Would be great if you could do a video on using right gears. It seems your motorcycle was mostly on 3 rd gear most of the time, For few including me, I guess that high reving engine sound when going slow is a bit uneasy, especially when coming from hypermiling and riding commuting motorcycles😂
10:45 now that was the golden part of the video, that is what most people do when cornering, me included not too long ago till i finally got a bit of grip on what really was trail braking, but here with that simple demonstration on your bike and the comment "bike says holly crap dude you are not on the brakes anymore" is a connecting dot to understand that when you are out of brakes and just adding gas on the corner then for the bike you are not cornering you are just out of it and going straight, it ties up with the "speed equals radius", out of brakes and increased throttle can send you out of the corner pretty fast, i'll keep that part of the video on my head as permanent lesson X)
I feel like your comments at the start of your uphill front-brake ride were directed specifically at me. And I appreciate that. I really needed this video for clarification of the whole maintaining brake and maintaining throttle.
OK.... wrote the comment above before finishing the video. So I get the zero to 1 or 2 percent front lever to just guard the brake in case you need to brake or stop in the middle of the turn. But now your rear braking in the final trip down the mountain threw me. Your explanation sounds like you are maintaining enough brake pressure (I think you said 5%?) that if you did NOT add throttle as you transitioned to the rear brake, you would slow down. Which is OK, I guess. But I'm still not understanding why you are braking (actually applying rear brake, not just guarding it) and adding maintenance throttle to maintain speed, when you could just guard the rear brake (or front, or both), not apply braking, and use less maintenance throttle, and achieve the same speed. What is the advantage you achieve by actively braking and adding more throttle for maintenance, vs. not actively braking (just guarding), and maintaining the same speed but with less throttle? Agree it is fine (good even) to practice the technique in case of emergency, but absent an emergency, are you achieving some advantage with that technique? Not challenging anyone. Just trying to understand, because I'm obviously missing something.
@@MotoJitsu Roger that. That is what I understood at the beginning of the video, before I watched the whole thing. I think. (?) It just got confusing at the end. Wish I lived close enough to take a class from you.
I just started practicing maintenance throttle and trail breaking on my rides this past month. I feel more confident in the corners than ever before. Thank you for the detail techniques. I’m going to go practice some more today.
As a note, most people don’t know about “open range”, since most cattle crossings have been done away with. You crossed a cattle guard, so riders should expect a cow or two standing in the middle of the road. I cover the front brake on blind corners, to your point in this killer video!
Just competed a 500km ride in the mountains with a completely new kind of bike. My usual bike is a naked sports tourer, while the bike I rode is an adv. For the first few corners i was nervous with the new bike and its ergonomics, but i kept remembering all the staff i have learnt from your videos. The body positioning, looking far ahead and scanning the road, applying smooth breaks and throttle, doing a little bit of trail breaking and all other stuffs you have been teaching us. Within no time i became confident with the bike, and started enjoying the corners. I was scraping the footpegs just after an hour of riding with the new bike in the twisties. It was a multi day ride, so after each day, i would come back to your videos and identify what i could have done better. Appricieate all the hard work you do. Because of educators like you, we get to learn something which we can enjoy as well as saves our lives. Being from a country where we do not have proper motorcycle courses for everybody ( I am from India and over here the very few motorcycle training schools we have are pretty expensive and not for everyone), your content will help beginner riders like us to be more safer on the roads! Thanks again for all this! ❤️
I been watching your video’s for a about 3 weeks now and I have learned more about counter steering ,trail breaking and line selection then I have from 4 years of riding including both my Australian standard learners and previsional riding courses. Keep up the good work mate 👍 saving lives and you don’t even know it
Great to hear instruction on rear brake usage, often overlooked, I find it useful for small input subtle speed control often in preference to the front, which can upset stability if overused. I have found it surprising that some ignore it almost completely.
I just started riding last fall. Only got a couple good weeks before a dump of snow hit. But I had all the gear before riding. Starting on a nice small 125cc to get decent and comfortable. Then most likely get an ADV. Your videos have given a lot of insight on various things to work on and practice. Planning to take a couple courses next year because our M endorsement takes 3-4 years to get here. Kudos!
@@mencibenci I'm not the OP but just my input: I'm on a Honda CG 125, which is a perfect little commuter. I've been riding it just over a year now, and am getting reeady to do my full license so i can graduate to a 600. 125s are great for learning the fundamentals and falling in love with riding.
@@mencibenciI've started riding 125 not so long ago after three weeks it was just not enough power and size was ridiculously Small but I feel very confident on it at least
Great video, Thing about the 1250 I find is the engine compression when I roll off the throttle really slows the bike. I need to remember to always activate the brake light just to warn the cars behind me as I'm slowing quickly without applying the brakes.
sounds like a good way to change brake discs and pads 3 times as often with no real benefit, i will definitly take my time to learn thid technique but i dont think its something i will be using
ah nice! you are from San Diego as well. I am a beginner rider as well and your channel popped out from my feed trying to look for basic tips on how to ride a moto. Thank you for giving this helpful advice/tips and instructional videos to new riders like us.
Great videos thanks. FYI my advanced riding instructor here in London UK is an ex Police Bike rider, and he recommends your channel , he thinks you're great!
Great videos still! Been watching you for 2 years and I'm finally getting motorcycle lessons tomorrow!! I'll be ahead for sure (also since I drive a moped for 2 years now)
This video was so timely for me! I've been riding for about 4 months now, and I just recently remembered that I have a rear brake. I was really only using it for stopping and starting on hills. Therefore, a lot of my twisty road cornering has been choppy trying to only use the throttle and front brakes. I'm looking forward to trying your blended front and rear braking this weekend. BTW, your gloves look awesome!!!
So grateful for your time putting these vids together - thanks. Love the way you are able to explain trail braking so clearly & concisely. This vid is brilliant also coz you do the comparisons whilst talking us through it. Got to admit my cornering has been a bit random up to now but watching your other vids is really helping. I've always lacked confidence in turns - now I know why! Thanks again.
New subscriber here, i watched all your videos. I learned a lot from you from brakes to cornering. You saved me man👍 more vids to come. From philipines.
For round-town riding, i primarily use the rear break in most cases. I find tapping on the rear brake naturally loads up the front as it pulls the front down .. from behind and i don't even need to grab a whole heap of a front brake for confidence in front grip. it just feels natural doing this. Riding fast, I always use both, always starting with a slight tap on the back and then figuring out the required trial-breaking method into the Cnr following through .. In European "Roundabouts" slight dragging the rear brake on easy throttle with no front breaking settles the bike making it feel stable.
I learn so much from your videos, thank you. So let me see if I understand, because I’m a bit confused on this topic: you start by rolling off the throttle completely, then front braking until you’ve achieved your desired speed… then slowly decrease break pressure, and when you get to 0% break pressure you start adding throttle?
There is no doubt in my mind Greg that your videos are the best on youtube. So easy to understand and gives me plenty to think about and practice when on my bike. Thank you👍
Great information even for a long time Rider 😀 I was on a back road that I wasn't familiar with lots of nice curves. Having a lot of fun with the leaning. A sign read "Cattle Crossing" so I slowed down, a lot ; and right in one of the best turns there was a lot of cow Patty. I still slid , plus some thigh slapping , but had I been going as fast as I formally was not only would I went down but also would of had a lot of cow poop all over me !
I understood the differences between when and how ro use front only vs resr only, however what are the pros and cons of the last tecnique over the front only
Clear explanation as always! I have an issue with trail braking on bends/corners or motorcycle braking in general. When I want to brake or trail brake example on a 6% downhill with bends, as much as I want to trail brake, by the time I let go of my throttle to get into my front brake, the bike has already slowed down enough for me to need to brake (around 10mph or more slower than approaching speed). Only way, I could trail brake without engine braking taking the actual brake's job is if I use the clutch. I really do not want to do it this way specially on bends or corners. I understand that there should also be no overlapping of throttle and brake as well. What shall I do to make more effective use of the brake without the engine braking getting in the way?
Like Eddie said,it's all about pace. Meaning ur pace determines which technique or tool u use to make a corner. So if engine braking is slowing u down enough to take a corner , then u don't need to trail brake. You saw his rides here with no brake, only front brake and then only rear brake. If u want to trail brake ,u will have to go faster than ur usual pace. Hope that helps. Even tho belated.
What I don't like about the MSF basic course is they don't teach trail braking, only in the advance class. A common mistake for new riders is running wide in corners and knowing to brake while the bike is leaning is a great skill for safty.
Friend, this explanation is outstanding! My respect from sanctioned Russia). Please, keep on doing what u do. By the way, not sure that i understand it completely, u r switching from the front brakes to the rear when adding throttle just to keep the power stable? Or not to overheat the breaks? Or there is some other reason i did not get? I mean, why is it better than using just a bit of the front brakes all the time?
I like the term "maintenance throttle" as you say, for use when turning the bike. I use a similar technique when manoeuvring the bike very slowly, like when doing U-turns or getting the bike to the right pump at a gas station. The idea behind it is as the engine is rotating faster than it would normally at idle the increased speed of the rotating mass of the engine acts as a gyroscope and greatly improves the handling & stability of the bike at very low speeds. It can be tricky to coordinate the throttle & clutch with the back brake while turning the bike at very slow speeds but a think a top tip for beginners!
once you got off the bike, I was trying to listen, but the bike took all of the attention... whatever the subject of the video is, an even though I have have heard the message a couple of times before from your past videos, watching it is a must, and I'm just hoping you do enjoy that bike the same as I do. 2020 exclusive with golden rims is probably the best looking GS to the date, happy that I got one myself as well, and don't care if bumblebee came with heated seats :)
Tip! Be aware of brake and tire thermals. For some of those people whom like to go to the limit and ride hard, Some times the tires and brakes can "Fade" yes tires can as well "Fade" giving a bit of traction difficulties. This is rare, but remember to take a moment to cool down and rest a bit 🙃
With maintenance throttle just maintaining your speed, wouldn't it be better to use good throttle control to gently add throttle and accelerate to shift that weight onto the rear tyre for the larger contact patch and the improved grip? Another informational guide named 'A twist of the wrist 2' taught me that technique, but seems to contradict what is spoken about here.
no rear brake should be or is needed at higher speeds while trailing through cornering only front is needed with the use of throttle as back wheel cant turn to get to the fun part of drifting ??
Nice video as usual, but I wish you would have mentioned "engine break", you are riding a GS Boxter engine like mine, plenty of engine break there, someone riding with a different engine will not have nearly the engine break power you enjoy. (my neighbor who raced for Yamaha pointed this out to me, he both the GS and the S 1000 RR and tells me the diff is huge.
A bit off subject, maybe. Suppose someone pulls out in front of you and your running 60 mph. You realize you cannot break in time. With or while the front suspension is loading, could you also swerve to miss the car ?
At legal street speeds, I feel like trail braking at every corner is not necessary, like you showed. Those speed limits at curves are likely designed for cars and speed limit for the curve plus 10mph is probably not a big deal for a motorcycle which corners much better than a car. Rolling off of the throttle is more than enough to slow down a bike in every day riding. If you add trail breaking, then you are slowing down too much in my opinion. Trail breaking would allow you to only enter those corners faster and at that point you are likely breaking the speed limit by a lot. I find trail braking downhill to be useful as well. What's crucial, in my opinion, is to hover your two fingers over the front brake in corners, in suburbs and intersections and know how to break without crashing. Modulating the front break as needed in every situation is key. I think you preach to that as well.
what's necessary and what you can practice are usually two very different things. Maybe only rolling off the gas is enough at a slower pace...but not at quicker speeds and it sets you up for failure if there's something unexpected around one of those blind turns.
Running at about 35-40 mp/h (or 55-60 kmp/h) before approaching corners, I do not think trail braking would have an impact. Or it does? I always survived going back and forth to and from mountains via zigzag roads, and not do trail-braking. I only do Braking/Slowing before corners, Leaning a Bit and Throttle Off, then immediately Throttle On again before and through Apex until Exiting. Is my process flawed?
Fantastic video! So trail braking keeps the bike suspension partially "loaded?" I like the trailing front brake going into the turn (when you may need more braking) and rear brake trailing exiting the turn. Never thought about trailing the rear brake.
I'm not telling anyone to do anything and ABS doesn't matter...all depends on how you use the brake and if you don't know how to use the rear brake, you'll say things like you said.
What are you talking about!? The controls are on the bikes for a reason. Anyone without proper skill and technique could turn anything on a motorcycle into disaster: turn the handlebars too quickly; disaster, dump the clutch too fast; disaster, chop the throttle; disaster. Should beginner riders not use their handlebars, clutch or throttle either??
@@DR4WZ because using the rear brake in a corner is totally unnecessary at the beginner level and could easily lead to a crash from lack of foot dexterity and brake feel with riding boots. Ive seen a lot of beginners crash from using the rear brake specifically. Ive been riding sport bikes for 20 years and dirtbikes for 40 big guy.
@@humzilla707 I'm sorry you weren't able to develop within such a great amount of time little guy. My point remains. For someone that doesn't understand moderation, any sudden use, or overuse, of any control can lead to crash. I would argue that beginners SHOULD learn to use and understand their rear brakes early, otherwise it will take that much longer to incorporate. My wife is a beginner and I'm teaching her rear brake. She immediately recognized how much control it gave her. The rear brake is there to be used. Maybe the manufacturers shouldn't include the rear brake until after you've passed some type of dexterity test, huh? Sounds ridiculous, doesn't it?
@@DR4WZ I specifically said rear brake in a corner which is nearly useless. Not surprised by your attitude, I have help people like you off the road all the time.
Sorry , Am I missing something? How do you not stall on 3rd gear without front brake and releasing throttle at 30kmh? Is there a setting on your bike? Any tip? I'm on a z900 and would downshift to 2 nd gear but guess it could be dangerous?
Hi MotoJitsu I‘ve got a question regarding breaking: If I need to break in an emergency, do I need to pull the clutch simultaneously? If so, why it’s so important??? Or is it better TO NOT PULL THE CLUTCH while breaking? Thanks in advance for Your reply Greetings from Switzerland 🇨🇭
If u intend to come to a complete stop then u had better pull in d clutch or the bike will stall. But for a quick slow down before u swerve or continue on ur way, I don't think u need to pull in d clutch.
So why complete turn with rear over front? Apart from easier to maintain throttle delegating brakes to foot? Assume you are still covering front? Totally confused as like you i only use rear at lights.
@@MotoJitsu The rear contact patch is larger than the front patch, ofc as you are braking into the corner you should not use very much rear brake, as all the load is in the front, but as you crack open the throttle your rear tire actually has just about as much grip as your front, so a bit of rear brake can help stabilize the and improve traction on corner exit. Thats what i was told at least, makes sense to me.
What actually works in practice is very different in theories....none of that actually really matters, did you go out and measure the size of the tires while braking somehow and determine the grip for the every pace? People are full of thoughts and ideas but don't have the experiential knowledge.
Im just starting to learn motorcycle (mostly inside city). I was told by a friend to only use the Front Brake only when Im going in a straight line with the handlebar straight or squared. In your case, you are using the Front Brake when and whilst making a TURN on the curve. So now I am so confused.
I dont know how to say this, but I survived 30km roads (back and forth from hills with lots of turns) not touching the front brake, (because Im afraid of it). I have survived it using only the rear break, but not fast, only slow on turns and curves. Maybe you should also create videos on the proper way of doing this (only rear brake because it is also achievable). You should also understand that not all people is confident enough to touch the front brake on turns and curves (racers thing). Just my opinion.
i follow your corner techniques in this clip, but the thing that annoys me is when the rider behind me tells me im braking too much / all the time. What would be the best thing to say back to them? I do have a big bike (Indian vintage 2021), and im generally a tad slower than others around corners, but for the most I keep up quite comfortably and I do my own ride. It seems to me if you break in corners, other riders think you are riding wrong hmmmmmmmmmm???
Question. Do you maintain rear brake pressure from the time you slow down until you exit the corner? Or do you transfer from the front to the rear brake if you need to bleed off more speed thru the corner
Sometimes I do…but most of the time (depending on the pace) it’s mostly front. But other times at a slower speed for fun and to practice, I only use the rear.
Why the transition from front to rear brake mid corner? What does that do for me? I understand that using the fronts to trailbrake into the corner slow me down enough to make the turn and also since I’m covering the front brake I can react to situations mid corner without grabbing a handful of brake. I also understand in tight corners, like figure 8’s the rear brake can help keep the bike more stable, is that what the point is here in this example when you’re switching to the rear brakes? Or is it just an exercise to get better doing whatever you want to do?
What happens when the front ABS engages while the bike is leaned fully over ? I am guessing that at least one budding trail braking learner has pushed it a bit too hard and already knows the answer. And, I would rather learn from their experience than my own.
Personally I can't think of any way too use the clutch to slow down or stop other than downshifting, even then, you're using the clutch to downshift and using the downshift to slow down.That would make slowing down take longer or even result in picking up speed, as the load on the wheel from the engine that normally slows you down without throttle input is no longer on the tire.
Greg, isn't it preferable to be trail breaking with the front break to get slightly bigger contact patch on front tyre and also "level off" the suspension front to back ??
@@MotoJitsu I'm a street rider, I don't look for blistering pace but just to keep a steady pace inside the legal road limit, so for example in a 60mph zone I want to keep an average 50mph, of course varying it for the corners but keeping the "average" up. Does that make sense 😏 I'm still learning but find the front break gives me the best control when not going hard n fast but maintaining speed ?!
