down at the corner, the apex, the road surface, but then we need to bring our eyes back up to our exit, the vanishing point, etc.

[@Detz0325]

ya progressive anything is how you should use the controls on a motorbike. Max throttle max brake are never good things to do right away. Your tires can handle a lot even taking a turn it can handle small progressive braking. It's the sudden too much brake that jolts it to slip and make you low side. I'm a new rider of this year and I have used the brakes many times during turning. I'm just conscious of not giving too much and too sudden.

[@edwardallan197]

Thanks for the thoughtful exploration. I agree, & you helped me think it through more.

[@CanyonChasers]

Awesome! Thats a big part of it, right? Thinking through scenarios and understanding whats going on. It's how we become technical riders!

[@ThreeWheelTherapy]

This is true on trikes also. Abruptness can get one killed. Hard on the throttle, hard on the brake leads to loss of control or getting run over.

[@CanyonChasers]

Sidecars as well, right?

[@Cuzzazbuzz]

Totally agree. If the bend tightens more than you anticipate and you don’t touch the front brake to scrub off speed you’ll end up putting more stress on your tyre over a shorter timescale than having a lower stress over a longer period. In physics it’s termed as an impulse.

[@howardmckeown7187]

if you understand the vanishing point the bend doesn't "tighten" up on you

[@233kosta]

Assuming you're performing the same change in momentum - it'd be the same total impulse. What you'd look for is the total force and its first two derivatives. The first derivative is the rate at which you apply the load, which will dictate how quickly the tyre is forced to deform. The second derivative is the rate of increase/decrease of the load rate. If either if those two exceed the tyre's limits, it doesn't matter how little your total force is at that time, you're sliding. In inginerding we call it "shock loading" and it's a problem that rears its ugly mug all over the place.

[@howardmckeown7187]

@@233kosta it's much easier to learn to read the vanishing point, lol

[@233kosta]

@@howardmckeown7187 Yup, 'round 'ere they call it the "limit point". And from what I've been told, the RideSafe course the police run focuses heavily on that aspect.

[@Adrenalean767]

Just roll of the throttle and lean a bit more

[@aravindm790]

Very clearly explained kudos 👍

[@riveneva1519]

I paused the video around 2:40 and you can see a black mark appear on the pavement behind the rear tire, immediately before the rider yeets himself off. It looks like he was using too much rear brake and wasn’t on the front brakes at all, and the rear came around on him leading to a high side. As you said - smoothness on the rider’s inputs goes a long way toward avoiding loss of traction and subsequent crashes. I recently began riding again after a 35 year hiatus and I took a MSF course thinking it would be useful. They taught several unfortunate techniques and expressly said that they weren’t going to talk about trail braking. It took me a few rides before I managed to unlearn what I had just learned in order to pass the course. I wonder how many crashes occur because of new riders using these techniques in the real world?

[@CanyonChasers]

You can hear him "yeet" the throttle in the original clip, so the blackie is his spinning up the rear, but in any case, you are correct smooth inputs would have likely alleviated the whole unfortuante event. And the new rider course problem is a bit frustrating. The two leading causes of crashes are running wide in corners and intersections. New rider course say not to cover the front brake and still teach rolling on the throttle through corners for stability (which causes the bike to run wide).

[@johncasteel1780]

Rider aids: I have owned my 2013 FJR1300 since spring 2014. Outside of testing, I have never activated my ABS. I have accidentally energized the TC twice: once on gravel and once in the rain.

[@leebond5257]

Absolutely spot on! 🏍👍

[@henryslab]

Love the content your creating! I recently experienced this in my first long drive ( 4+ hours). It felt right to slow before the curve, use the front brake in the curve, and everything else you mentioned in this video. Thanks !

[@thewatcher5271]

I Enjoy Your Videos Very Much, Which Is Why I Subscribed. Thank You.

[@claytonwchurchill9308]

Wow, well done, well said. Thanks!

[@shaunward3711]

This guy delivers-every-time

[@markkulyas2418]

I'm a new street rider and I feel very comfortable braking while accelerating in the curves, more contact patch on my front tire.

[@CanyonChasers]

No! Please do not overlap throttle and the front brake! This is one of the few "nevers" in our sport. That "advice" came from someone completely misunderstanding a comment from Freddy Spencer.

[@dingoniner5528]

I broke the front ABS sensor on my bike the last time I did my brake pads. Because I spent so much time the previous year in a parking lot, taking the bike "almost" to the ABS, and then some time feeling what the ABS was like, I didn't have to change my riding at all while waiting for the new sensor. It's a great feeling and a lot of fun, being able to sense what the bike is doing, feeling out where the thresholds are, thinking about what the tires are doing while they do it. When I commute to work in my car, my focus is on work. When I go to the grocery in my car, my main focus is the shopping list. When I ride my bike, my main focus is what the bike is doing. I HIGHLY recommend that everyone take your bike out to a parking lot on a dry day, AND on a wet day, and slowly practice, slowly push the bike, and get a feel for what you can ask it to do what what you can't. Do it for hours and hours and hours. Eventually you'll find yourself having conversations with your bike about every turn.

[@thekanuck2778]

My riders course (and all now) in Ontario, Canada covered breaking in a curve so they're getting better.

[@GamingInfested]

beautiful points

[@besimgungor724]

Thanks. always right!

[@NemesisDK79]

Thank you for this video. So many riders sadly gets this wrong.

[@olafkowal9790]

Great video about sudden reactions! Why do 97% of motorcycle mirrors have 5 angles, like a pentagram?

[@CanyonChasers]

You know. I have no idea. I always assumed it was for aesthetic reasons.

[@georgerodriguez4572]

Does that go also for very heavy cruisers? Just made the transition over from a busa to a street glide Harley, and boy is it a different ride. All I hear is whatever you do do nottttttttt hit that front brake when the bike is slightly leaning left or right. All I could say is I think I made a mistake getting this beautiful street glide, I had that busa down to a science, leaned over no problem, light braking with the front, even with the weight of the busa it was very manageable to handle. I traded it because I felt age was creeping up on me. Any tips?

[@CanyonChasers]

Oh yes! Absolutely! We don't want to "hit, punch, snap, grab, whack, pop" anything. Slow, smooth, progressive inputs. No matter what kind of bike we are on. Squeeze that front brake to help the motorcycle turn, even in the middle of a corner if you get nervous.

[@hvymax]

Rear brake in a corner can setup a flattrack turn before a low side.

[@CanyonChasers]

or a high-side 😎

[@mohammedrahman3447]

Every rider should be taught this. But on the other hand we are all taught to be smooth with our controls, at all times.

[@Froobyone]

I'm 52 as I write this. I've been riding since I was 15. For 99% of my riding miles, I was riding the way I learned in the 1980s. Reading about and watching the 500cc, malevolent, two-strokes. Do all your braking in a straight line. Make the turn as small as possible. Stand the bike up. Gas it. Despite giving up my last two-stroke in 2000, I continued to ride ever bigger multi-fours until I reached the R1s. When I was at, what I can only describe as "peak" aged 34, I rode those R1s like a 1980s two-stroke. Completely wrong. Worse, I was totally incapable of dealing with a mid corner crisis. A fact that made it all unravel a few years earlier, into a fast right-hander on an R6. A suddenly inhospitable road surface mid corner (compacted horse sh*t) and I stabbed the front brake. Sending me (because I'm in England) straight into a ploughed field at 70mph. It didn't end well. Fast forward to 2022, I see your video about trail-braking (I know, I'm late) and I start to apply it to my "spirited" rides. It's oddly reassuring to brake all the way to an apex and it only takes a few tried before you can trust it won't wash-out. I only bring this, overly long, story up because on a recent "spirited" ride, a corner ended up being a bit more "corner" than I anticipated running in and all I had to do was apply a little more pressure to an already loaded front tire. The fact that I write this in the comfort of my home and not in 18 feet of plaster in a hospital bed, is testament to the, what should be, the new doctrine. Genuinly saved me a hospital trip.

[@CanyonChasers]

I loved every word of this and I'm now going to share this with our team!

[@Buckarooskiczek]

Great advice. I’m old and experienced but still practice focusing on smoothness. In fact I find myself covering the front brake in just about every tight corner in the twistier sections. And not being abrupt on the throttle of my liter bike is a given! (Just gotta keep an eye out for the random gravel and squirrel guts.)

[@CanyonChasers]

This is all true!

[@californiapoontappa]

I hit a squirrel at 90 mph thought I was going down

[@robertbotta6536]

Simply and absolutely “the best!”.