When I was a kid, I watched Schwantz rip it up on those Lucky Strike bikes…he's 1 of the reasons I ride sportbikes & think white wheels make you faster.
Careful when using percentages. A motorcycles under braking is a DYNAMIC system, not a static one. The amount of braking the rear tire has available is proportional to the amount of weight it has on it. Even when riding around on the street, in extreme braking situations on a performance motorcycle, the rear tire will barely be in contact with the road surface. As the normal force at the rear tire approaches zero, the amount of braking force available at the front approaches 100%.
This was a good and informative video. More of these technical videos about the proper way to initiate certain maneuvers on the racetrack would be great and much appreciated.
*I loved it so much I bought a Bike, RG500 Pepsi Suzuki Gamma 'C' Series, one of the last ever made, and met Kevin several times at Donington and Assen GP Events.*
Late, trail, smooth and hard braking technique, saves lives and wins races. Revin' Kevin 1993 GP World Champion. A badass on a RVG500...180HP on a 285 pound bike! Very few racers can push those bikes to the limits of traction and beyond. Tire warmers were still being ridiculed back then.
It helps transfer some weight downward and aft. It as much less to do with direction as you'll see riders dangle the same leg regardless of what direction the upcoming turn is. Also, if you listen to some of the riders, even they aren't in agreement of exactly why they do it. I don't think there's a direct correlation between the amount of leg dangling and lap times.
@Muzzy337 It depends on the bike and rider, I'm not too sure why Rossi does it, but when Stoner started doing it was from the Ducati, the front end is not too stable therefore it wobbles, take it off the pegs balances/stabilise the bike a little. It is also preparation into the corner as well i think.
@MINTYVIDEOS1 I only use the front brake, and you just brake hard before you lean the bike down and you brake less and less the more you lean your bike down. It's all about being smooth in your braking.
lesser or no use of the rear brakes while breaking before entering the corner.. high speed + excessive rear breaks = fishtail + powerslide + high/low end..
Cus Rossi did it back in Jerez in '05 and beat Gibernau (he just did it cus it felt right)... then he kept doing it, and kept winning, then Capirossi, Melandri, Biaggi and Stoner started doing it, then just about everyone else :p
I club race my motorcycle and sticking the leg out makes no difference... there are 2 reasons why some riders stick their leg out... 1- they're used to doing it on dirt bikes so it feels natural to do it on any bike and 2 - so other riders around them have less room to pass them on the brakes... All race bikes turn in fast and change direction fast and sticking out a leg makes no difference... what you say is just one theory out of many which no MotoGP rider ever confirmed.
@jerkymoto. When folks speak of the 180-200hp(the 01 NSR was said to be close to 200hp) 500cc two strokes it seems like its not a crazy amount of power but people seem to forget what u said about the weight. 285lbs!! Holy shit! The bikes are 330lbs now so weight/HP wasnt far off. 2 strokes just don't have that top end to get em up to 210mph like the 4strokes do.
I have a friend who always says let the breaks control your speed not your fear. Breaking is in the rider, it depends of how comfortable he is where he is breaking. I hate breaking I normally go for a slide but I m ending up off road all the time.
I agree, but the traction control isn't as great as some people expect. You can't just lean it in and crack the throttle wide open. Watch Stoner exit a corner. But a 2 stroke with no traction control is a beast to ride
Great video! I've written a book and online course to teach trail braking to the average street rider. Your video here reinforces my theories and techniques. Best wishes!
@MrMilan90 You beter ask for Stoner, Rossi doesn't use the rear brake and one of the secrets of Stoner to tame the Ducati was actually the use of the rear brake at the time he twisted the whrislt!!
@MrMilan90 I know but I didn't say Stoner was the best braker but the best using rear brake and the gas exiting corners!!! Anyway in Laguna Seca Rossi did'nt brake properly because he come out from the track!!! Actually he had to release the brakes to overtake Stoner taking the "easy" way out!!! Sorry for my english....
@40joel I think traction control on a Motogp bike is probably so vastly tunable than anyone without tons of knowledge of the system would not get the results needed. I based the comment off what the riders say. They all seem to think its very difficult making much difference coming off a corner. Stoners technique is impressive . He is probably the best mid corner to exit rider in the world.
On a high speed breaking before the corner I use everything I have: Rear brake, front brake, Slipping clutch, air resistance and then smoothly trail brake up to the apex and then throttle again fuck yeah! :))
This front brake talk is hilarious. I hear Hardley Ableson riders claim that using the front brake will "send you over the bars." If you manage to endo that 700 lb lump of pig iron by using that tiny single-disk front brake without just locking up the front, I will be eternally impressed and personally fund your physics grant.
MotoGP riders brake so hard that the rear tire is barely touching the tarmac so using the rear brake is not necessary... for a street rider when using both brakes the front brake does 90% of the braking and the rear does 10% of the braking.... In MotoGP the front does 99% of the braking so 1% is almost nothing... but some use the rear brake to pivot the bike around a corner (rear wheel spinning slower then the front steps the rear end out) and they use it to stop wheelies when accelerating.
@sandroyzfr6 Don't worry, he's has a lot of development going on on that bike right now. Remember he had to get the Yamaha up to speed after leaving Honda also. It's just taking longer on the Ducati. He's still the man. Lol!
That motorcycle guy : rear brake is useless at high speeds.. the whole weight is in front after applying the break so what rear break can do.. Think about it
@blondboyharrison I'm saying he didn't win but that the Yamaha needed to be developed around him also. The Ducati in my opinion is just not where it should be in order to compete up front. You really thing that age has gotten to Rossi? Wow! I didn't think of that. I sure hope not. I think he still has a couple of championships left in him myself. I just wish he was back on that Honda. Lol! I've always ridden Honda's myself, that's why I say that. Lol!
@Muzzy337 Let me guess... 1)Because it's tiring to keep your legs in same position during the whole race. 2) A leg would work like gyroscope in case bike goes wobbling. 3)They try to kick each other's asses! But i'm not sure...
Kevin Schwantz one time world champ - one finger braking Val Rossi 9 times world chump - four finger braking. If number of championships equals expertise I'll use four finger braking thanks. Four finger braking gives you power, control and FEEL no matter how good or bad the brakes are. One finger braking might work when you have $60,000 of front brake and a $2000 front tyre that will be lucky to last 160klms and braking in controlled, known and practiced circumstances but not for the real world. In the real world, on the street, always use more finger than you think you need so you have power, control and feel, and a reserve for the unexpected.
