> Keith Saltzer wrote:
>
> >I tell new riders not to use the back brake at all until
> >they know how to use the front with 100% confidence, and learn how
to
> >use it to its' fullest capacity.
> The KLR's front brake just isn't powerful enough for this. The KLR
really
> benefits from using both brakes. I rarely use the rear brake on my
ZRX
> 1100, but it has double discs with 6 pot calipers. The ZRX has
killer
> brakes, but the KLR needs all the help it can get. Of course, I'm
sure I
> out-weigh you, so that makes a difference.
>
> Paul Streeter
I'm going to go into detail here about what I was talking about
because I believe that it is so important to every riders health,
safety, and fun factor while riding.
The comment of "the KLR's brake just isn't powerful enough for this"
is very misleading. Not powerful enough for what? It's used to slow
down the bike, and that's it. Every bikes front brake is used for
that reason. If you mean that it is not powerful enough to ride
fast, I beg to differ with you. If you mean that it won't stop as
fast as another bikes front brake, fine, then ride accordingly and
adjust your speed. But you can certainly ride with just the front
brake on a KLR. Yes, you need to use more hand strength on the KLR
lever than other bikes, that's all the more reason to see/hear/feel
what it takes to get the MOST of it by practicing, with just the
front brake. Of course having the best stopping pads helps, and SS
line for better feel, and clean, fresh fluid in the lines with NO air
will be a big plus too.
Paul, I completely understand what you are talking about when you say
that the KLR benefits from using both brakes. However, ALL bikes
benefit from using both brakes. But you have to know what is going
on with both the front and back, how it all works, and practice
practice practice the RIGHT way to do it. This is way over most new
riders heads. Way to much to learn and think about while learning to
ride. Using the rear first to settle the back end and lowering the
CG so that you have less forward weight transfer foreward etc etc,
works with every bike. But it is still only a small fraction of what
you can do with just the front, when the front is used to it's
MAXIMUM potential.
But the NEGATIVES that also come with using the back brake are the
one's that I am most concerned about for new riders, or riders that
have been riding for decades, and were never taught this. (like me)
The back brake is a much smaller percent of your stopping power AND
it can wreak havic on a new or unsuspecting rider in a heartbeat.
Couple that fact with the fact "as you use the front brake more and
more aggressively, the back brake becomes less and less effective",
and I'm sure you can understand where I am coming from.
I have ridden and continue to ride with many many guys that don't
really know how to use their brakes, and I constantly see them
hitting the back brake and getting into trouble. If they didn't use
the back brake, they wouldn't be skidding the rear and sliding out,
and they would be forced to learn how to use the front brake properly.
Most do not fully understand that the spinning rear wheel is the MAIN
part of the bike keeping the MAJORITY of the bike stable, from the
steering stem back.
Most do not realize that if they hit the back brake and lock it up,
(which is what they will do instinctively if they always use the rear
brake) they are going to high side if they let off the brake once
they start the back end sliding out sideways. (which will also happen
instinctively unless practiced out)
Most do not understand that as long as you keep the back wheel
spinning, and your bike is standing straight up, and your handlebars
are pointed straight, you can lock up the front wheel and keep it
locked up without going down. Doc Wong has you practice this in a
gravel parking lot to see how far you can ride this way.
Most do not realize just HOW HARD their bikes can stop while using
just the front break. Because they don't practice this extensively,
and/or are very afraid of sliding the front end.
Most do not realize that a lot of guys that ride fast at the track,
or on the street, or have years of experiance riding, do not use the
rear brake.
It is my opinion then that the new rider, or rider that has never
learned these things and more, get out there and ride with just the
front brake, until they KNOW what it will do in any situation. I
have on several occasions been literally jaw dropped amazed at what
the KLR front brake did to get me out of a really bad situation. Yes
I was pulling the lever back to almost touching the grip. Yes I was
using all four fingers for strength. Yes I heard the front tire
(Avon Gripster) howling as it was at the threshold of locking up, but
still turning. But this all happened in about 1 1/2 seconds, and it
only went smoothly (I just missed the car, animal, etc) because I had
practiced it day in and day out for over a year. If I would have
used the back brake, I would have gone down.
As you can see I am very passionate about this subject, and many more
concerning how to understand a bike and how it works. I was
surprized to learn that out of all the forces a bike can produce on
our bodies as we ride, braking hard is the highest. It fires up our
survival intincts pretty quick, and practicing can make a huge
difference in sorting out, and overcoming these strong forces and
help us to become better riders.
MrMoose
A8 (Barbie and Ken special)
Of course I have SS lines
and Galfer Green pads on the front which makes it even better.
Greg
'95 A9
-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Frey [mailto:mike21b@...]
Sent: Monday, February 14, 2005 4:37 PM
To: KLR List
Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Re: A Story For You, Front Brake only?
pdstreeter@... wrote: