High-Sided. :( (Learn from my mistake)

[Wolfman1015]

Glad to hear you're alright man!

I just got an 06 FZ6 and it came with extra handlebars (the previous owner put on Renthals, so I've got the stock ones). If you're interested let me know!

 

[lupusobus]

glad you're okay.. just had a wreck myself.. heal quick and take care.. :thumbup:

 

[ELIZABETH]

Gotta be patient in traffic

http://www.600riders.com/forum/new-riders-q/17476-brake-use.html

Thanks for the link to the braking thread, Defy. I added it to my "subscribed" threads so I can do some more investigating on this subject. I also was taught in my BRC class to use both brakes at all times, in a controlled manner. And IF you lock the front, let up, but IF you lock the back, DON'T let up, or you might high side.

To the OP, I am glad you are relatively OK, and I hope your arm heals up quickly.

 

[VEGASRIDER]

+ 1000

If you hadn't been using the rear brake, I doubt you would have crashed.

Dude, this is bad advice in my opinion. He is a new rider.

You have to teach a new rider the basic fundamentals on how to operate a motorcycle safely. Until the rider gains experience, as well as the knowledge on how the bike behaves and responds to certain situations, best that they all stick to the basics. Keep things simple.

 

[MRGM]

Dude, this is bad advice in my opinion. He is a new rider.

You have to teach a new rider the basic fundamentals on how to operate a motorcycle safely. Until the rider gains experience, as well as the knowledge on how the bike behaves and responds to certain situations, best that they all stick to the basics. Keep things simple.

Simple?? How is just using the front brake not simple? If you're braking hard, all the weight goes to the front, the rear wheel will lock and as the OP found out, cause you to crash.

 

[VEGASRIDER]

Simple?? How is just using the front brake not simple? If you're braking hard, all the weight goes to the front, the rear wheel will lock and as the OP found out, cause you to crash.

Question for you?

Of the three, which provides the shortest stopping distance.

1. Using rear brake only
2. Using Front brake only
3. Using both brakes

 

[Red Wazp]

In a hard panic stop?

Front only.

I know your going to say both and that may be true in a controlled stop but in the real world on a FZ6 if you use the rear hard you will most likley crash cause that sucker is going to lock up- not good.

I have had many bikes and well over 150,000 miles riding. It also depends on what bike you are riding.

During both track day classes I have attended by Reg Pridmore he teaches to use your front correctly which can include steering while on the front brake.

The best advice to any rider new or veteran rider is practice hard stops.

 

[VEGASRIDER]

In a hard panic stop?

Front only.

I know your going to say both and that may be true in a controlled stop but in the real world on a FZ6 if you use the rear hard you will most likley crash cause that sucker is going to lock up- not good.

The best advice to any rider new or veteran rider is practice hard stops.

I agree ( not the front brake part but practice), that is why you practice, so you remember how much pressure you need to apply your rear brakes as well as the front brakes so they don't lock up.

There should be no Panic Stops. Quick or Emergency stops yes, but Panic? Need more practice.

Remember, we are talking about new riders. You're talking about trackdays, you're jumping the gun. Like I said, it's all about the basic fundamentals.

 

[DefyInertia]

Question for you?

Of the three, which provides the shortest stopping distance.

1. Using rear brake only
2. Using Front brake only
3. Using both brakes

It depends!

Question for you.

Which one puts newbs on their head most often?

 

[jmerch44]

Nobody? Ok, I'll say it.:needpics: I am very happy you're alive though. :rockon:

 

[VEGASRIDER]

It depends!

Question for you.

Which one puts newbs on their head most often?

Based on every crash that I have witnessed out on the range, none have been a high side due to releasing the rear brake. Every crash has resulted from using too much front brake resulting in a front tire skid, and as a new rider, natural reaction is for them to keep them locked even though we tell them that you must immediately release the front brake once your front tire begins to skid. We have rear tires lock up all the time during the quick stop excercise, and none have resulted in a crash, just because they keep it locked. We just had a rider crash this afternoon during their skills test because he locked up the front brakes.

We are talking about new riders here. Most of you have way too much riding experience thats making it difficult for you to understand that in order for them to learn how to ride, they must acquire the basic fundamentals of braking and learn how to stop in the shortest amount of distance, which is using both brakes. As they progress and become experienced riders, they will naturally progress to adapting other ways to stop quickly based on various conditions and capabities of the bike and rider.

By showing them or telling them to use only one brake when they are learning how to ride is like telling them to only take left turns.

 

[lonesoldier84]

vegasrider you open our eyes when you grace us with your knowledge.

good thought-provoking info there. I have usually avoided rear brake in emerg. stops. i will start to get some practice sessions in now and again.

cheers.

 

[fast blue one]

At least you're in one piece, your gear did you proud.

New lid is a priority. :thumbup:

 

[MRGM]

We are talking about new riders here. Most of you have way too much riding experience thats making it difficult for you to understand that in order for them to learn how to ride, they must acquire the basic fundamentals of braking and learn how to stop in the shortest amount of distance, which is using both brakes. As they progress and become experienced riders, they will naturally progress to adapting other ways to stop quickly based on various conditions and capabities of the bike and rider.

By showing them or telling them to use only one brake when they are learning how to ride is like telling them to only take left turns.

On a sportbike, you shouldn't be able to lock the front wheel during braking. And yes, you may achieve a better stopping distance using both brakes going in a straight line (this is only due to not all of the power available from the front brake in the first place).

But you cannot expect to be in a turn, use the rear brake, and not loose the rear wheel. The MSF course is not specific to sportbikes (which the FZ6 is), and thus the techniques are not 100% correct IMO. Do you have new students do an emergency stop in a curve using both brakes? Of course not, they would crash.

 

[Have2BeFree]

I am glad you are ok - but be careful of that arm as I can relate to going down on the left arm. Your accident sounds very similar to what I did almost 4 weeks ago except you were going faster. Just remember to ride your own ride, no matter what the person in front of you is doing.

 

[Spideyrex]

I have found the rear brake on the FZ6 way to vague and hard to get a feel for, so I also tend to avoid it on my rides unless I'm going very slowly as in a parking lot. My old Ninja 250s ( I had 2) had a much better feel for the rear so you could use both confidently. But proper technique is using both and lots of practice.

 

[VEGASRIDER]

On a sportbike, you shouldn't be able to lock the front wheel during braking.

But you cannot expect to be in a turn, use the rear brake, and not loose the rear wheel. The MSF course is not specific to sportbikes (which the FZ6 is), and thus the techniques are not 100% correct IMO. Do you have new students do an emergency stop in a curve using both brakes? Of course not, they would crash.

So you are saying sportbikes are not designed to have the front wheel lock up? Okay, so everyone who has a sportbike will never ever have to worry about their front brake from locking up. Thanks for that great info, I'll be sure to be passing that along in the class. Not all bikes have the same braking systems. Some may have ABS, some may not. Some may have a linking system. But most will have a standard braking system.

Yes, we do have our new students practice emergency stops in a curve, and we tell them to use both brakes. But we also tell them that they need to straighten the bike up first, and make sure the handlebars are square before they apply the brakes. We all know that during a curve, while the tire is leaned, all it's traction is commiited for the turn, and any sort of braking will compromise your traction dedicated to the turn. So once again, in order to provide the best way to stop in a curve is to straighten the bike up.

Now if you're an expereinced rider, there are ways you can apply the brakes during a turn, such as trail braking. But for a new rider, we just keep things simple, teaching the basic fundamentals of braking.

Oh by the way, one more question for you, technically, do you know what differentiates a sportbike from a touring bike?

 

[CrazyBiker]

Based on every crash that I have witnessed out on the range, none have been a high side due to releasing the rear brake. Every crash has resulted from using too much front brake resulting in a front tire skid, and as a new rider, natural reaction is for them to keep them locked even though we tell them that you must immediately release the front brake once your front tire begins to skid. We have rear tires lock up all the time during the quick stop excercise, and none have resulted in a crash, just because they keep it locked. We just had a rider crash this afternoon during their skills test because he locked up the front brakes.

We are talking about new riders here. Most of you have way too much riding experience thats making it difficult for you to understand that in order for them to learn how to ride, they must acquire the basic fundamentals of braking and learn how to stop in the shortest amount of distance, which is using both brakes. As they progress and become experienced riders, they will naturally progress to adapting other ways to stop quickly based on various conditions and capabities of the bike and rider.

By showing them or telling them to use only one brake when they are learning how to ride is like telling them to only take left turns.

I donnow why holding the brake comes natural which is exactly the opposite for me.

Some correct natural reflexes get built in I guess after you ride in pathetic indian traffic and roads. I have managed to slid upright on my bike for 20-30 feet on wet roads after locking the rear by just releasing the brake and countersteering both ways to keep the balance.

 

[sxty8goats]

FWIIW, the FZ6 is a standard, not a sportbike. They do not have the sport bike suspension or seating position. It does have a sport bike engine. There are very few standards out there. The FZ Yamahas, the Gladius/SV's a couple of the small Ninja. The past tense Honda 599 and 919. I'm a standard fan, the forward leaning seating position of a sport bike doesn't make for a comfortable ride for me.

 

[sxty8goats]

I am glad you are ok - but be careful of that arm as I can relate to going down on the left arm. Your accident sounds very similar to what I did almost 4 weeks ago except you were going faster. Just remember to ride your own ride, no matter what the person in front of you is doing.

I was thinking about how I jammed my arm today. It is the opposite arm to the side I landed on. So I must have held the handle bars until they hit. The bars bent in and dented the tank. Bike bounced at that point (I was lowsided at the time) and then caught traction causing the highside. I stayed on the bike as it went over, it landed on my leg causing the rash through the jeans and a large bruise. I then landed on my shoulder and head, skipped down the road and my legs came over me. I sort of rolled into a standing position then fell forward with the momentum.

As I remember, the bike was damaged mostly on the left side. so the majority happened on the lowside of the slide. I suspect it merely bounced on the right side, my leg taking most of the impact. Still waiting for my buddy to send pics of the damage so I can start ordering parts.

Icing the arm for 20 minutes on / 20 minutes off has done wonders. I've had simmilar sprains/jams before and I'm surprised how quickly I'm healing. I was told icing helps for the first 24 to 48 hours. I'm doing my best to go the full 48,