Ducati Monster Forum

Moto Board => Riding Techniques => Topic started by: Monsterlover on March 14, 2014, 05:52:51 AM

Title: Extreme practice
Post by: Monsterlover on March 14, 2014, 05:52:51 AM
Something I read in the "to cover or not cover your levers" thread I wanted to comment on and I thought it deserved its own thread.

From that thread-

Quote from: Rowdy on May 22, 2013, 03:29:22 PM
Same for me. I've done some emergency braking on the 1098 and it had huge initial bite in the front mono block Brembos. Even locked the front up during training to experience the feeling. Covering the leavers has not caused me any issues.

Quote from: wiggsmeister on May 23, 2013, 09:44:24 AM
locked up the front during training!?! you're far more brave than I am!

I think it's your duty as a rider to fully understand the capabilities of your bike.

If you've never been on the brakes hard enough to lock the front you have no idea really how much brake you have available to you. Knowing that limit could be the difference between stopping and riding home on your own or getting a ride from the EMT's.

I recommend an empty parking lot and working up to it. That exercise alone will make you more comfortable during hard braking. There's no substitute for repetition in a controlled environment.

I've been riding for probably 10 years and I still do this a couple times a season.

Being fully aware of just how hard I can pull that brake lever leaves me more mental power/capacity to put into keeping the bike up and avoiding a hazard. There are only so many things you have time to think about in a panic situation before you're overwhelmed and experience "brain lock." 

If you make it second nature it's no big deal!
Title: Re: Extreme practice
Post by: DucRS on March 25, 2014, 09:27:35 AM
Funny you mention this. I was on my Multi last week practicing this exact  act until I noticed Ohlin's juice flinging on my leathers.  Seems my Forks will be needing a tune up now.  Still, an important practice.
Title: Re: Extreme practice
Post by: dufukincati on April 11, 2014, 02:38:00 PM
If you ride at speeds of 100+ mph, you need to practice stopping from those speeds also.
Title: Re: Extreme practice
Post by: Monsterlover on April 11, 2014, 06:55:59 PM
True.
Title: Re: Extreme practice
Post by: pesto on May 27, 2014, 07:20:46 PM
I've seen my ABS light come on, does that count :)
Title: Re: Extreme practice
Post by: Monsterlover on May 28, 2014, 02:48:34 AM
Yes
Title: Re: Extreme practice
Post by: Duc796canada on July 20, 2014, 07:32:25 PM
Everyone needs a mini bike or full dirtbike. Feel the weight transfer and how to lock your legs onto the bike during! I think this is waft scares most people, just like wheeling, it feels worse than it really is!!!
Title: Re: Extreme practice
Post by: Monsterlover on July 20, 2014, 07:34:50 PM
I would agree with this!
Title: Re: Extreme practice
Post by: ab on December 11, 2014, 11:06:39 PM
Last season as my tyre was wearing off, I started lots of rear break only slamming n holding it and sliding a bit and marking my territory :-) Need to do more and get the feeling of the chain loosening and understanding that feeling and yet stay in control.  N it's fun too. Lots fun :-)
I always practice few times a season just slamming the front brake from diff speeds at empty parking lots.  A must exercise.  It's funny some passer by's stop by to see thinking I would wheelie etc but alas I ain't got the skills excerpt for tiny wheelies :)
Title: Re: Extreme practice
Post by: bdub on January 13, 2015, 04:08:33 AM
So during extreme practice do ya'll pull in the clutch lever or just brake ?  I know when I have really hit my brakes
I didn't use my clutch at all. Which is the proper way ? Buying an 848 evo and the front brakes have a HUGE initial
bite. Since I'm not used to that I don't want to learn wrong and would like to learn the correct way on my monster also.

Thanks
bdub
Title: Re: Extreme practice
Post by: Monsterlover on January 13, 2015, 02:39:25 PM
If you stop hard enough for long enough you'll stall the engine.

I cover the clutch under heavy braking as a matter of habit, I don't even think to do it.

Hard stop?  Pull the clutch to keep it running. After a panic or hard brake incident you may need your engine running to allow you to throttle away from something that possess a danger to you.

Along with this, you'll also need to train yourself to click down two or three gears before letting the clutch out. 5th gear doesn't work so well at 5-10mph ;)
Title: Re: Extreme practice
Post by: bdub on January 14, 2015, 04:11:57 AM
Quote from: dufukincati on April 11, 2014, 02:38:00 PM
If you ride at speeds of 100+ mph, you need to practice stopping from those speeds also.

I read last night that traction loss from twenty was the same as traction loss from 100. I think is was on an Aussie moto braking test. Not sure what that means
as the bike would behave differently, I would think. Anyway, the initial bite on the evo is waaaaay more than on my monster, I will need to learn that.
In regards to the clutch, there was no definitive answer that I could find. Another concern rises here. My monster is gp shift, evo is not (yet) is it "better" to have
standard shift so in an emergency you can just bang down gears ?
Title: Re: Extreme practice
Post by: Monsterlover on January 14, 2015, 04:22:05 AM
I don't think it matters as long as your brain is trained to operate the shifter correctly without you having to think about it.
Title: Re: Extreme practice
Post by: bdub on January 14, 2015, 11:43:49 AM
Well ok, that makes sense. I will need to practice more.
In the past I don't think I have down shifted but doing so makes sense.

I like that !! "Train the brain"
Title: Re: Extreme practice
Post by: NAKID on March 11, 2015, 12:30:57 PM
With as much stop and go traffic I see on my daily commute, and the traffic that goes from 70-0 instantly, I've gotten used to not only braking hard but downshifting as well. I don't just pull in the clutch and drop several gears, I clutch in, downshift, engage, clutch in, downshift, engage, etc.

Is that bad?
Title: Re: Extreme practice
Post by: Monsterlover on March 11, 2015, 06:20:54 PM
I doubt it matters. If your comfortable doing it, do it.
Title: Re: Extreme practice
Post by: Kopfjager on March 14, 2015, 06:36:32 PM
Quote from: NAKID on March 11, 2015, 12:30:57 PM
With as much stop and go traffic I see on my daily commute, and the traffic that goes from 70-0 instantly, I've gotten used to not only braking hard but downshifting as well. I don't just pull in the clutch and drop several gears, I clutch in, downshift, engage, clutch in, downshift, engage, etc.

Is that bad?

I've driven that way my whole life. On occasion I might 'coast' brake, but rarely.
Title: Re: Extreme practice
Post by: NAKID on March 16, 2015, 09:12:02 AM
Quote from: kopfjäger on March 14, 2015, 06:36:32 PM
I've driven that way my whole life. On occasion I might 'coast' brake, but rarely.

OK, glad to see I'm not the only one. Seems to slow down much faster this way rather than just braking. Also means I'll be in the proper gear if I have to get right back on the throttle to avoid something else...
Title: Re: Extreme practice
Post by: SwiftTone on April 20, 2015, 05:36:39 PM
When braking hard, get on all fours...front and rear brakes, clutch and shift. I think your in a emergency braking situation, the next gear you need is 1st
Title: Re: Extreme practice
Post by: Kopfjager on April 25, 2015, 05:31:34 PM
I never use rear brake on the street, never.
Title: Re: Extreme practice
Post by: Monsterlover on April 25, 2015, 07:40:32 PM
Quote from: kopfjäger on April 25, 2015, 05:31:34 PM
I never use rear brake on the street, never.

I pretty much don't either.

Maybe if I'm at a stop on a really steep hill I'll cheat and use it to hold the bike in place when I go to get moving again.
Title: Re: Extreme practice
Post by: Kopfjager on April 25, 2015, 07:46:15 PM
Quote from: Monsterlover on April 25, 2015, 07:40:32 PM
I pretty much don't either.

Maybe if I'm at a stop on a really steep hill I'll cheat and use it to hold the bike in place when I go to get moving again.

Agreed
Title: Re: Extreme practice
Post by: herm on April 26, 2015, 03:30:14 AM
Quote from: kopfjäger on April 25, 2015, 07:46:15 PM
Agreed

another agreed.

I was just reading an article on Cycle World on this very subject (extreme braking).
Title: Re: Extreme practice
Post by: manwithgun on April 27, 2015, 11:56:34 PM
One thing to keep in mind about extreme braking, whether it's a panic situation or just going deep, is to never "snatch" at the brake.  It needs to be applied while being mindful of how much load has been distributed into the tire.  A front tire can be rather easy to lock up if you are just riding along and quickly pull at the lever.   The weight and inertia of the motorcycle has not had a chance to transfer through the suspension and downward into the contact patch where it compounds your grip level.   In a straight line, on any halfway descent surface, a properly loaded tire would more than likely throw you over the bars before it skids (cruisers and harleys excluded).  We're only talking about a fraction of second here, but it is a crucial moment in time...
Title: Re: Extreme practice
Post by: MONTY59 on April 28, 2015, 06:53:20 PM
the advice you guys are giving is priceless.the brakes on my 1993 monster are far superior to any other bike i've owned and to be honest i'm sh-t scared to jam the front brake on in case i go over the bars. and i've been riding for 30 years [Dolph]. I will endevour to practice [beer]
Title: Re: Extreme practice
Post by: Monsterlover on April 28, 2015, 07:16:11 PM
You won't just for over the front.

Likely you would lock the front or brake so hard the rear came up a little. Or a lot ;)

Start easy and work your way up as you become more comfortable.

Honestly, 20 minutes in a parking lot may double your knowledge of you front brakes capability.
Title: Re: Extreme practice
Post by: MONTY59 on April 29, 2015, 02:27:38 PM
 [beer]monsterlover will practice  [Dolph]
Title: Re: Extreme practice
Post by: Monsterlover on May 01, 2015, 04:32:23 AM
[thumbsup]