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Riding Skill Series: Smooth Operator


writer: Kent Kunitsugu




1. In last issue's RSS, we showed how smooth downshifting helps foster
improved bike control. In fact, smoothness in all aspects of riding, whether
it's braking, accelerating, or even body movements/weight shifts, can play a
huge role in whether you're able to tackle your favorite road or track with
confidence--or apprehension. You'd be amazed how much easier it is to go
faster when your riding is relaxed, yet alert--not rushed and frantic. Pro
racers refer to this as "trying too hard," and they often find that their lap
times are slower because of it. When your physical actions on the controls
are too "tight" and somewhat impulsive, you end up concentrating too much on
those riding tasks, and trying to fix the mistakes that often occur because
of that rough riding style.




2. Using the brakes properly is probably one of the most difficult riding
skills to learn, and it requires much more skill than twisting the throttle.
Many riders only use the brake like a light switch: all on or all off. What
they don't realize is that not only are they unnecessarily upsetting the
chassis by simply grabbing a handful of front brake lever, but they also
aren't utilizing the numerous advantages that applying the brakes smoothly
offers. One of the biggest benefits of smooth braking is weight transfer. By
squeezing--not grabbing--the front brake smoothly (and quickly--remember,
you're still trying to slow in a minimum distance), you're allowing the
bike's weight to move to the front end, where it helps the tire gain more
traction. If you go for maximum braking too quickly, you will easily
overpower the tire's available traction because there is hardly any weight on
it (and hence, a smaller contact patch) at that time.




3. Another advantage related to smooth brake application is the weight
transfer's effect on the front suspension. Abruptly applying too much front
brake suddenly slams all the bike's weight forward, usually overpowering the
fork springs and damping to the point of fully bottoming the fork. With no
available fork travel to absorb any bumps, the chassis often becomes very
unstable, as the rear of the bike tends to pivot around the steering head.
This results in the "tail wagging" you often see from racebikes at the limit
of braking (Ben Bostrom's braking style is a perfect example), and this
usually causes bike control problems for most riders entering a corner.By
smoothly applying the front brake, you're allowing the chassis weight to
"set" on the front end and assist the front tire's traction level before you
suddenly demand maximum performance from both the tire and front fork.




4. Another benefit of learning to smoothly apply the front brake is that the
technique helps teach brake modulation. A brake is just like the throttle; it
is a speed control. And just as you learn to use the throttle judiciously on
corner exits as you balance power with available traction, the same can be
said for the brakes on the entrance to the corner. Learning how to gauge and
control your speed as you approach the end of the braking zone can help add
mph to your corner entrance and midcorner speed, which will usually pay
dividends off the corner and down the next straight. More importantly,
however, learning brake modulation will also help save your bacon on the
street. Gaining maximum braking by balancing on the fine line of tire
traction as you slow to avoid that errant four-wheeler is much easier with
this acquired and very valuable skill, and with continual practice, the act
of using the brakes properly will become natural to you.



From the April 2004 issue of <i>Sport Rider</i> magazine