Link: The Brake Light Initiative - A treatise on bike control, from the author of The Pace. I know there are fans of Nick's gospel here. Here is his latest advice about braking for performance and safety. Some highlights I liked: We’ve all run into corners too hot and found the bike won’t turn when the brakes are mashed on. The fork is mechanically bottomed, and the front tire is flattened under the braking forces, and that’s why braking later and later never works to reduce lap times significantly. You want to have your fork slightly collapsed at tip-in, so any necessary hard braking comes earlier in the corner entry, yet you leave the brake light on as you turn into the corner to maximize your geometry and continue to control your speed. Your challenge for your very next sporty ride or trackday: Every time you close the throttle because your brain says slow down, pick up just enough brake lever to light up your brake light. Force yourself to do it all day, even if you know you don’t need the brakes for the upcoming corner or intersection. You’ll see that it’s okay to enter a corner too slowly, and you will build this vital habit with muscle memory. ... The reason you’re shaking your head right now and grumbling, “This guy’s an idiot. My bike stands up when I grab the brakes in a corner,” is because you are practicing the wrong verb: grab. A grab loads the forks quickly, and the bike wants to stand up as the front tire bites. If this same grumbler can eaaase on the brakes, the fork and tire will load smoothly, the bike will slow, and the radius will tighten.
Very helpful I found myself grabbing the brakes a lot my last day. Definitely some great pointers A++
I've noticed that the faster I've gotten over time I no longer brake as late as I used to. Unless necessary
I went out and practiced this a little yesterday.. It hard to really get a feel for this on a Big twin and at street pace but none the less, I lit the brake light.
The RC insists I trail it in or turning is a @#$@. Not so much on the GSXR but then I am still getting used to it and dropping time.
I'm still trying to find the happy medium... My RC explains I should never be at "0" throttle but then I read, "Trail brake it" you know how hard it is to crack the throttle and trail brake a ride by wire bike!?!?!?!?! I'm going to raise my idle speed I think.
Pretty sure no one keeps the throttle open while braking. Some super fast pros will do this to help set up the rear for exit but this is a very very advanced technique. I am familiar with Nick, is this article geared towards street riding? Much of what I read here I dont agree with
I gathered that it was mainly for the street rider since there are no lights on a race bike. "brake light initiative" basically translates to trail-brake on the track, right?
Trail braking means you are actually using the brakes not lighting your tail light with the lever. I dont understand what purpose this serves, maybe reading the whole article would help
That's what I was gathering from it... A blind corner is a blind corner. You start to go wide, someone chops the throttle, tightens a line in front of you, this "practice" will help you be smoother on the brakes in this circumstance. I think "Brake light" is just a way to say "very light pressure on the brake" its a way to give you a reference.
its to essentially get you comfortable and aware of braking smoother in the entrance of a corner... That's how I understood it at least.
Dear God, you'd better be! Otherwise the front is slowing while the back is pushing. I have become a MONSTER trailbraker. Why? Jason DiSalvo Speed Academy. That school will change your life.