Well this could be like an oil or tire thread eh? That's not my intent however, just looking for info and thoughts.
It seems to me that there are several opinions as to what it really is. Trail braking I mean. So I would like this discussion to address two things (yeah, like I'll have any control on which way it goes :rotflmao
1) Just what is trail braking??
2) For those with less skilled right hands, could linked brakes be a big aid in it's execution?
I have seen several post where someone has posted that they trail brake with the rear brake and thus linked brakes are not for them.
However from what I've read, front braking is more important to trail braking than the rear because it (a) lowers the front end changing the steering angle to enhance turning and (b) loads the front tire to increase the size of the contact patch. I took a rider's course (Park's Total Control) where we were supposed to practice slowly letting off the throttle while at the same time gradually increase the front brake pressure. The idea (as I took it to be) was to keep the rear end of the bike low (by keeping the throttle on slightly) and lower the front at the same time and sort of just make the bike squat through the turn. We were trying to practice doing do this without actually turning. We were then supposed to do the reverse simulating coming out of the turn, that is slowly increasing the throttle and slowly releasing the front brake. Well with the twitchyness of my C14 throttle, I had considerable trouble just getting the throttle to back off. I tried and tried without even attempting the brakes at all and at some point it would just "shut down" and unload or raise the rear end. Regardless, for the sake of argument let's assume that I had a throttle tamer installed and I was able to accomplish the throttle work successfully, however I found that slowly letting off the throttle while slowly increasing the front brake pressure and then reversing it was a major pain in the hand/mind. I suppose that eventually I'd get better at it, but I could probably also get better at hitting my self in the head with a hammer without causing a concussion if I practiced it. I pretty much told the instructor if this technique was required to ride a motorcycle, then I'd be riding a Can-AM Spyder.
Right now I decelerate before the turn, either by just backing off or releasing the throttle or when riding more aggressively by braking with both brakes (well with linked brakes, how else, but I use both as though the link isn't there) and I have a low throttle (not idle) applied and increase that slowly throughout the turn. Even with my inability/no desire to do it as instructed in the course, it does make sense to me that it would make turning faster and more stable. I was thinking that perhaps with linked brakes I should start using just the rear brake pedal and the throttle together (perhaps even in the high setting :-\ ), and see if that is doable for me.
I hope I'm typing this clearly, again I have two questions.
1. What exactly is trail braking? Is there really a definite answer, or is this like asking what's the best motor oil?
2. If trail braking involves simultaneous precision throttle and front brake work, can those less skilled like my self ( I can't shuffle a deck of cards with one hand either) actually come close enough with just using the linked brake foot pedal and the throttle together to improve their cornering?
If either of these questions have been asked and answered, can I get abrake thread link?
It seems to me that there are several opinions as to what it really is. Trail braking I mean. So I would like this discussion to address two things (yeah, like I'll have any control on which way it goes :rotflmao
1) Just what is trail braking??
2) For those with less skilled right hands, could linked brakes be a big aid in it's execution?
I have seen several post where someone has posted that they trail brake with the rear brake and thus linked brakes are not for them.
However from what I've read, front braking is more important to trail braking than the rear because it (a) lowers the front end changing the steering angle to enhance turning and (b) loads the front tire to increase the size of the contact patch. I took a rider's course (Park's Total Control) where we were supposed to practice slowly letting off the throttle while at the same time gradually increase the front brake pressure. The idea (as I took it to be) was to keep the rear end of the bike low (by keeping the throttle on slightly) and lower the front at the same time and sort of just make the bike squat through the turn. We were trying to practice doing do this without actually turning. We were then supposed to do the reverse simulating coming out of the turn, that is slowly increasing the throttle and slowly releasing the front brake. Well with the twitchyness of my C14 throttle, I had considerable trouble just getting the throttle to back off. I tried and tried without even attempting the brakes at all and at some point it would just "shut down" and unload or raise the rear end. Regardless, for the sake of argument let's assume that I had a throttle tamer installed and I was able to accomplish the throttle work successfully, however I found that slowly letting off the throttle while slowly increasing the front brake pressure and then reversing it was a major pain in the hand/mind. I suppose that eventually I'd get better at it, but I could probably also get better at hitting my self in the head with a hammer without causing a concussion if I practiced it. I pretty much told the instructor if this technique was required to ride a motorcycle, then I'd be riding a Can-AM Spyder.
Right now I decelerate before the turn, either by just backing off or releasing the throttle or when riding more aggressively by braking with both brakes (well with linked brakes, how else, but I use both as though the link isn't there) and I have a low throttle (not idle) applied and increase that slowly throughout the turn. Even with my inability/no desire to do it as instructed in the course, it does make sense to me that it would make turning faster and more stable. I was thinking that perhaps with linked brakes I should start using just the rear brake pedal and the throttle together (perhaps even in the high setting :-\ ), and see if that is doable for me.
I hope I'm typing this clearly, again I have two questions.
1. What exactly is trail braking? Is there really a definite answer, or is this like asking what's the best motor oil?
2. If trail braking involves simultaneous precision throttle and front brake work, can those less skilled like my self ( I can't shuffle a deck of cards with one hand either) actually come close enough with just using the linked brake foot pedal and the throttle together to improve their cornering?
If either of these questions have been asked and answered, can I get a