Should you brake while turning? Motorcycle riding tips

What should you do if a corner tightens up on you? Is it safe to use the front brake? Motorcycle racer, instructor and precision rider Chris Northover explains how to scrub off speed without crashing.

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LET’S CONNECT!

[JimmySlacksack]

worst thing about braking in a corner (even smoothly) is that screaming anxiety of

[jaimeriveras]

Finally, some hard, experimental data on a subject nobody seems to agree on. The conclusions are clear and definitive: as long as you are smooth, you can use the front brake. Many thanks.

[yahoodlums]

Brilliant advice. I think outriggers and cornering should be part of the UK bike test. It would improve everyone's skillset

[craigmayall]

What an awesome demonstration. This totally clarified the technique. How can anyone give this a thumbs down??? Its genius.

[Carlos-qkvi]

An 'idiots guide to trail braking' - first clip on this technique that I've actually fully understood!

[claytonknight]

This is a great video for anyone who is planning a track day or even a rider school, because it is nice to show up with at least some braking knowledge. You guys really put out some real useful info. Great video!

[Seqhael]

I think I've been trail braking by instinct since I first started riding and never thought about it until I started watching these videos. I was on a ride in the north of Italy recently and following a group of bikers down the twisties on a mountain pass. I noticed all of them braked fairly significantly on the straight before the corner, because coasting round the corner without brakes and then accelerating again. I gave it a go for a few turns but to me it felt a whole lot more sketchy than using the brake smoothly all the way into the turn, I just feel in complete control even if it just lightly on the brake. Seems like it's acceptable provided you're smooth

[conscious]

one of the best videos i've seen on braking. An expert rider taking it to the limit over and over so we can see the results. So great! As others have mentioned, I'd love to see the results with the back brake progressively engaged. There is a lot of free advice out there that says that's the way to do it when you over cook a corner - would love to see that tested!!

[IanTed]

I’m not a hard rider but get on a track day, or better still a IAM skills day and learn what your bike is capable of, far more than you ever imagined. Did wonders for my confidence and made me realise that even I could get rid of my chicken strips on my GS. Get it wrong and it’s amazing how a bike can get you out of trouble, being smooth is the key, especially so in the wet or on a poor surface.

[btcbiker]

Chris was my trainer a couple of years ago, he's awesome. Great video Chris. Cheers, Mark

[falcidi]

Fantastic advice and great footage on trail braking and it's limits.

[tommynikon]

I took my first m/c performance course more than 30 years ago. One of the exercises involved outriggers and high-speed, controlled braking. PANIC braking. Instructor asks for a show of hands at the beginning: "Who here likes to go fast?". Everybody raises their hands. Instructor: "Who here loves to brake fast?". Nobody raised their hands. We had to hit 60mph....and then lock it up. SCARY. But the lesson(s) have always stayed w/ me. FWIW: Been riding 41 years. Current ride: '87 BMW K75C.


Because I lack ABS, I use a modified technique I call "Drop and Drag". I "drop" the front brake PRIOR to the corner; then release once I've scrubbed some speed, and drag the REAR brake thru the corner. This works especially well the tighter the corner. Seems to work; in 41 years, only been down once....and that was my front wheel hitting a fissure in the asphalt, locking the wheel, flipping me. Luckily, low speed (2nd gear), and aside from bruising, no serious injuries.

[Schuey_M]

Chris is a great guy, really enjoy his videos as he explains things very well.

[paulsmyth]

Nice one Chris. Brilliant test. We know this stuff, but seeing it tested and proved is awesome 👍

[MatthewTaheri]

This video did wonders for my confidence. Have always been nervous about this but now I know that if I'm super smooth, it'll be ok.

[erikarneberg]

Great video, but a few One: why not take the logical next step and discuss/show how to integrate trail braking into our riding technique? When to use it, when to avoid it (crap/slippery road surfaces, f. ex.). Show us how to integrate the use of throttle & brake (smoothly!) to help load the front suspension and therefore the front tire (or tyre- depending on your geography), increasing grip through the corner. How do I build that skill level when my entire life I’ve been taught to get your braking done while you’re relatively upright, before fully committing/leaning into the corner? Yes, I’m comfortable with gently easing off the brakes while entering a corner and transitioning to full lean, but once I’m into a corner, I don’t feel confident enough with the front tire’s grip/feedback to do much more than gently adjust the throttle, adjust the steering input, or just gently “drag” the brakes, trying to avoid any sudden, jerky inputs that could overcome the tire’s traction... Just as I think most of us have been conditioned to wait until we’re past the apex to start increasing the throttle, gingerly applying more as you come upright, or in really sharp/obstructed corners, as your view of the road ahead opens up... that sense of self-preservation (or cowardice?), has probably helped keep me alive for the more than thirty-five years I’ve ridden bikes, but has also limited my development as a rider- if you end up on your ass on the pavement just wondering what the hell happened without a clear understanding of WHY, there’s not much of a learning experience, or trust/incentive to explore the limits... Is there a more wholistic (not hollistic- although I’m happy to dance nekkid in the woods under a full moon with a cute hippie chick as long as she doesn’t reek of patchouli...) approach to developing this skill set for those of us who don’t have easy access to a race track and have an aversion to crashing our beloved bikes, as we get closer to exploring the limits of grip in the real world? Two: how about exploring the difference between using traction control and ABS versus switching them off? What would be the effect as it pertains to this video of having them on? I’m curious to see how that would impact those instances where the front tire let go? I’m fortunate to have a few bikes, but only one is new enough to have ABS and traction control. I know it’s a great improvement in not only safety, but confidence. However, all of these systems have their limits (and differences in capabilities), and can’t overcome the laws of physics, even if they can stretch them, so just what difference would they make in this test? You were there, with the outriggers, so surely it would have been simple enough to do an A/B comparison with the systems on vs. off? Which brings me to... Three: I want these outriggers!!! What an amazing learning tool these could be! Just for tire testing/comparisons alone- some basic data logging equipment providing hard numbers (braking distances in the wet vs. dry, f.ex.) coupled with seat-of-the-pants impressions and personal preferences (do you prefer a rounder or a more triangulated profile? These feel great, those don’t give much feedback at turn-in, etc.) could help select a set of tires that really are about as close to a perfect match for your use & priorities on an individual bike- how cool is that?!?! Then there’s the ability to explore (and cross!) the limits of you & your bike’s limits in relative safety without having your insurance company’s phone # on speed-dial or getting to know the staff at your local hospital by name (“Hi George- back again, are we? We’ve got your favorite bed by the window ready & waiting, and nurse Veronica will be by to give you a sponge-bath as soon as you’re out of surgery...”)! Never mind the fun you could have in the winter with studded tires... I’ve rambled on long enough- thanks for the great video, and the welcome mental distraction during all this Coronavirus crap! Now, back to my thoughts of nurse Veronica and that sponge-bath...

[hhoward]

Well said.
Done it this way for sixty years.

You can take it one stage further, and correct the angle of the handlebars whilst you let the front brake off, and let the front wheel regain rotation, a bit of skill and experience needed, but it can save you in the wet.

[y.kapocalyptic]

Great Video!!
Thanks for honesty, and realistic review on a controversial topic😎

[mrnumbskull]

Best way I ever heard this summed up by someone was 'don't surprise the tyre'.

[RoadcraftNottingham]

Very sensible, interesting, no ego upload. Would be nice to see this done with rear brake too and clutch out. I'll be doing an upload soon explaining why trail braking except in an emergency should be confined to track riding only. Thanks for this upload. Russ