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http://www.sportrider.com/ride/146_0004_motorcycle_riding_skills/index.html
Riding Skills Series: Brake Dancing



By Andrew Trevitt
illustrators: Kevin Wing






1. While it's true that most of a motorcycle's stopping power is generated by
the front brake, the rear binder can be used in subtle ways to make your
riding smoother and safer. In certain situations, using the rear brake to
scrub off speed-rather than chopping the throttle or applying the front
brake-will have less of an effect on the chassis and keep you on-line in a
turn rather than running wide. To use the rear brake properly, it must be
adjusted correctly. The pedal should be a few millimeters below your foot
when you're in a comfortable riding position; a misadjusted lever can force
you to sit awkwardly or make it difficult to actuate the brake carefully.




2. When entering a turn, leave the rear brake applied until after the front
brake has been released and the bike is leaned over. This will stop the
front-end from rising the moment after the front brake is let off and before
cornering forces act to keep the fork compressed. Once the throttle is
cracked open, use the rear brake lightly to modulate your speed if you find
yourself going a bit too fast. Closing the throttle will load the front-end
excessively and cause you to run wide, whereas applying the rear binder will
actually tighten your line and pull you to the inside of the corner. Try to
avoid using lots of both gas and brake; you want just enough throttle to pick
the revs up and keep weight off the front tire.




3. During slow speed maneuvering such as U-turns and lane splitting, the
gyroscopic effect of your engine's spinning internals keeps your bike
balanced. You can use this to your advantage by using the rear brake and
slipping the clutch slightly to keep some revs going. Try U-turns using
different combinations of clutch, rear brake, and throttle to find what works
best for you and your bike. In general, just enough throttle and clutch slip
is required to keep the chassis stable and moving, with speed modulated by
the rear brake. Keep in mind that this technique results in more wear on
brake pads and clutch plates, and they should be checked more frequently.




4. In downhill turns the rear brake can be used to avoid gaining too much
speed once the throttle is open-especially in longer sweepers. As in a flat
corner, crack the throttle open as soon as possible to unweight the front
tire, and carefully utilize the rear brake to keep speed in check. Downhill
turns are notorious for loading the front-end and causing you to run wide,
but keeping the throttle cracked open and carefully applying the rear brake
will result in a more even weight distribution and keep you on line. With
some practice and experimentation, using these rear brake techniques will
become routine, and will give you more confidence, smoothness, and safety in
previously worrisome situations.