Off road braking techniques

[mattv]

So I ended up going off track at Thunderhill over the weekend.  I came into 14 a little faster than usual, target fixated on the outside edge of the track and went off.  I was able to keep it up right and was planning on just riding it out.  Then I saw pavement up ahead and thought I was about to cross the hot track again. 

I figured that using the front brake would cause the front to wash out and put me down so instead I slowly started pressing on the rear brake.  My rear tire ended up locking and throwing me for a high side.  I tumbled through the weeds and then slid to a stop on the pavement.   I quickly got up and ran off track expecting to get hit by a rider at any moment.   When I got back to the dirt and had a second to look around I realized I wasn't on the track but on one of the inside roads at T-hill. 

So feeling a little silly, I went and picked up my bike.  Then one of the Keigwin's crew showed up (Ernie I think) and helped me push my bike back to the pits.  Thanks Ernie!

So what's the proper way to brake while off roading on a sport bike?  Was the rear brake the correct choice, just poor application?

[Spidey]

Kinda hard to say.  Here's my initial reaction . . .

Rear brake is correct.  Application was likely ok too.  If you thought you were going to go onto a hot track, dump the bike.  I woulda just pulled the front brake and dumped the bike purposely (I've done that when heading toward a wall off-track).  Sometimes, you just can't keep it upright if you go off-track.  Happens.  That said, I'm hard pressed to think of anywhere where you can go off track and then end up on live track.  Keep that in mind in the future. 

Sorry to hear about the spill.  Are you ok?  How's the bike?

[DanTheMan]

Looks like the correct choice, just poor application. Most important keep the bike straight up and down and you should still be able to keep the bike upright with the rear locked. Ive been fortunate enough to ride out all my off track detours and some at 75mph+.

1. Scrub as much speed as you can before exiting to the dirt
2. Bike straight as possible
3. Apply rear brake
4. If it locks up, let off and reapply
5. stay light on the front bars, no steering inputs.
6. can't stop in time to avoid a wall, dump it

[Desmostro]

(off road experience)
+ get your butt to the back of the bike as far as posible. Get all the weight off the front like DTM and SPDy said. You can't brake and steer at the same time, but you can steer a little if you really keep the bike straight up and down. Get up on your pegs and lean your body instead, let the front wheel bounce and giggle but don't let it fold all the way if you hit deep gravel! guide it.  You can roll over some pretty big texture this way. Down shifting is good - but it depends on a lot of variables. Tall dry grass can be really slick.

[mattv]

Thanks for the advice.  Hopefully I can remember some of it next time I find myself in the weeds. 

The bike was pretty straight up and down before the crash.  I don't remember but I was probably pretty stiff on the bars.  I doubt I was very relaxed.  Hopefully I can consciously make myself relax next time.   The grass was super slick, as soon as I applied pressure to the rear brake the wheel locked up and started sliding out to the left.  I think I released the rear brake and wheel caught again and I got thrown. 

Anyways, hopefully my next off road experience will be a little better.