an@hou2h.UUCP (02/03/84)
Yeah, daddy Perlow is right, kids! :-) Push left go left, push right go right, remember. A "jerk" might be a bit strong, but a good firm push should be fine. As an aside, this countersteering can help you corner with a lot more confidence, too. Re: braking. I don't use the rear brake AT ALL. I know it can give me an extra 5 or 10% more braking force, but the risk of locking the rear wheel in serious gonzo STOPPING is kinda distracting! On dry clean pavement, it's nearly impossible to lock the front wheel, and that myth about "going over the handlebars" is an old wife's tale! On wet roads or in a corner it's a different story however. I use the front brake less forcefully, with some rear brake. On wet roads you can't use the front brake heavily without locking the front end, so there is less weight transfer to the front, hence more weight on the rear and more meaningful braking power. In corners, there is centrifugal force loading both ends more evenly so the rear end can do more braking, plus extreme forward weight transfer can change the bike's steering geometry, making the bike unstable in mid corner. Au Nguyen
emrath@uiuccsb.UUCP (02/05/84)
#R:hou2h:-28000:uiuccsb:7100004:000:427 uiuccsb!emrath Feb 4 03:00:00 1984 It was not too difficult to lock the front wheel of my '75 Honda 750, nor of my roommate's 900 Kaw, on clean dry pavement. We both had one front disk and 4.25x19 front tires. I used to do this (ir)regularly both as an equipment and rider check. Alas, my Honda was literally run over by an irresponsible ***hole in his car. Fortunately it was parked and I was not on it, but for me, motorcycling has not been the same since.