bad braking habit?

[McJunkie]

Ride your own ride and meet up with him in the next town.

[wally_games]

Ride your own ride and meet up with him in the next town.

+1

[martin_14]

guys, I just want to learn to drive better, I'm not interested to keep up with anybody.
While I appreciate witty comments and love wise @ss remarks like everybody, I really want to hear how you do it if you want to step up your game.
Argh... maybe I've been living in Germany for too long 

[Rick Hall]

... I don't take falls as part of the day, and I am rather afraid of falling. ...

Problem. Hard to find the limit of traction if you're worried about scratching the plastic.


Hint/tip: I did a straight line 'skid the front tire' exercise when I was younger. From 20MPH (30KMH?) and try to lock the front wheel. Don't jab at the brake, which will lock the wheel pretty quick, rather quickly/smoothly apply the front brake. Have assistants on both sides of a 'stop line' to catch you, just in case.

@Rick: thanks for your kindness. But let's agree that if an old fart on a Diversion (not saying names!) can follow another not so young fart on a C14, then the guy on the C14 needs to learn a thing or five 

Use all the HP on a C-14! You were most gracious at going slow when on the straights. Mostly You may not remember, but I made a comment that if we traded bikes, I still couldn't keep up with you.


The C14 is a heavy beast in a corner, compared to a race type bike anyway. Deal with it. Or get a Diversion


Rick

[martin_14]

Problem. Hard to find the limit of traction if you're worried about scratching the plastic.

Use all the HP on a C-14!

very true indeed. On both accounts. Finding the limit from the conservative side is not going to happen, but I I've been sliding the rear wheel a bit lately on the exit and getting used to squeeze the throttle. Despite its weight, it's a mighty engine and it lunches the bike forward pretty well. However, it's still the entry to the curve that remains so challenging both to my skills and my nuts.

[Cold Streak]

Get a bike for off road riding and get the feeling of sliding the tires.  If you fall there it's usually not as catastrophic.  It will make you more comfortable with the road bike moving around under you.  It also teaches you the correct body mechanics for correcting front or back tire slides.  You want all that to be automatic instead of panicking and grabbing the brakes, which will often make the situation worse.

[Rhino]

guys, I just want to learn to drive better, I'm not interested to keep up with anybody.
While I appreciate witty comments and love wise @ss remarks like everybody, I really want to hear how you do it if you want to step up your game.
Argh... maybe I've been living in Germany for too long 

After reading "Sport Riding" (can't remember the author) I wanted to up my game. I don't come even close to pushing the limits but want to get better anyway. So I practice technique at 2/3's (or some fraction) of a safe speed. Such as trail braking then transition to roll on at mid corner. Don't need to do it going 2/3 speed for a given corner but it allows me to safely gain experience. I then up the speed on well known corners that I first ride slowly. No surprises with decreasing radius or gravel.

[martin_14]

thanks Rhino, that sounds sensible. First time here? 

[Thud300]

Keith Code. Twist of the Wrist videos. Find abridged versions on youTube.

[texrider]

If you're serious about hustling the corners, better get your body forward on the bike and into position to help weight the front tire for traction.
Some light braking through the apex can enhance the contact patch size and shape (easy boys!).
Better to low side using brakes than to go out the other way at high speed. All that aside, your risk always increases if you ride faster with less room for error or chance.
Good luck!