VFR Discussion Group -> Currently reading Sport Riding Techniques

I have been carefully practicing my braking techniques.
'Use the rear brake to check out what the road conditions are like.'
So I have been locking up the rear brake just to see how the bike reacts. Good learning curve. Boy it is really easy to lock up the rear. I'm trying work on the front as well. Nick talks about the tire howling as you approach the break away point. Will the VFR rear lift off the ground using the front brake. Does any body have some braking drills?

I've recently read through this book. Can't say I tried practicing anything yet, too much sand and stuff on the road. But at the end of last season I had started to incorporate the techniques into my riding and had an opportunity to use them. Good stuff. You might look into Total Control by Lee Parks also a good read.

"Sport Riding Techniques" is a very good book. I also like Keith Code's book, "Twist Of The Wrist 2". It has some good information on throttle control, although it is not nearly as well written as Nick's book.

By the way, on good pavement, the VFR will lift the rear under hard braking.

I'm on my second pass through Sport Riding Techniques and have read Twist of the Wrist II twice and have learned much from both. The VFR is my first machine on the sporty end of motorcycling and I found that I needed to relearn much of what I thought I knew about riding. In particular, my cornering has improved 1000 percent.
It's similar to what I experienced when I drove a race-prepared go-kart for the first time after driving my Triumph TR-2 (very nose-heavy) sports car. They both had four wheels, but the driving techniques were very different.

I have read this same book and practiced the braking techniques. Yes, the front tire will howl prior to locking up fully. And yes you CAN bring the rear tire up- but I was trying to. Got the tire up about 6" each time but didn't want to push it any farther. Generally the front would lock up for just a bit then it's time to release the lever quick. I find the rear brake difficult to lock up. The VFR really stops hard with just the rear brake although this is not my normal practice. Sure if I stand on it it'll lock up but I've got to push pretty hard. I've mentioned this before but my RC51's rear brake was worthless. Seemed like a strong wind on the brake lever would be suffice to lock up the rear. Okay, I'm exaggerating but I much prefer the linked brakes on my VFR to the brakes on the RC51.

I have not practiced any braking techniques lately and personally I feel really rusty. Amazing how quickly it goes. Looks like it's time to practice...

VFRMike.

Great book, I enjoyed reading it.
Last year on about every other ride I would find a nice clean and clear road and practice Panic Stops from the 80-100 mph range multiple times. I think this helps reduce the "Panic" part of braking and my next step with be to try panic braking in turns ! :blink: I avg. a 60-80 mph PACE and better be able to stop in or coming out of a turn on these back country roads, you never know what you'll find around the next blind corner. :unsure:
Practice help's lesson the "panic" factor ! :thumbsup:

Do you have ABS? Or a specifically, will an ABS bike lift the rear in a panic stop?

VFRMike, Apr 1 2005, 05:37 AMI have read this same book and practiced the braking techniques.  Yes, the front tire will howl prior to locking up fully.  And yes you CAN bring the rear tire up- but I was trying to.  Got the tire up about 6" each time but didn't want to push it any farther.  Generally the front would lock up for just a bit then it's time to release the lever quick.  I find the rear brake difficult to lock up.  The VFR really stops hard with just the rear brake although this is not my normal practice.  Sure if I stand on it it'll lock up but I've got to push pretty hard.  I've mentioned this before but my RC51's rear brake was worthless.  Seemed like a strong wind on the brake lever would be suffice to lock up the rear.  Okay, I'm exaggerating but I much prefer the linked brakes on my VFR to the brakes on the RC51. 
 
I have not practiced any braking techniques lately and personally I feel really rusty.  Amazing how quickly it goes.  Looks like it's time to practice... 
 
VFRMike.