The Always, Onlys and Nevers of Motorcycle Riding 

I love your videos where you cover such topics! I'm from India and the past 11 years i had been riding a 125cc proper commuter bike from Suzuki. But it was only recently that i started loving riding motorcycles. I thought i had gotten good at riding, so i decided to buy a 250cc bike. Again from Suzuki, a Gixxer sf250 made specifically for countries like ours. The power it puts out is pretty low by Western standards but its pretty decent (or more than enough in my case) for Indian roads, especially the state where I'm living in where its full of twists and turns. So the bike happens to be a sports tourer, the riding posture isn't that aggressive but still its very new to me. I can't help but find myself lean my bike around corners (something which i rarely used to do on my previous commuter motorcycle), the ergonomics of this bike just encourages me to lean. Now i get it why sports bikes are designed the way they are. There is so much more to learn about motorcycles, how each design serves a purpose or evoke a particular emotion. Your videos have helped me get a better understanding on the logic that involves when cornering a bike, I've been learning some of the points you mentioned intuitively but your points have given me much more clarity on it.

Rybo's 12 year old son once told me "Don't surprise the bike!" ... mature words from a 12 year old!

Your and YCRS are my two favorite and most learned sources of riding info. It amazes me how few riders spend the time to actually learn how to ride better, safer, faster. Coaching and instruction is the most valuable part of your riding experience. Thanks for all you do to make this a better sport.

I’ve used the front brake mid turn very lightly, I was told by other riders to never use the brakes in a turn. I am not a fast rider but it’s a good tool. Thanks for your video.

Great discussion to encourage us all to keep an open mind and keep learning. I like the blend of race track to parking lot topics, it’s all about motorcycle control no matter where you’re riding.

I've always ridden with 2 fingers on the clutch and 2 on the brake. A hold out from my dirt bike days I guess. Never did me wrong.

I love your videos. I started watching your channel when I decided I was going to buy my first motorcycle, I’ve learned so much. Trail braking has helped me in corners, I feel a lot more confident and in control when cornering.

@6:00 there’s a pretty popular ‘coach’ who I’ve seen speak on RU-vid and to crowds of folks who teaches this-I disagree with about 90% of what he teaches and I hope this was directed at him 😂

I have been riding 36 years and I am an average rider doing about 50 000 miles since 1983 without crashing once. As a rule I have always changed my front sprocket 1 tooth up. Why? Because the joy of riding rather than more power has always outstaged what my bike could do and what I was capable of. O do not get it when guys buy a 750 and expect 1000 performance. Being out in the open experiencing my 5 senses has always been more meaningful than trying to make my wife a widow. My older brother taught me. You get 2 types of riders. Those always pushing the limits on public roads and the old riders. You seldom get old riders pushing the limits. Choose which one you want to be because those who are both are too few. Great presentation though. I really found great value in your style of presenting. Clip really well put together. Great job thank you! Ride by faith and not by sight. . .

Wow, your videos are so good. They're no doubt the most ready-to use technical motorcycle video i've found un RU-vid.

When I was starting out one of the most frustrating things was trying to find "The" answer to various aspects of riding. As I progressed I realised that context is everything and a time and a place for all things often applies. Great video! The goals approach is a great way of looking at it.

I only “stab” the back brake…when I’m showing off in dirt or gravel. (Don’t tell anybody!)

New rider here, about 800 miles on the bike I just want to say I’m glad I stumbled upon your channel I’ve been implementing the skills you’ve been talking about. My favorite one so far being to keep my two fingers always ready on the front brake at all times It has been a good habit to have Thank you for your experience !

Finally someone else that understands that there are no absolutes on a bike. As a rider of 41 years, racing RD350lc's and powervalves in the 80s, and 15 of them as a motorcycle instructor in the UK, I've been telling my students these things for years. I've always 'feathered' my brakes in corners if they are needed, but if they are needed then it was my fault for not reading the road correctly. At our school we also teach the students about tyre profiles when it comes to steering and cornering. The body language you get from a student when you introduce them to using their feet as well as countersteering is amazing to watch lol. I've even held the bike on the tyre limit to show students just how low a bike will lean, which on most bikes is approx 60 degrees, but if you need that on the road then you've screwed up somewhere on entry lol. As to cornering lines on the road I would point everyone in the direction of the UK's Police Riders Hand Book. This is used in RoSPA and IAM training, both of which are advanced levels of riding. The RoSPA Gold level is the basic level a police rider in the UK needs to be before they let them on the road. Brilliant video my friend!

Nice talk, as usual, but I disagree on one issue. Counter-steering is effectively the ONLY way to turn a bike. Weighting the inside peg will do nothing (*). It only serves the purpose of making riders feel confortable with what they’re doing by fooling themselves. On generic terms, a center of mass can only change its velocity (it’s a vector, so, it has a direction which can change too) if an external force is applied. Aside from “wind”, there are only two external forces acting on a motorcycle, which are the reaction forces of the tarmac acting on the tyres contact patches. Nothing else can change the center of mass velocity direction, or, if you prefer, the center of mass position on the bike/rider’s reference. You can lean the bike more by applying more of your weight on the inside peg, but by doing that without changing the external forces, the rider’s body will shift to the opposite side by such an amount that the center of mass of the bike/rider set will remain in the exact same position. And keep in mind that the trajectory of the bike is dictated by the angle of the center of mass of the set bike/rider with respect to the tyre contact patches. Internal forces will do nothing for you. (*) might need some further clarification…..

"Never push the throttle against the front brake" I do think that depends. Unless you mean acceleration and braking simultaneously, then I absolutely agree. I do press lightly on the front brake around blind corners with a steady throttle, since it reduces perception time should something pop up out of nowhere. The amount of braking is very small, almost insignificant, so, maybe that doesn't count.

I've been a victim of the 'nevers,' specifically 'never touch the brake in a corner. The emphasis placed on smooth riding, both here and on other channels, is much appreciated. I could have used in my younger days, when I thought 'late braking' was all about diving deep into a corner and then jabbing the brake. Smooth riding is safer, faster and just more pleasant.

I agree with everything you said in this video. Smooth progressive inputs make perfect sense to me. I try to take care that I have the speed roughly right coming into the corner, positioning to the left of the road (UK) for right handers and more towards the centre of the lane for left handers, and follow the limit point through the bend, using small throttle adjustments. Rolling on throttle, and bringing the bike upright as the limit point widens out, I try to accelerate smoothly out of the bend. My bike has lean angle ABS, so if I need to brake in the corner there is some safety net there. When I have had to brake mid corner, the bike has shown a tendency to 'stand up', so if you're sneaking in a little two finger action, mid corner it can unsettle the bike if too extreme.

What kept going through my head when I took a turn too fast off the highway was, "Never use the brakes in a turn!" Six broken ribs and shoulder later, I wish that poor advice hadn't been drilled into my head and I had known better.

I felt your sincerity really come through on this one at the end. Ride well brother.

Great advice as usual. One of if the scariest feeling on track was accidentally leaving the throttle partially open while getting on the brakes.

Loved the video, loved Ducati as example... keep it honest, very cool!

Always replace the paper towels... Never leave the empty roll...

I very respectfully disagree with the brake throttle never overlaping. Maybe on the track where you can clearly see your radius and exit but, IMHO, on unknown mountain roads full of blind curves, maintenance throttle along with maintenance front brake provides wanted tension throughout the drivetrain so nothing upsets suspension. Then smooth modulation of the front brake provides adequate variable for the turn. What if it's a long sweeping blind turn and your satisfied with your speed and release the front brake only to find you have to re-administer it if the turn tightens up, or a deer jumps out. Isn't it best to have that pad bedded lightly to the rotor and your fingers 1/3 lever in when bambi jumps out? I worded this matter of factly but I am asking, because discovering this was one of my biggest breakthroughs. I would agree, however, that as one is lightly increased the other should be lightly decreased

if you remember my comments in a previous video you know I love this one: Plastic Brain! key of life

I ALWAYS prefer Continental Tires.

This is exactly what I was thinking about before you uploaded it 👍🏼 Thank you 💯 can you reiterate one for track riding when you into that intermediate class pushing pace into the race class?

Never touch the front brake while doing a u-turn :(

Good info. There's one use of throttle and front brake I'd like to get advice on before I'm ready to accept it as an absolute. Freeway offramp, in traffic. I want to slow down from moderately high speed gradually, and signal to vehicles behind. Sometimes I use rear brake, but I find I have more finesse on the front brake (I can more accurately feel where ~5% is, just enough to light up the brake light). If I completely close the throttle and use engine braking, I slow too much and am risking being rear-ended because of no brake light. Sometimes I find it's better to roll off the throttle and begin to front brake slightly, but leave the throttle open just a bit, to maintain momentum but begin slowing. Then if I completely need to stop once I've exited or get back on the gas if the light is green I can transition to either. This is one example of a situation that's hard to describe, and it may be particular to my 300cc bike, but I'd be open to discussing better alternatives.

Great content. Thank you. I have two question here. 1. Can I apply maintenance throttle while on front break while on corner to maintain the speed? 2. And do I need to hold the counter steer on the corner even if the corner is wide, long sweep or counter steer 1st then release the pressure to allow bike to turn naturally (Saw pictures of bike on the corner and tires were facing the direction of the turn so got confused. Counter steer is the only major way to lean that I know but what next after the lean? should I keep on holding that counter steer pressure? Won't It keeps on leaning the bike?) A quick reply would be very helpful.

Here's a never for you: Never grab the front brake while making a slow speed turn. You will dump your bike for sure.

Thank you again for this amazing eye opener! It's a very welcome addition to get the rigidity about the "rules of motorcycle riding" out of our heads and system. After viewing one of your other videos I applied your words to my actions, and to my great relief cornering my motorcycle ( H-D Electra Glide CVO, 440 kgs dry) went way better than I was used to! So, in short, after doing those "do's & don'ts" you mentioned for 40+ years, I've been going over to your " school of riding" and the new views. It's good to keep on questioning what is right and wrong, and by doing so, bettering yourself all the time. Thanks again and greetings from The Netherlands!👏👏😎😎🇳🇱🇳🇱

I always assumed the reason the front brake was put with the throttle because you aren't supposed to use them at the same time.

And then there is another truth: I'm discovering day by day, that my bike is not perfect every time (just think to tire pressure), or the freeking road is NOT perfect every time (it's bumpy or deformed or slippery or wet or dirty) and me, I'm not perfect every time (tired, not 100% focussed and such) and the conditions are not perfect every time (weather, traffic and so on). So yes there is the theory and then there is the reality, that very moment I when you have to drive through a corner... Consider that your decision, well my decision, is or can be affected and ruined by all said "not perfect" things.. so add a buffer. Because you may think "the limit is somewhere there", instead it could be very near.. and you can reach it quicker than you thought. Yes, sure, it's not always 100% your fault, or my fault! It's the awful road pavement, or the dirt, or the other car, or this or that.. sure I get it... But the bike is 100% yours, the body is 100% yours, so do not question it... Just think to avoid unnecessary dangers.. you owe that to you and to your bike.

People dont realize how smooth you need to be until you start hitting the limits of group on the track or when riding in the wet. 1mm of throttle on cold tires in the wet or on the limit can high side you on a big bike.

Yeah, I've definitely dragged stock pegs on an RC390 😅

Excellent video. Thanks

Your paper towels look a bit low... Like completely low. But not distracting enough to get your point. Great discussion. Always,... Never? More like generalizations. But in General always be smooth on the bike. But never in an emergency!

Good video. Now don't think of all of this once while riding! haha

Great review. Thanks for your consice PRESENTATION

Finesse. I've found that it helps a lot to have a nice comfy pair of gloves. Some gloves, you can't feel anything. No feedback for those small decimal points of control. Winter riding compounds the problems as your fingers can get a bit numb. So you have to back off, right? Anyway, I've tried different gloves and my favourite were Nankai. Hard to get now.

It's not only surprising but sad that these myths still exist. Sadder still is the fact that a majority of motorcycle riders really don't have a damn clue how to actually ride.

Nice to see a sensible video with good and reasonable advice. Very helpful to many, thank you.

I'd say one absolute on a bike is not to be abrupt. You touch on that with the brakes and throttle, but applies to most of motorcycling. You don't want to be abrupt with the controls, weight transfer, direction changes...etc. Your examples and explanations are great....there are not many hard and fast rules. We've all heard that "smooth is fast", but smooth is also safer.

The 2 most absolutest statements I can think of are still not 100% absolute: 1. never yank on the brakes…unless you are trying to skid slide and drift 2. Never use the front brake and throttle at the same time…unless during downshift revmatching and burnouts

No one taught me how to ride, other than my dad jumping out in front of me when I was 12 making sure I could brake. He was an idiot. I ride a 145 hp, 650 lb wet weight bike at high speed on unfamiliar back roads. That means decreasing radius turns are common. And fun (or the end of your day). I STRONGLY suggest all motorcyclists find the nearest gravel road. With curves. Ride it slowly at first only using gentle inputs on all controls. Go slowly. Then, gradually test the limits of grip (this works best with a beater bike, but if you learn to recognize what loss of grip feels like, you’ll be fine). Either way, if/when you fall, physics gives you the lessons you need. Then, and only then, use what you learned when street riding. You will have learned what it feels like when you are on the bleeding edge of traction, and know what to do to not get that close again. As an added benefit, knowing all that, you can become VERY fast on road courses. I didn’t go that direction, and never ride over 9/10ths. Be safe out there!

Not disputing, but anecdotally, and iirc, Troy Corser would hit the brakes and the gas in the corners on the early Aprilia RSV to get enough stiffness from the bike.

Critical points mentioned with the right conflicting points. YCRS snippets trickled down, definitely makes the one that much safer. Thank you Dave.

"Never push the throttle against the front brake." I wouldn't be surprised if that is why they are both controlled with almost opposite inputs of the right hand. You roll your hand back to throttle up, and you roll your hand forward to reach the front brake.

As usual excellent tips, thanks for that

My own most important "never say never" applies to handling yellow lights. "Never blow through them"?? What about the fuel tanker that was barreling down on me from behind when I hadn't checked my mirrors just before a light turned yellow, but I decided I was in too much of a hurry to stop (which I usually would have)? On the other hand, "Always blow through a yellow light"?? What if you live in T-Bone City? Or Nazi Cop Town?

ALWAYS: Enjoy the ride NEVER: Get in a accident ONLY: Use 93 (octane fuel)

the limit of lean of the bike and rider together (CG of total mass) is 45° on a curve. Unless your tires can grip with more than 1g, at 45° the force holding you down on the asphalt and the centripetal force trying to slide your bike sideways are equal. You go any faster you slide out, like a roofer trying to stand on a steep roof with street shoes. Most sport and racing bikes will lean more than 45° without scraping the frame or pegs and you can get in trouble fast. The problem is nothing scrapes so you get NO warning that you have passed 45° and are about to lose it. Leaning your body weight inside the turn keeps the bike more upright, and keeps IT from hitting more than 45°, but it also side loads your tires more (the wheels are no longer vertical with the center of force on them) and if you have spokes you are side loading the spokes - not good. Cruiser bikes by their design will scrape the floorboards or pegs or frame well before reaching 45° lean. If they take a corner too fast leaning your body weight into the curve might allow you to stay on the road, or in your lane, without scraping the frame and sliding out... but if you are taking corners that fast on a cruiser bike sooner or later you will side out, or hit something in your lane because you are riding beyond the limit of your vision in the curves.

Yeah that's right , like nothing in excess , dust, sand, leaves , oil, anything can change, try to keep the speed limit guys , don't trust nobody .

How else do you tell the “basics” to new riders? 😁 We need to keep it simple when learning. Of course this isn’t advises for advanced track riders.

I don't really like how you say that we tell the bike to do something. You don't send any messages to the bike. You directly control everything and the bike doesn't listen to anything. Basically, you are a part of the machine. All those nevers have exceptions and everything depends entirely on the rider and on his judgment of the relevant situation.

When braking i see some peeps doing the two finger brake but then also roll the throttle for the downshift (clutching of course). Ive always had trouble with the quick throttle roll while simultaneously two finger braking which makes me stab the front brake a little. I just gave up trying to do it and do one at a time (or not blip at all and just make sure my speed is down low enough to not freak my downshifting rear out). This is for street riding not track. Is that fine? Should i be dragging my rear brake at all? Or is that too much strain on the rear with the downshifts and most the brake pressure already being on the front? (I just mean at the point of braking and downshifting - otherwise i try and use both brakes whenever i can)

Leaning doesn't turn your bike, using the handlebars does, yep, use countersteering

Sexy lighting and wallpaper music, eh? The dream is over.

My Advice is that what ever you do be sure that what are you doing is Right and perfect, never do something that you are not sure about it .

If you go easy yiu can brake in a turn, i do it all the time, especialy in twisties ive never been in before. And when in doupt, lean thst machine.

Do you think you could line up your torque wrenchs please. So annoying 😂.

about braking, always brake graduatly, touch your rear brake when front brake is not enough and you are good to go. Also think a head.

Always use brakes before if run in bend light unless you grab your fine motorcycles are clever and now work out for you never lean more than need to that's y such large tread

Thank you, great video and info.

Thank God now because of you can ride 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

front breaks are engineered to be used while cornering and assist your steering and control of the curve by adding traction and shorter steering range what are you talking about

Thank you for these great lessons on riding here in the Philippines especially in the provinces we have to motorcycle track to run on instead we use the streets and so far I have used your techniques on my travels and enjoyed the ride as for the quote I saw in a rider's vest..."It's not the destination but the Ride". Thanks so much guys!

Nice video! Question.. I understand you do not want to combine front brake and throttle. So, if you're trailbraking in a corner and you don't see the exit yet, I normally keep a little bit of break on. But what if I want to maintain speed and need a bit of throttle for that. You say let go of the brakes?

Well said. It's always nice to get confirmation on one's habits and beliefs. Riding for 50 years, vastly improved in the last 4.

Sir more videos pls

Rider becomes one with the machine ~ *Yamaha* philosophy

Excellent as always!

I use the rear break (only) in a corner all the time (not always of course but quite often) . I find it really useful if you realize half way through the corner that you've chosen the wrong line , (which I'm prone to do) .

I just wish more channels were this balanced and encouraged people to think for themselves like on these videos!

I was always a little uneasy about using the front brake while entering or rounding a curve untill I read about trail braking. When trail braking lightly through a turn the motorcycle feels more stable and feels like it wants to go through the turn without being forced too.

Thanks for another informative and helpful video

Rubbish, says more about your riding than others.

I usually don't start breaking until I'm in a corner, lol. Trail braking is my comfort zone. But then again, I used to race professionally.. an easy thing to remember is the brake pressure is an inverse relationship to lean angle. The more you lean the less you brake, the less you lean the more you brake. If you're going to ask me "how much can you break at a given point during a turn?" I'm going to say, go to the track and find out. You won't know the limit until you crash, but you can get very close to the limit without crashing at the track. If you want to be as fast as you can possibly be, then crash. It's how you learn the fastest, lol

Brake and throttle work together only in an AWD car

always wait let me start over. Never always do the thing

I always thought the first brake was the throttle?

Valuable information as usual, thanks so much.

Motorcycling is a constant dance with nuance.

"Finess". The operative word.

Thanks

Pushing the front brake against the Throttle sounds like a pretty Sick Burn out …. Tell me I’m lying 😂😂

Rules?! We don't need no stinking rules!

ALWAYS buy turbo busa as your 1st bike

"Don't use the throttle against the front brake." Wait, then how does trailbraking work? I thought you were SUPPOSED to use the throttle against the front brake to push into the front wheel a bit?

NEVER: Ride your bike on the public road as if you are on a racetrack. JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT!

It's all relative to the given situation.

I’m just here wondering why you have a communist symbol on your shirt

I don't know yet how to ride a sports bike. But I learned how to ride a small displacement bike back when I was at 6th grade. Not familiar with those lean angles and stuffs, but I was doing everything you said subconsciously, except on the part where I could use my front brakes when slowing down on mid-corners because I always thought that it would be risky and the counter-steering part. Well, it just shows that riding a moped, small displacement bikes is different from riding a sports bike. Thank you for the tips.

"Always" follow "all" the laws when riding on public roads. "Only" ride respectively on public roads. "Never" ride on public roads like they are race tracks.

burn out clearly uses gas n front brake

Correct me if I'm wrong but using the throttle and the front brake together would be considered front wheel trail breaking, and don't you normally wanna use front wheel trail braking while cornering? So why do you say never? Or are you saying never use positive throttle while braking?

I completely agree, the "Absolutes Always/ Never do this" are idiotic, all comes down to the situation and the emergency at hand... You can get away with pretty much everything if you are gentle and balanced with the controls.

Another great video. Thx

Love your videos. Can't stop watching them! Thank you! What is your T-shirt?