By Mitch Proner, New York, Connecticut AIM Attorney (Aid to Injured Motorcyclists)
There is a lot of misconceptions out there about how to make an emergency stop. As an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer, I have heard a lot of expert testimony engineers and accident reconstructionists about the best way to stop a motorcycle. I try to put this advice into practice when I ride and I hope it saves some lives.
Here is some information I have learned over the years:
1. Question: Which brake is the most effective?
Answer: The front brake is the most effective, giving between 60 & 80% of the bike's stopping power in hard stops, depending upon surface conditions. This is because most of the weight of the bike and rider transfers forward onto the front wheel when the brakes are applied. Think of a football player being tacked at the ankles. The head keeps moving forward. The same thing happens on a bike giving the stopping power to the front tire. The front brake on a motorcycle in typical situations has about double the effectiveness of the rear brake. Sometimes I hear riders mistakenly state that the front brake is dangerous and should not be used. While it's true that you can get yourself into trouble with the front brake, you simply have to learn to use it. If you don't, you will be unable to stop your motorcycle from typical traffic speeds in safe distances - the rear brake working alone is not very effective on a motorcycle. You're simply going to have to practice using your motorcycle's brakes - both of them. You should always use both brakes to slow or stop your motorcycle. Even though one brake alone may be enough in some situations, your motorcycle is more stable when using both brakes, and you should develop the habit of always using both.
Squeeze the front brake smoothly and progressively. It takes a second for the weight to transfer forwards. If you grab the brake lever abruptly, the front wheel can lock up resulting in a front-tire skid. You will lose balance and steering control. If you lock up the front tire, immediately release the front brake to allow the wheel to resume rolling, and then reapply the brake properly.
2. Question: Is the rear wheel likely to skid if you apply the brakes hard?
Answer: With most of the weight being on the front wheel, the rear wheel tends to be light under braking and will therefore lock up and skid very easily. If you use too much rear brake you can skid the rear wheel. The biggest danger in a rear-tire skid is releasing the rear brake when the rear wheel is out of alignment with the front wheel. If the rear wheel stops skidding and resumes rolling when it is out of line with the direction of travel, the motorcycle will immediately straighten out. This can cause a particularly dangerous crash called a high-side, where you are thrown over the bike. Once the rear wheel starts skidding, it's usually best to just keep it locked up.
3. Question: How should you perform Emergency Braking While Leaned Into a Curve?
Answer: You should try to avoid this by never overestimating the speed you can safely take a curve. Nonetheless, sometimes it is necessary like if a dear runs onto an exit ramp. You can brake (with both brakes)while leaned over, but you must do it gradually and with less force than if the bike is standing up straight. For maximum braking efficiency in an emergency (when traffic and roadway conditions permit), stand the bike up straight; brake hard, and then lean back after you have safely reduced your speed. You need to stand the bike up to increase your braking ability.
Lastly, motorcycle brakes have improved lately with many model offering ABS anti lock brakes. While some old-timers might tell you they don't trust them, statistically with both experienced and new riders they show significantly reduced stopping distances,. You should definitely look for them if you are purchasing a new bike.
Follow Us On