your method of stopping?
#1
your method of stopping?
(if there is a better place for this post please move it. couldn't find a general motorcycle section.)
I have a friend that absolutely refuses to use his brakes when slowing down for a corner or stopping. He just shifts down until his transmission wont slow him down anymore then uses his brakes. which means his brake light doesn't light up until hes pretty much stopped. the guy won't even tap his brakes. He thinks if he uses his brakes he will have to replace them every year. I had the same pads for 4 years. Probably longer because they came on the bike when i bought it.
Anyway, i am concerned because i have nearly rear ended him several times. I'm also worried that he may get hit by a car one day. Not only that, but it cant be good for the clutch can it?
to me, this seems incredibly stupid to do.
I have a friend that absolutely refuses to use his brakes when slowing down for a corner or stopping. He just shifts down until his transmission wont slow him down anymore then uses his brakes. which means his brake light doesn't light up until hes pretty much stopped. the guy won't even tap his brakes. He thinks if he uses his brakes he will have to replace them every year. I had the same pads for 4 years. Probably longer because they came on the bike when i bought it.
Anyway, i am concerned because i have nearly rear ended him several times. I'm also worried that he may get hit by a car one day. Not only that, but it cant be good for the clutch can it?
to me, this seems incredibly stupid to do.
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
Sounds like you have a friend who really desperately needs to take a MSF course. Personally I'd take a set of worn our brake pads over the cost of bike repairs and medical bills from getting rear ended, not to mention any extra wear in the engine and clutch from solely using engine braking. Honestly it sounds like a dumb kid, not willing to spend the cash on proper maintenance and not concerned in the least with personal safety. About 70% of new riders self taught or taught by friends crash or get wrecked in the first year, as opposed to only 40% that crash who took a msf course.
#3
#4
Sounds like he might get run into eventually. Sometimes, alot of times, cars need to see the brake light especially if they are not really paying attention or fumbling around with their phones. I always keep that in mind and at times when I feel I've stopped or slowed down to quickly with cars coming up on me, I'll hit the brake light a few times to get their attention, hopefully. I dont really waste my pads either, and I'll use the rear only when just puttin around, but I'm sure as h-ll not worried about replacing them every year, it's not that big of an expense to really worry about, especially if you can change them out yourself. But just be carefull riding with him and continue to watch him closely, and remind him that he is just a speck in front of an elderly driver.
#5
when I asked my friend about engine braking he said don't even bother... I asked why and he said...
"Two reasons... one, you can stop much faster with your brakes and people will see you.. two, clutch plates and tranny repairs are much more expensive than brake pads."
Reason #2 makes the most sense to me and people seeing you stop by using your brake light can only be good as well.
Kaz
"Two reasons... one, you can stop much faster with your brakes and people will see you.. two, clutch plates and tranny repairs are much more expensive than brake pads."
Reason #2 makes the most sense to me and people seeing you stop by using your brake light can only be good as well.
Kaz
#6
when I asked my friend about engine braking he said don't even bother... I asked why and he said...
"Two reasons... one, you can stop much faster with your brakes and people will see you.. two, clutch plates and tranny repairs are much more expensive than brake pads."
Reason #2 makes the most sense to me and people seeing you stop by using your brake light can only be good as well.
Kaz
"Two reasons... one, you can stop much faster with your brakes and people will see you.. two, clutch plates and tranny repairs are much more expensive than brake pads."
Reason #2 makes the most sense to me and people seeing you stop by using your brake light can only be good as well.
Kaz
Last edited by 77vetteguy; 05-19-2009 at 02:44 AM.
#7
I'm sure your friend legitimately thinks what he's doing is best, but he's obviously not considering his safety or the risk in relying so heavily on engine braking and he's also not considering how inexpensive and long-lasting brake pads are vs. how expensive tranny/engine repairs are. I'm sure he's thinking he's in the right and not intentionally being stupid, but he's using some pretty poor logic.
MSF course might do him some good. He'd probably show these tendencies in the course and I'd bet an instructor would straighten him right out.
MSF course might do him some good. He'd probably show these tendencies in the course and I'd bet an instructor would straighten him right out.
#8
#9
I'll say this, I always use both brakes when stopping. I also use engine braking slightly. Depends on the situation. Either way if he's going to engine brake heavily only, he should at least cover one of the brake levers to make the brake light come on, for his own good and anyone around him. That's one thing I worry about, especially in traffic in the metro is someone slamming into you from behind. I would also say my friend, that if you've almost rear ended him a few times maybe you should be riding off to the side or in front of him. Have to stay alert.
#10