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RE: [ST] brake lockup, was: The Smiley Bag



<<
We all have our opinions about this, so here's mine:

I don't need ABS. Most test have shown that on a
motorcycle, one can achieve the shortest braking
distances on bikes without it, or turned off.

A locked up rear brake is something avoidable, IMO, if
you practice your panic stops on a frequent basis. I
do, and it's been well worth the effort.
Granted, the rears on the SSSA machines seems more
prone to lockup than my RS, but a well-maintained
system should function properly.

There's a definite skill to hard braking without
lockup. I've done it all, locked-up rear, locked-up
front, locked-up both (!!), and stoppies. 
Only when I drilled myself over and over again did I
get good at doing it right.
My concentration now has been to practice my panic
stops while leaned over.
Nothing to dramatic mind you, but I do drills of
standing the bike up quickly, and applying the brakes
HARD. That's the one I anticipate most likely to save
my bike, indeed, my life.
>>

Just because magazine test riders, riding the exact
same place on the same track on the same bike over
many attempts can make a non-ABS bike stop a few feet
shorter than an ABS-equipped bike means little in the
real world siuation IMO.  Although I routinely
practice hard stops like you mention (the leaned-over
ones too), I'm not sure that is a "panic" stop.  I'd
like to think that my efforts, whatever they may be,
to be a safe rider have/will help avoid trouble in
panic siuations but I sure wouldn't mind knowing I
*can't* lock my brakes.  

Randy
'00 RS

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