Do You Trail Brake?

Dr Ratbagg

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 27, 2018
Messages
965
Location
Jet City, WA
I see trail breaking as mainly a track method. I would never apply or recommend it in the dirt.

"Trail braking is done all the time when racing to keep the competition at bay. One advantage of trail braking is that it allows the rider to extend the time and distance used to establish entry speed. This can be a real advantage if a bit more braking is needed for a tightening turn or to avoid a mid-corner obstacle"
Google and Driver61.com
 

mobyfubar

Active Member
Founding Member
2011 Site Supporter
2012 Site Supporter
2013 Site Supporter
2014 Site Supporter
Joined
Oct 4, 2010
Messages
497
Location
Ohio, US
For me, the answer is sometimes. I am still learning the technique. We were taught it in Lee Parks' school, and I've also watched some other instructional videos and read articles from other schools.

I'm not as smooth at it as I need to be yet, but when I get it right it works great for managing weight transfer and traction.

It takes time to overcome decades of ingrained habit beaten into one by The One True MSF Way (which served me quite well). But there is power in learning new things.
 

sky4

Active Member
Joined
Jul 30, 2020
Messages
171
Location
Northern Colorado
On the S10 I do. I find the bigger motor and heavier weight than I am used to. I find I don't like the way it feels in corners while on the brakes. So I'm setting up my corners up more. I can't get away with my sloppy riding that I could with a lighter smaller bike. Also a bit of having 40,000 miles on one bike and 3000 on the other.
it's definitely key on ADV bikes.... I learned it on a KZ400 with no damping oil in it to speak of. Compress that front end before you load it with the corner or that bike would turn into a seesaw!

Continued using trail brake on my SV650 and R100GS. I'd say the tenere and the SV need it least of any of these bikes, but still, being a softer sprung longer travel machine it definitely helps.
 
B

ballisticexchris

Guest
What about misjudging a decreasing radius turn?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
That can get ugly quick!! Palomar Mountain road is full of skid marks and damaged guardrails on the decreasing corners.
 

WJBertrand

Ventura Highway
Joined
Jun 20, 2015
Messages
4,516
Location
Ventura, CA
Of course i have. But i dont call it trail braking when i misread a corner, i call it a mistake.

Trail braking is deliberate, not reactive.
I think having trail braking skills in your arsenal can be deliberately used to prevent a worse outcome to a mistake, no?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 

gunslinger_006

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 21, 2016
Messages
961
Location
Seattle, Washington
I think having trail braking skills in your arsenal can be deliberately used to prevent a worse outcome to a mistake, no?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
I think we agree more than it looks. I think the issue is that our definitions are off.

Yes braking while cornering is a very valuable skill.

But if you do it in response to misreading a corner, i don’t consider it trail braking and neither do instructors like Brett Tkacs.
 

jeckyll

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 11, 2016
Messages
651
Location
Lotusland
Having trail braking skills , and practicing them on every ride and every bike,will make misjudging a corner much less impactful because the rider can respond intelligently.
 

lund

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 8, 2019
Messages
809
Location
Okanagan Valley, Canada.
I do trail brake when its appropriate to do so, i do believe most incidents are speed related and riding accordingly makes a much bigger difference.
It is a great skill to acquire and will add to your riding safely but so does slowing down and not over riding your visual.
I find the Tenere's control lever's poor in design and not very user friendly for trail braking. Finding a good fit for your hands in control levers makes a night and day difference on this technique.

BTW, if your finding your self trail braking all the time, maybe you need to slow down.
 

BLW

Member
Joined
Sep 19, 2020
Messages
48
Location
Reno ,Nevada
Cornering is my favorite part of motorcycle riding, there have never been any "chicken strips" on any of my tires. I watched a video on Trail Braking a few years ago and started putting it into practice. I like the way it settles the suspension through the corner and I also like to already be on the brakes in a corner when there is a surprise obstacle,like a ladder or a piece of sod in the road. I just got my ST so I am getting used to how it turns and the brakes feel, actually I was surprised at how well the Unified braking system works, it is completely unnoticeable to me. Brett Tkacs is awesome , I love all his Moto Trek videos on YouTube, if you havent watched them you are missing out, he will make you a better rider.
 
Top