i just took the MSF course and ive been practicing in an empty parking lot near my house. At the MSF course i was taught the B-C-D (Brake-Clutch-Downshift) for braking. However a lot of people have told me to pull in the clutch first THEN brake. Which is correct?
Depends on the speed. If you are at high rpm for a particular gear, then letting off the throttle will slow you down the best, because it uses the rear tire the most. But if you are at low rpm for a particular gear already, the engine is not going to do any braking, and you just risk lugging the engine. So when in doubt, throwing in the clutch first is safer.
in an emergency its pretty much a simultaneous event. you'll want to react as fast as possible. but the instructors cant say clubradwnshft all at the same time. really once you release the throttle to brake your engine will slow you down. use clutch to downshift as you are slowing and pull your clutch in when coming to a complete stop
In an emergency do what your course taught you (brake, clutch, downshift). Just riding around, clutch then brake or both at the same time. But at high speed the transmission will slow you down quicker then you think. And at very high speed, wind resistance will slow you down quickly.
Follow easygoin's advice on a wet slippery street and you will be one with the pavement in a heartbeat. Stay in higher revs in the wet, let off the throttle, then BCD your way to a stop.
brake first,, clutch second,, down shift third,,, & when slowing down normally you use the engine braking to help slow you... in an emergency stop... grab a hand-full of front brake.. & the clutch & down shift .. all at once.. don't worry about the rear brake.... when you grab the hand-full of front.. all the weight shifts to the front wheel.... if the back is not on the ground ( or only just touching) hitting the rear brake only stops the wheel turning... will not slow the bike...
