Trail Braking: Difference between revisions

Line 31:

And all three of the above are true, providing that you realise that there's a great big "BUT" attached to each and every one of them.

(A) ''Would'' be true, but what you do when trail braking is counteract the bike's urge to straighten up by [[Countersteering 2|countersteering]] more deeply into the turn at the same time that you brake. The harder you're braking, the more deeply you lean in response, and this balancing act must be automatic and instinctive, so you don't have to think about what you're doing while you're doing it. In this way it's possible to brake ''very'' hard while turning and still maintain your chosen line.

(A) ''Would'' be true, but what you do when trail braking is counteract the bike's urge to straighten up by [[Countersteering|countersteering]] more deeply into the turn at the same time that you brake. The harder you're braking, the more deeply you lean in response, and this balancing act must be automatic and instinctive, so you don't have to think about what you're doing while you're doing it. In this way it's possible to brake ''very'' hard while turning and still maintain your chosen line.

(B) Is always true, but you're not supposed to be all that close to the edge of traction when you're riding on the street, and unless you run across a patch of gravel (which you should have seen well before you got there) or are riding way too fast, there is generally plenty of traction reserve to play with when you're trail braking. This does not mean that you can suddenly slam on the brakes in a corner and expect that bad things won't happen. As with all control applications on a motorcycle, the brakes must be applied smoothly and progressively to give the bike (and yourself) time to react to the transient changes in balance.

@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 And all three of the above are true, providing that you realise that there's a great big "BUT" attached to each and every one of them.
-(A) ''Would'' be true, but what you do when trail braking is counteract the bike's urge to straighten up by [[Countersteering 2|countersteering]] more deeply into the turn at the same time that you brake. The harder you're braking, the more deeply you lean in response, and this balancing act must be automatic and instinctive, so you don't have to think about what you're doing while you're doing it. In this way it's possible to brake ''very'' hard while turning and still maintain your chosen line.
+(A) ''Would'' be true, but what you do when trail braking is counteract the bike's urge to straighten up by [[Countersteering|countersteering]] more deeply into the turn at the same time that you brake. The harder you're braking, the more deeply you lean in response, and this balancing act must be automatic and instinctive, so you don't have to think about what you're doing while you're doing it. In this way it's possible to brake ''very'' hard while turning and still maintain your chosen line.
 (B) Is always true, but you're not supposed to be all that close to the edge of traction when you're riding on the street, and unless you run across a patch of gravel (which you should have seen well before you got there) or are riding way too fast, there is generally plenty of traction reserve to play with when you're trail braking. This does not mean that you can suddenly slam on the brakes in a corner and expect that bad things won't happen. As with all control applications on a motorcycle, the brakes must be applied smoothly and progressively to give the bike (and yourself) time to react to the transient changes in balance.