01-16-2016, 09:31 AM
I learned, almost the hard way, to use the REAR brake for slowing while making a low speed turn.
I was making a slow left turn into my driveway arriving home after my ride yesterday and during said turn I (what I thought) gently applied the front brakes to slow the bike down to a walk... should have used the rear. Dang things acted like they were locked up and the front end vibrated and the tire skidded, Ugh. Fortunately there was a bit of loose gravel for the wheel to slide on, otherwise I may have had a bad experience. I immediately let off the brake handle then even more gently tried to apply the front brakes again, same thing - front end bounced and the tire appeared to lock up.
That was the first time I've experienced this...
I've used the front brakes in slow turns before without mishap... or so I think, without the things doing this "wheel lock" bit. But maybe it was my turn angle or something.
I got stopped okay, straightened the bike up and idled down the driveway to the storage building, lightly applying the front brakes to test them. They still felt a bit "grabby".
Not sure what to make of this...
Next outing I'll get the bike up to about 25 mph or so and retest the front brakes to see if something's amiss.
I was making a slow left turn into my driveway arriving home after my ride yesterday and during said turn I (what I thought) gently applied the front brakes to slow the bike down to a walk... should have used the rear. Dang things acted like they were locked up and the front end vibrated and the tire skidded, Ugh. Fortunately there was a bit of loose gravel for the wheel to slide on, otherwise I may have had a bad experience. I immediately let off the brake handle then even more gently tried to apply the front brakes again, same thing - front end bounced and the tire appeared to lock up.
That was the first time I've experienced this...
I've used the front brakes in slow turns before without mishap... or so I think, without the things doing this "wheel lock" bit. But maybe it was my turn angle or something.
I got stopped okay, straightened the bike up and idled down the driveway to the storage building, lightly applying the front brakes to test them. They still felt a bit "grabby".
Not sure what to make of this...
Next outing I'll get the bike up to about 25 mph or so and retest the front brakes to see if something's amiss.