Brake Safely on a Motorcycle
Former GP racer Niall Mackenzie gives you advanced riding advice and tips on how to brake smoothly and safely on your motorcycle
Steps
- Adjust your brake lever so it's right for you. Some people like a solid feel at the bars, others like plenty of movement. Try using two fingers and see if you prefer the feel, otherwise stick with what you know works. on the road
- Be progressive transferring weight onto the front before applying hard braking. Avoid sudden grab-ups!
- Only use one finger for trail braking. You don't want lots of power when dragging the brake through the corner, just a gentle pressure
- Use lots of engine braking in the wet, but remember to keep some temperature in the discs. Brakes only work best when they're hot
- A quick dab on the rear brake is always quicker and sometimes even safer than using the front brakes
- Experiment with using the rear brake mid-corner to steady the bike down through a bumpy bend. You'll be amazed at the effect things to practice
- Get off-road to perfect your braking skills. The worst that can happen is that you'll get a muddy backside!
