| Author | Message | ||
     Xodot |
I am an intermediate (at best) track day rider. I have been told to NOT use the rear brake when coming into a corner. Now as my speeds have slowly increased with more experience I want to slow down faster, or wait longer to brake before the corner. I have stock rear pads and rotor which I have read here a long time ago, are made to be marginally efficient so they can be used when riding aggressively. I am looking for some experienced opinion on this matter so I might improve this years track days. Thanks in advance! XO. | ||
| Jdugger |
I do not, personally. The rear brake has some really useful applications on the track, but in my opinion slowing the bike isn't one of them. Keep in mind if you are really effectively using the front brake at maximum brake pressure, the rear tire isn't hardly touching the pavement, anyway, so it's unlikely to do much for you. Working on your braking technique using the front brake, including learning to trail off the brake as you are adding lean angle entering the corner, is the way to stay on full gas longer. Find yourself a good instructor and work on something called "trail braking". There are drills you can do to develop confidence in maximum brake pressure and the learn to gently come off the brake so you never upset the chassis and can safely combine brake pressure and lean angle during corner entry. | ||
| General_tso |
I don't use the rear brake on the track for the same reason stated by JDugger. However, as I increase my skill I plan to use it to "Back it IN" :-) Someday... | ||
| Stirz007 |
Just a touch of rear at the end of the straight will help settle the suspension, but get off the rear before dropping into the turn, or else it tends to stand the bike up. I have a hard time remembering all this as that turn comes up fast, so I too tend to use front only. (now, when I have an "incident" and leave the pavement, it's rear ONLY or bad things happen) | ||
| 99buellx1 |
Yup, only time I touch it is when I take an off track excursion. | ||
| Jdugger |
X, Something else to think about for your next track day: How you come OFF the brake is actually more important than how you get on it. The day I learned this was a huge revelation to me. As long as the bike is straight up, you can apply the front brake quite quickly and hard. And, you should. I'm not saying slam on it, but the squeeze can be quite quickly paced and the front tire will load and safely allow you to apply more pressure. With practice, you can safely go from no pressure to chirping the front tire in around a quarter-second. Now, don't even THINK of letting the front brake go like this. In fact, releasing the lever should almost always require several seconds of slowly decreasing pressure. I've had more than a few students find whole seconds of easy, comfortable pace because of this. And, the reason is simple: the chassis remains ready for your input and not upset, so you can turn, get on the gas, etc., much sooner than before with a bike bouncing around because the forks have popped up from releasing the brake. This is a pretty hard skill to practice and get in balance -- downshifting, applying the brake hard, trailing it off, adding throttle, keeping the bike neutral while leaned over, etc. But, it's key to high corner speeds, getting on the gas earlier, and good lap times. | ||
| Xodot |
Wow this is great advice - thank you so much for sharing your expertise guys. It all makes sense when it is explained, but I would never be able to figure that out for myself. Cheers all! XO. | ||
| Jdugger |
It's too bad you can't come out to our track day this weekend (north Texas). We have a really good Level 1 and Level 2 program, and we get into some of these topics. Gonna be great weather, too! | ||
| 99buellx1 |
In this race from last year I put my GoPro towards my hand just to use for feedback on what I actually do while on the track. (you can think you do something, but until you can actually see it, you dont really know how you are doing it.) This day was cold, and overcast, so I know I was being a bit more conservative on the brakes than normal (and I'd already almost been tossed off twice earlier), but still great feedback from this. If you have the opportunity, do this. I learn tons from reviewing my videos. Critique away! Oh, and, up the setting to HD for viewing, looks so much better. | ||
| Xodot |
Jdugger - I don't think I like you any more  Oh to be in Texas right now would be good enough - to ride this time of the year, well that would be heaven! Now add to that the chance to have some real good instruction.... yea buddy I'm dying here now haha. 25 hours drive time to TX for a couple of days on the track however does not seem outrageous. | ||
| Rodrob |
The other thing to consider with the 1125R is the significant engine braking applied to the rear when getting off the throttle. Much more than say a 600. As stated above, the only guys I know using the rear brake, do so to get the bike sideways on entry. I 'aint there yet. I have enough trouble with, body position - brake - clutch - blip - look in - shift - clutch - blip - shift - clutch - steer - trail - throttle - stand it up - pour it on - next... Wait, or is it... | ||
| Two_seasons |
Craig: Every time I watch one of your videos I learn more. You are one smooth cat! |
