How to Stop A Motorcycle Smoothly | With 5-10 minutes of practice 

I don't understand why more RIDERS don't take to an EMPTY and VACANT parking lot for practice. I mean it is just naturally prudent to know how your machine is going to handle. I practice several times each year and put myself in different scenarios AFTER I get used to stopping in a straight line. How else are we going to know what the Bike is going to do? I'm one of those that always uses both front and rear Brakes in MOST stopping situations and have since my first Bike...that thing needed all the stopping power it had back then. Both Front and Rear were Drum Brakes and we all know how sluggish those were. I got in the habit and is just part of MY riding style. You Always show good practice situations and more importantly, include THE WHY. I would think EVERY RIDER would take heed and practice....no matter how many miles you have under your belt...so to speak. Using that ego or macho "Tim the TOOL' attitude will only get you a ride in an Ambulance and nobody likes to see that of another rider. I can honestly claim I've got over 500K on Two Wheels and Still consistently practice...may be why I haven't been down of my own accord. Been rear-ended and side swiped by other riders that panicked. There is no excuse not to practice to keep up with your reflexes and keep those reactions INSTINCTIVE rather than not knowing what to expect...which leads to a PANIC situation response and that usually never ends well. Thanks for your attitude of sharing such useful and helpful riding tips. We ALL need to be Taught or just Reminded of new tips with the how's and why's of Riding. Thanks guys for another helpful riding tip and the why. I hope others take it to heart and practice, practice and practice to becoming a better and safer rider.

Glad I ran into this video. As a short new rider, I stress about stopping at the light smoothly and putting my foot down properly. I did take a riding course before,but I don't remember them going through good breaking techniques,only emergency.

As a former foot dragger I'm trying my hardest to break that learned habit

Thanks for the lesson. I sometimes encounter problems coming to a stop and get all wobbly and nervous on my Kawasaki Vulcan 900. These are great tips! So thanks again!

Quite the Experience! Glad you're ok:) Another good video of true events...Thanks

very god video, clear explanation, thanks.

Great explanation and demo… iv noticed on my new to me wing. more front brake will be more wobble and off line it goes. rear brake best then nip in the clutch… elbows relaxed too..hope your bike is fixed 🇬🇧👍

July 2024 are you using the clutch to stop also?

Very Good Video..

Training and practice practice practice But we both know that. I always will tell new riders to practice slow speed riding anyone can go fast it takes skill to go slow. Loved this video important info

God's tips. Time to practice.

Back home after a great road trip. We experienced many rider having problems coming to a smooth stop on their bikes. Here I demo a few tips that can make your stops safer and smoother. Thanks for taking the time to watch.

Somebody else was saying the same thing but how do you practice emergency braking and practice regular breaking. Wouldn’t you be confused. Or emergency braking do you do the same thing before you come to a complete stop just use the back brake?

Your bike has linked breaks btw

You're the 1st man to teach me that i can stop using rear brake only. Thank you a million. I hate front brake.

Excellent video, thank you! As you’re coming to a stop, do you use engine braking while downshifting, ensuring you’re already in 1st gear by the time you’re using the rear brake to come to a complete stop?

Great video! You must have an CVT model. I have an older GW 1500 and I typically downshift to slow down. Then I apply the rear brake to get a creep stop.

I’ve never been on a motorcycle before but I’m think of getting one soon so this is a very important step for me to learn. So, do you squeeze the clutch while you break & down shift and keep it in first gear keeping the clutch squeezed???

Your video equipment it has great clarity. Looks great .

Thanks for good videos!!! What's the best way to stop smoothly on a downhill road ?

Posted 2 year ago, but still teaching new riders to this day. Thanks for the content!

Great video, when do I pull the clutch in though? Just before stopping or prior to hitting the brake?

Good video. Also, great sounding audio. Trying to figure out whether you had a mic or just a darn good camera picking up audio.

Awesome video! During the riders course I dropped my bike three times. I didn't realize at the time what I was doing incorrectly. Each time my front wheel was turned because I was getting back in line and used the front brake while stopping. A few months later I watched a few videos and realized what I had done incorrectly. The (cocky Harley) instructors NEVER mentioned anything about NOT using the front brake if your front wheel isn't straight. They stressed how important it is to use both brakes, so that's what I did. When the bike goes down it happens really fast. All I know is that I'm good at not falling when the bike goes down...lol. I'm practicing using both brakes and getting used to only putting left foot down at stops. Sorry your bike got damaged. Thanks for sharing this information and keeping us safe.

So if im coming to a stop at a red light and i start to break and clutch at the same time do i pull the clutch all the way in while im stopping or partially

I always thought that you should use front brake only until 10mph or less than add rear brake. I'll have to try this both brakes for a smooth stops.

I can't deal with this guy. He takes too fucking long telling his stories, just teach the lesson. Jesus.

How to stop in a cumbered downhil road? Can you give a tips?

Chief, your Technics were spot on and easily understood by me. Most people fail at explaining the braking process well. Your visuals with your bike made it expertly brought forth for us "hard heads"! Keep up the great work! It makes riding a motorcycle a true pleasure to experience! Douglas

Greetings from 10.000 km away Turkiye. whenever I see a black instructor explaining to does or something rtc. I Understand better. Thank you big man

My kawasaki concours has linked breaks too. Is the best way to stop a bike

Good video … just like Be The Boss of your Motorcycle ✊🏽

How much amount of rear break and front break should the rider use? Could this technique also apply to underbone (clutchless) motorcycle?

This video is a few years old but I appreciate it. I just went on my first 2 hr solo ride. I didn’t think stopping would be the area I would need help. But I’ll tell ya it was the only time I had problems in my trip. I felt like a fool. I don’t stall, but my stops just felt janky. I need to take a nap after my ride but I am going to practice your tips tomorrow. Other than that, I saw problems when engine breaking. I started engine breaking way too soon, which ended up with me babying the clutch to get up to the stop sign. I don’t let the embarrassment get to me, but it’s something I need to work on. Thanks again

I loved this video so much I had to come back and watch it again! Thank you Kake & Rich! 😊

Always excellent advice Rich! Much appreciated! Hope you’re well man!

Thank you! Just got my first bike and I went down coming to a stop sign in an apt complex the other day, and I couldn't figure out why. Will be practicing this!

Dude this is so useful. I've been teaching myself the last couple days and nearly tipped my bike foot tapping. My bicycle riding instinct tells me that my feet can stop me while coasting at 5mph but a 300lb motorcycle has a LOT more inertia than a 20lb bicycle.

My man!! Finally a good video I learned something from on RU-vid. That was excellent advice. I just found your channel and will be watching videos all night now. I just got a 2022 street glide special and I don’t the duck walk at every light now. I didn’t do it on my softail slim so it’s weird feeling so out of control now but I will go practice but first a Cigar and some of your other videos… thank you 🙏

Should you keep the bike in first gear while stop at a red light?

The first five minutes of this video are spent scene setting, FFS get on with it! Stop talking and start showing! A three minute video just took 8.59!

And as far as the clutch , do you squeeze it the whole time youre breaking ? And can you be in red light on 1st or 2nd gear holding the break?

Thanks brother I am a noob lol

Lot of talking for little demo

Al good but my wife is a wiggle worm!! So both feet are down and on the ready all the time since I dropped it once before because of Wiggle Worm..

We going get to it right quick 5 mins in

This is awesome 👌 I tried the no front break stop in another well known persons video trying to get a safer stop. As a beginner this didn't go well. Lost my balance coming to a stop on uneven ground put both feet down out of panic so no brakes at all and because my hand was not on the front brake I had no stability, the throttle rolled on loud an clear freaking me out even more and was thinking dont let that clutch out or I'm toast.

Super good advice and video

I tend to use the rear brake, but can now use both rear and/or front. However, I still have a slight stability problem when coming to a stop. From what I can see, you have your foot out ready to touch the floor before you physically stop moving? Also, sometimes I want to stop and touch down with my right foot, my default is left. However, the bike ends up "falling" to the left, so I suddenly need to change foot. Something I'm doing wrong?

I'm new to your channel. I saw you guys on Robert Simmons channel

Excellent vid, very helpful. I rode a cruiser for 10 years which was a very forgiving bike (Kawasaki Vulcan 900). Stopped riding for a few years, then bought an adventure bike. Forgot some of the basics, which led to a drop at a stop. Not having an instructor handy, I found your vid and I could then see what I did wrong. Time for me to brush up (a lot) on the fundamentals. Thank you so much!

What do you do with the clutch as you are stopping/stop?

Boots and Jean's thank you for a well done lesson on planned braking. The stoplights and stop signs that make up 99% of our riding. You've got great technique and it was a pleasure to watch several smooth stops. I've been using these same techniques and know a pro when I see one. " Thank you master, a thousand times". 😉 ✌

Love this video! I'm only 5'5" and I use the front & rear brakes together 100% of the time until stopped. Looking forward to the day I get my Goldwing.

Thank you SSSssssooo much!!

After watching 4 other videos I finally get it by watching yours. Thank you.

Thank you! I realized I wasn’t even using my rear break when coming to a complete stop and I would start rolling a little bit when I let off of the front break causing me to roll a little and have to use my feet. Now I just come to a complete stop with my rear break and keep my foot on it while planting the other one. I stay in one spot and have a smooth stop!

👍👍👍👍

Thanks for this video. There are a lot of videos on emergency stopping but stopping normally is not well covered even at MSF. Need to practice your technique but then I want to be able to do it with a passenger. Really not good to stumble at a normal stop with a passenger :(

You do everything that i do, am English 75 yea old love my fat boy, being as i only weight 12 stone wet through, i really have to be Johnny on spot ,never dropped my baby, I've ridden most bikes over my 50 ish year's, harleys are the hardest, but when you master them they are ace 😅

Awesome video bruh. You really helped me. I’m a new rider and I see experienced riders doing the foot dragging thing all the time. Keep up the good work.

Sorry to see your bike damaged. Stopping with a passenger, the extra weight can make it more difficult especially if you're on a sideways slant or hill. I really like Harley's new hill assist. Great tips!

Thank you

Great channel

Been riding since 1977. Been on crotch rockets 20 plus years. Always used front brake, was told to and they seemed to work that way. NOW I'm on cruisers Indian Roadmaster. Never thought about what you mentioned let go the front brake last second or so... Going try that, now I have tried just the rear brake for giggles and brake distance is WAY longer!! Noe some bikes have linked braking, Forgot if Indian do this. Thanks for the ideas and will try it!!

I am happy that you are rich, I am not.

Merci beaucoup!

Thank you !!!! Great video...new subscriber.

Thank You 😁

Awesome video

Thank you for this video. I am having a problem coming to a stop. This video really helps.😊

Hey Rich, would you drop a comment on what riding gear you used for this video. The pants and the jacket. Thanks

Yeah, you can tell I’m a noob by the way I stop. Sometimes my stops are smooth, but I’m not consistent. I’m working o it though. Thanks for this! 👍

I am a new riders and I have a bad habit of never use rear brake when comes to stop. Even though my bike have ABS , I am too scared to go fast and stop fast since I have a tendency to brake hard if my bike don’t stop in time when I slowly pulling in my front brake. That’s some time make me& bike lurk forward. Almost drop a few time. Thanks for the video

I just bought a 2005 Goldwing. I dumped it within 4 days. The good news is my bike is fine, a few scratches but that is why I bought an 05...practice bike. A few torn ligaments and muscle strain in my ribs later. I realize what I did wrong after watching your videos. This is a great blessing to the GW community, especially to new Gw riders. Would you ever do a video on appropriate riding gear? For example, modular helmets vs. full face? Or what are the best riding boots? That would be awesome. Thanks, brother!

Appreciate your videos as a new rider.

Why do so many folks not seem to know the difference between "brakes" and "breaks'. Personally, I'd rather brake so that I don't break.

Very good informative instructions. I would add to that when doing very low speed in a gravel or cinder lot always use the rear brake only to stop.

on our MSF course they taught us to use the front break more then rear. do I just slightly push the front break an finish with rear?

Appreciate the videos man, got a Yamaha Raider 1900 as my first bike and ive been binge watching your videos before hopping on.

This is a sensible guy, thanks buddy. I'm gonna follow more of your vids. My take is ppl partly tend to start with a mc way too big and heavy for them, and partly that they don't take pride in actually practising the basics and don't really understand how a cool rider rides - look at the footage from Daytona and you see my point - hardware looks more important than ridin skills. Style lies in the small details. Think lookin cool is an indispensible way of ridin safe.

Very good instruction! He used real life examples with his actual instruction.

Never been rear ended by another motorcyclist but I have by a car. Great tips and thanks for sharing. Ride safe👊👊

Bummer. First time I was wrong on what I thought you were going to show me😢. I use both brakes to come to stop, as I complete the stop, I put both feet down, front brake remains engaged. When I start, both feet up at same time. I'm glad it was only your bike that got hurt!! Patrick

Do Not do this, that is why he got rear ended. This guy can not ride!!!

Thanks for pointing out to let go of the front brake near the end!! . I knew I was doing something wrong. For those also learning ... I was trying to use it until I was completely stopped. (Rolling off the throttle, slowly pulling front brake, using rear brake, pulling clutch in trying to stay in friction zone to make sure I get to the stop line - makes for some really ugly feeling stops haha) . Barely my 2nd day on street. Though I've been riding dirtbikes for a few years. Unlike dirtbikes, where you really mainly use rear brakes, I always heard that street is opposite where you mainly only use your front, I guess I went a little exaggerated with it haha.

I think the worst thing about dragging your feet is you can’t use your rear brake, means your stops will be less smooth.

Great video! I am guilty of using just my front brakes at times, I normally always use front and back together, however I do notice I have lately picked up the front brake thing.

Oh the challenges of group riding. Excellent instructional video here. Lone Wolf signing off.

That really helps me now I understand sir cool

Good video Rich, this is something I think we all need to practise. Looking forward to the riding season again, but for now, it's shovelling snow for me. cheers Dave

Well done Rich, I didn't know that you got rear-ended but it looks like the saddle bag was held together with some black tape,or something, but I know it happens when it really shouldn't to, as I said brother good job on explaining the stopping points 🤜🏼🤛🏼💯

I learn a lot from your videos.

You are using the front breaks always. You have linked brakes. That's why your bike breaks so good 👍

🏍️

Appreciate your dedication,

Pretty good tips bro. Too bad he ran into your bike 😢

Great video. Thanks for the tips, much appreciated.

Thanks for the rear brake tips.

I appreciate your advice and knowledge Thankyou