This may be mechanical advice, or it may be riding skills advice. Either one is welcome.

While practicing quick stops on the range, I find that the rear brake can lock/skid fairly easily if I brake on it hard... as is likely to happen in a real panic stop. While my skills are usually the first thing I'd blame, I never skid the front at all even in a panic stop, just the rear and very easily.

I'd like for this not to happen, but it does seem that the rear brake is perhaps overly sensitive. My thoughts are these three options, maybe y'all have some advice?

* Get lower-grip brake pads for the rear.

* Adjust the rear brake linkage to be less tight.

* It's not the bike at all, keep practicing.

My bike is a 2008 XL883L. The brake pads are still in good condition with 10k miles. I presume the pads are HD brand as I bought the bike at a dealership.

 

It's not the bike at all, keep practicing

 

+1 - You need more Parking Lot practice.
When you brake, most of the weight of the bike is transferred to the front wheel, leaving the rear with less load and easier to skid. ~75% of your stopping power comes from the front wheel.

 

Never use only one brake for stopping! That's why there are 2 of them! Listen to these guys..they know what they are talking about. When I first started riding I almost wrecked twice due to relying only on the rear brake. It's doesn't provide the stopping power you need unlike the front brake which has all the stopping power you need.
As far as getting brake pads with less stopping power...ill let you think about that for a while!
Good luck amigo!

 

Well, it's always good to get a second opinion (and a third, fourth, fifth, ... I wasn't expecting that much). Now that I know it's not something like my brakes being overly touchy, I can focus on MYSELF as the real cause and just practice more and smarter.

Thanks again, guys. I do appreciate it

 

I usually just rest my foot on the rear brake. I hammer the front brake all the time and never had a problem. Yes, the back will let you fishtail if you rely on it too much.

 

All good points aleady posted...........

 

My tips,,

When you first begin to stop,,go for both brakes
and keep squeezing the front on down.

The back, practice using only your foot muscles, below the ankle.
"Thats straight from a motor officer for all you who think I'm full of It"

You should feel the back start to pull when you first apply It.
The trick Is to remember that as the weight transfers to the front
your foot needs to ease off,,,
Just like trail braking.

Also start every ride with a few braking drills right after you leave home
when the tires are still cold.
With cold tires the rear locks up even easier and that can be a trainning
aid In Itself.
Do two or three In the Hood at 25 mph.
Then with no cagers behind you do one or two at 45 mph on the
secondary roads.

BTW I do braking drills at the start of every ride,,still do and always will.
Only takes a few minutes.

Most Important !
Practice stopping at the speeds you ride at !!!
If your gonna do 75 on the superslab,,,
You damn shure better do braking drills at that speed.

If any of the "Old Pro's" tell you I am full of crap about Hi-speed braking drills
well then you go right ahead and listen to them, they prolly know more than I do.

If you go this route,,you best stay in the right lane so you can take the grass.

Be safe XD

 

well i've pretty much been in motorsports (but not bikes) for years. and have done some serious data loggin and analysin and experimenting.
so i'm still on the learning curve on motorcycle braking but here's are a few things i've found out.

first; rear brake, you right should act like it's on an egg (ok can't be polite anymore; you should press the rear brake like your slowly crushing the ***** of your boss, landlord or taxman. (oh that was some relief). slow but sure. let the pain soak in. then when you feel it dip just slowly move it out. not too fast not slow, just slow.

now the front brake;
the faster you go the harder it'll lock (yes weight transfer) pull it (fast, but not too fast), equate your rear brake pressure (can't explain that too complicated)
then listen to the feedback the front tire gives, you'll almost feel when it'll lock then slowly pull back the trigger. calm down. and put the gun down.
you should've stopped by now. calm and easy.

(that was not anywhere near scientific was it?)

and whatever rosco oops osco is sayin is true. he's definitely the man.


p.s: i just locked my rear for about 478 milliseconds (hey i measured it) because of a left turner guy. sometimes in case of danger, science don't work. experience and practice do.
amen (what?)

 

This just means that you probably got your info from an *******. I was recently ticketed by a motor officer for riding with a permit and not being accompanied by a licenced motorcyclist, thats strange you say, well you d be right because thats not a real law. Now not only have i already been held and late for work because of incompetance , i have to take a day off to go to court and explain this officers incompetance to a judge