Everyone always says "brake in a straight line, before the corner". Is this a simplification?
I know the same is said to beginner drivers at (for example) a kart race - but I for one definately drive smoother and better if I trail brake into the corner a bit. Does the same apply to bikes, or should we really be totally 100% off of the brakes as we start to turn?
My thoughts have always been that you want to use 100% of your tyres' traction as much as you can. At the apex of a corner you should be using all of that for cornering, fair enough. At the start of a corner when you're gradually easing into the turn you're only using (say) 50% of the tyre's cornering ability, so should you not still be braking a bit, to use the rest of the tyre's ability?
As such I reckon you should do maximum braking in a straight line, and as you start to turn in modulate the braking off, until at the apex of the corner where you're using no brakes. After the apex you should start to accelerate, but be aware that you may not be able to put maximum power down until you're fully straightened up.
BUT... is that completely wrong? Maybe because a bike is being leant into the corners it changes the physics of it all, and we really should be off the brakes 100%? I've certainly noticed sometimes that braking can have the effect of "standing up" the bike.
note: for the sake of simplification I'm ignoring all other aspects such as surface texture, camber, etc. On the subject of camber though, how does all of the above apply to bermed cornering, as opposed to flat cornering?
Let the debate begin....
of car/kart racing
I know the same is said to beginner drivers at (for example) a kart race - but I for one definately drive smoother and better if I trail brake into the corner a bit. Does the same apply to bikes, or should we really be totally 100% off of the brakes as we start to turn?
My thoughts have always been that you want to use 100% of your tyres' traction as much as you can. At the apex of a corner you should be using all of that for cornering, fair enough. At the start of a corner when you're gradually easing into the turn you're only using (say) 50% of the tyre's cornering ability, so should you not still be braking a bit, to use the rest of the tyre's ability?
As such I reckon you should do maximum braking in a straight line, and as you start to turn in modulate the braking off, until at the apex of the corner where you're using no brakes. After the apex you should start to accelerate, but be aware that you may not be able to put maximum power down until you're fully straightened up.
BUT... is that completely wrong? Maybe because a bike is being leant into the corners it changes the physics of it all, and we really should be off the brakes 100%? I've certainly noticed sometimes that braking can have the effect of "standing up" the bike.
note: for the sake of simplification I'm ignoring all other aspects such as surface texture, camber, etc. On the subject of camber though, how does all of the above apply to bermed cornering, as opposed to flat cornering?
Let the debate begin....
of car/kart racing