Braking on a motorcycle is a simple process, but it can be dangerous if done incorrectly. Like most things, there are plenty of people who believe one method is right, while others believe another method is correct. Of course, only one method is the safest and best way to brake on a motorcycle. Motorcycles have two brakes – a front and a rear.
The simple answer for braking on a motorcycle is to use both brakes simultaneously and slowly add pressure until the bike comes to a stop or slows down to the desired speed. It is possible to only use the rear brake, but that lowers a rider’s knowledge of how the front brake works. Therefore, simply using both brakes is the best idea. Hitting either brake too hard can be extremely dangerous. With too much pressure on the front brake, the bike could end up flipping forward, which can result in death. The opposite happens with too much pressure on the rear brake – the bike can flip backwards. It takes a good balance between the pressure on both brakes in order to slow smoothly and come to a smooth stop. Also, the front brake is the true decider of how soon the bike stops. It holds the majority of the stopping power compared to the rear brake.
Different conditions and situations affect how braking should be handled on a motorcycle. When rounding a corner, the brakes should be applied prior to actually turning. A rider is more likely to lose traction and have the bike slide off the road when braking through a turn. On a hill, the front brake should be applied slowly, but the left one can be pressed a little bit harder than the front. This compensates for the motorcycle’s downward momentum. Under problematic conditions, such as rain or snow, a single brake should never be applied without the other one being used. The chance of a deadly flipping or sliding crash is more than double when braking improperly in hazardous road conditions.
It’s a simple procedure to brake on a motorcycle and the process doesn’t change too much when the conditions on the roads are different. Both brakes should be used at all times because applying only a single brake results in less stopping power and a higher likelihood of an accident. Although some people will always say that it’s okay just to use one brake or the other, but this is not the case. It’s never okay to use one brake rather than using both.
