ok I give up, what's a Trust Fund Trinket sleeper?

Had to laff at "Nazi slot clar" - you paint a picture alright.

Brakes be good to have.  The talk of high-speed cornering does not seem that relevant to braking.  My stock bike can only corner so hard and then it grinds pegs and nuts.

ERO,
That's spell correct killing me.
it was 'Trust Fund Trinket sleeper"

Batman,
Problem is, around here if you leave more than a few feet between you and the car in front of you, someone else cuts in. Just how traffic is in the big city.
As far as stopping distances, the best cars are under 100', the best bikes around 120'. So, it isn't a night and day difference. But enough of a difference to give the advantage to the car in most cases.
My point was, optimize what you have.
I teach Motorcycle Maintenance in NYC, and there is always some hipster with a POS 70's CB Honda with the original brakes in pathetic condition. The goal is to convince them that the whole traffic world stops much faster than they do.

Armen wrote on 08/07/16 at 17:16:16:



Cmon, man.. try ..

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you, JERK!

Armen wrote on 08/07/16 at 19:06:51:


OK.....

The end result of all this could be - if you want/need more front brake......Shawn's brake kit works really well.  It makes the front brake operate as well as most other "performance" bikes that are currently for sale.

If you are happy with the way the stock brake works.....never mind.


I was reading an article written by a Moto GP rider, and he was currently working on his braking - by concentrating on the first 3% of his braking.  He stated that before you can apply full braking....you need to apply the brakes and get the bike to transfer weight onto the front wheel.  You must not instantly grab a handful of front brake....as the weight is not yet on the front wheel and you will just lock up the front wheel.  This is applicable to our riding for the "panic stop" that you might have to make.....you need to apply the brakes gradually (but quickly) and let the weight transfer forward onto the front wheel....as more weight transfers forward you can apply more brake.  This can all take place in a very short amount of time - but you do have to allow the weight to transfer forward.  It is a good idea to practice this braking technique.....so your "muscle memory/instinct" you can access it when you need it!

Bout time got some replies
Very good discussion worthy of SSs members

As your riding becomes more and more aggressive and you brake very hard with the front brake - the rear brake becomes less meaningful, and can even be dangerous.  There are several fellows with road racing experience in the group of old fellows that I go out and eat with - and they tell me that they don't use the rear brake on the race track. Evidently the problem is that with so much weight transferred onto the front wheel during heavy braking - the rear is very easy to lock up.....and when that happens the rear tire will slide out as the rear will try to swing around the front end.....it is far better for them to just use the rear wheel to control the direction of the rear and not use it for the minimal braking it might provide (this style is used on the primitive racing bikes without ABS to help them).

I have not reached that level of riding, and I still use my rear brake in most situations - but I have experienced the issue that the racers and sport bike riders are trying to avoid.  The Honda ST1100 had a very touchy rear brake, and it was too easy to lock up.  Once when I needed to stop quickly I was braking really hard, and the rear locked up and started to swing out the left side.  I had to release the brakes to straighten the bike out, and then get on the brakes again - luckily I had enough room to get slowed down even with the temporary release of the brakes.

It is kind of funny.....we start our riding career by being very careful with the front brake, then as we improve we use both brakes in unison....and for those folks who get to advanced levels and the threshold of maximum braking....they worry about the rear brake!