Refine your Safe Braking Skills

Apparently lots of accidents involve braking, therefore we going to try to teach you how to refine your braking skills. Follow our tips on how to brake effectively without losing control over your motorcycle.

You sitting position largely determines if you can safely reduce speed without losing control. If you need to brake while riding in a straight line , shift back a little and sit securely with a firm grip on the handlebar. In addition, grip the fuel tank with your knees. This way you can tackle the retardation force even under a hard braking scenario. While the rear brake is quite effective at slow speeds, it's the front brake that works better at higher speeds. Squeeze the front brake lever progressively in conjunction with the rear brake which should be pressed gently to avoid the rear wheel from locking up. Remember to keep the handlebar straight during hard braking.

Progressively applying the front brake with your index and middle fingers will result in effective braking while also allowing a good grip on the handlebar. Follow it by applying the rear brake in sync for added stopping force. Keep you fingers on the clutch lever but don't apply them while braking and losing speed. As soon as you reach your desired speed, shift gears accordingly so that the engine doesn't stall.

Without a firm sitting position, emergency braking with the front brake could result in a stoppie. Refrain from shifting too much weight to the front so that the rear wheel remains grounded to aid braking.

Emergencies are followed by panic braking which locks the wheels thus setting you off balance. Remember not to go hard on the rear brake. Practice to gently release and apply brakes successively it the wheels get locked.

Practice Braking Under Varied Conditions

• On a downhill section, gravity will not forgive a mistake and you may easily lose control here. It's better to engage a lower gear and maintain a safe speed. Allow engine braking to do the job. Keep the clutch operation subtle whenever shifting gears.
• Practice braking on gravel as well, for you don't know when you might end up facing such riding scenarios. Many evasive actions lead us to go off the tarmac. Preferably use the rear brake here with a gentle tap on the front brake.
• Refrain from going hard on the front brake on the front brake on gravel. A locked front wheel can easily result in loss of traction and your steering ability.
• Braking becomes easier on uphill roads where gravity works in your favor. Here you can concentrate more on the line you follow and it's easy to maintain your balance.
• Wet roads lesser traction. Don't go for hard braking unless your motorcycle has a specialized set of tires. Keep you speed under check and you'll be safe.
• Oil spill on a road can virtually defy the laws of physics if you ride on it without caution. Simply look ahead to avoid such surfaces. In case you run into this, never ever apply the brakes.
• Braking at curves is more critical than on a straight line. Some experts even suggest to avoid braking in corners. Nonetheless you should be prepared for unexpected circumstances. Losing speed before entering a corner is the safest way. If you ever need to brake midcorner, apply the front brake very smoothly while pushing the inner side of the handlebar. Slowly release the lever again as you reach the desired speed. Throughout the process, you must keep the level of traction available under check. At curves, speeding vehicles can lose grip for more easily. However, a banked corner allows for safer maneuvers than the one without it. Take care not to apply and release the brakes instantly as the front end will dip and rebound with a shocking force.

Practice effective braking on different surfaces ranging from concrete roads to tarmac to gravel as well as wet surfaces. This will also help you get accustomed to your motorcycle's behavior.