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Motorcycle riding technique: Braking in turns?

So I just took an MSF in California and I LOVED it. Anyways, a big thing my coaches stressed is NEVER braking a turn. Always get the bike upright then brake. They did a pretty good job of explaining why that is to me, but I just don't think it's always possible. I mean, I always find myself braking in a turn in my car, great example: Getting off the freeway, you approach that big swooping off ramp and although you're able to maintain speed (40mph) exiting, there is some congestion on the off ramp and you're going to have to slow down... how do you do it? I know the emergency procedure for that situation, but realistically the bike isn't going to stop in time, or I will end up stopped in the middle of the road... is this just an issue of my immaturity on a bike?

Answer:

Ok so not an expert but I have ridden for years, and taken the equivalent of the MSF course here (in Canada) a number of times. Strange thing, you would never get a licence here with that idea because you have to brake in a turn at speed as part of the test. I would not dispute that you get the best traction and shortest stop by braking in a straight line, but I find myself braking on curves all the time. I am not leaned way over where I might be at the limit of traction and I consider traction issues wherever I am. I have also read that racers do most of their braking before a turn but I think they have to slow on a tightening radius too. Different issue, but using the back brake in really slow turning helps to keep balance and control (a tip from off-road sources)
Motorcycle Braking In A Turn
never brake while turning is good general advice, but you will encounter situations where you have to brake anyway. Remember, as you corner, your suspension compresses. Braking dramatically increases the weight transfer and compression to your front wheel. If you brake too hard, or are already leaned over pretty far (like knee on the ground far), braking dramatically increases the chances that your front tire will slide. I've been racing motorcycles for almost 2 years now, and I still don't brake very much after starting a turn. It's just that hard to do well. Now street riding is a different animal. I'm not leaned over nearly as far, or going nearly as fast. At legal speeds, it's usually not an issue to brake mid-corner. when in doubt, get your body off the bike and near the inside of the turn. This will allow your bike to be more upright, and maximize the tires' contact patch with the ground. the more upright the bike is, the harder you can brake. Get to a trackday when you have the chance. you'll learn more about ridign in 1 day than you can in 20 years on the street. And you'll put yourself in such extreme situations that the occasional off-ramp traffic will seem like no big deal.
Slow, look -thorough the turn, lean, accelerate out of the turn. Same principle applies to safe drivers no matter if they drive a motorcycle or a car. In your above scenerio, you should always be prepared for the unexpected when driving around other traffic. IF you can't see all the way thru the turn to the exit, then slow down before entering the turn. On a bike or in a car, when you apply the brakes in a turn you take away critical tire traction normally available for sticking to the road surface, not usually a big deal in a car-you have 4 wheels for stability, but on a bike your contact patch is 2 tires each with 3 or less of contact with the road, you take at least a 1/3 away when braking in a turn. There is a technic for doing it properly, but only very experienced riders and pro racers know it and use it. And even then there is little guarantee that under the right situation you will not low or high side off the bike when using it. It is called trail braking. Will it get you stopped-no it is not designed for that. It is designed to help slide the rear of the bike into the turn.
You are correct, every time you ride you will encounter some new situation. But the advice from the instructors is one to heed. If you over-brake in a corner you will be in trouble! Janice gave some good reasons and advice, as many did. Do not ride with the tip of your nose, ride with your eyes. 2-10 seconds is the minimum safe riding area you should be scanning constantly. Turns have blind areas, plus, obstacles: sand, gravel, metal, ect. These are some of the main reasons that you are told not to brake in corners. No matter how long or how skilled a rider is traction can be taken away at any moment, by a number of causes. It may take time to stand up your bike, but it will be able to stop faster(bigger tire footprint means more stopping power!) I took the MSF course after I had been riding for a time and I did it to save money on my insurance, but I have found traveling these ribbons of asphalt that the techniques and information passed along at these classes is time proven. Take everything they told you and apply it and you will probably ride for years without sudden impact, which is a very good thing indeed, Ride Safe and God Bless You-bty it will take sometime to understand motorcycles, but never stop respecting them!

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