Nearly kissed a bus today. Stoppie advice?
Fri Mar 11, 2005 4:14 am
2 inches from an accident......On my way to the city (Sydney) today @2:30pm, just merged into the bus lane doing 65kmh or so behind a bus on Falcon st. Neutral Bay, just about to turn into Warringah FWY (bus lane) and then over the harbour bridge.
Next thing I see is smoke out of the rear tyres of the bus, I slam on my breaks, eyeballs get bigger
, back break locks up & I skid to a complete stop only 2 inches from the back of the bus. 
Phew.
Thanks to the Honda rider who pulled up. Yeah I was fine and no marks on the bike. We overtook the bus and saw a stoooopid
white, convertible, BMW cut in & wedged itslef under the bus. Be carefull out there. There are too many idiots cutting into the bus lanes latelly.
I've realised I go too hard on the rear breaks (not enough on front) & skid quite often. Any advice on emergency breaking (& doing stoppies - so I know the limits) on the zzr600?
Next thing I see is smoke out of the rear tyres of the bus, I slam on my breaks, eyeballs get bigger
, back break locks up & I skid to a complete stop only 2 inches from the back of the bus. Phew.
Thanks to the Honda rider who pulled up. Yeah I was fine and no marks on the bike. We overtook the bus and saw a stoooopid
white, convertible, BMW cut in & wedged itslef under the bus. Be carefull out there. There are too many idiots cutting into the bus lanes latelly.
I've realised I go too hard on the rear breaks (not enough on front) & skid quite often. Any advice on emergency breaking (& doing stoppies - so I know the limits) on the zzr600?
re: Nearly kissed a bus today. Stoppie advice?
Fri Mar 11, 2005 7:49 am
Glad you are OK - no advice, sorry but sounds like you handled the situation very well!
re: Nearly kissed a bus today. Stoppie advice?
Mon Mar 14, 2005 10:36 am
WOW ... close call 
As for braking advice, is it too obvious to say, try using less rear brake
and a bit more front 
I usually practice hard braking every couple of weeks or so, braking as hard as possible from different speeds, to the point where the front wheel locks. I find it keeps my braking skills fresh and am better prepared for emergencies.
Just my 2 cents
As for braking advice, is it too obvious to say, try using less rear brake
and a bit more front
I usually practice hard braking every couple of weeks or so, braking as hard as possible from different speeds, to the point where the front wheel locks. I find it keeps my braking skills fresh and am better prepared for emergencies.
Just my 2 cents
Re: re: Nearly kissed a bus today. Stoppie advice?
Mon Mar 14, 2005 1:19 pm
Wannabe wrote:As for braking advice, is it too obvious to say, try using less rear brake
Failing that... go limp.
re: Nearly kissed a bus today. Stoppie advice?
Mon Mar 14, 2005 2:13 pm
well, emergency braking and stoppies are two different things, albeit linked......
firstly get those tyres warmed up.
be wearing gloves (great grip and feel on the levers versus no leather, maybe personal thing?)
if u're going 4 the endo practice, then scoot up on the seat (weight transfer is the key)
grab the lever with ALL your fingers and JAB the hell out of them quickly and FULLY, to get a BITE on those discs!
as soon as it BITES in and she starts to come up in the rear slowly start releasing (practise) to ride it out a bit. obviously we don't practise on public roads where oil and idiots are about! you'll get a few lock ups and sliding, all part of the practice to be able to ride those out (can't always predict all the variables that can screw up a nice ass wheelie)
as for the emergency braking, well, you prolly would like more control and therefore MORE rubber on the ground, therefore scoot back on the seat, and still just go out and practice slamming that front brake on FULLSTOP! don't use any rear brake at all (in the beginning, get used to 100% front brake), then you can add in a bit of rear brake and see what you think/notice of the difference. try adjusting the rear brake pedal angle/height for less/more engagement according to your geometry......
practice
practice
practice!
you must be 100% confident with your braking! do it in turns. on wet. on oil. on KY. etc etc etc
firstly get those tyres warmed up.
be wearing gloves (great grip and feel on the levers versus no leather, maybe personal thing?)
if u're going 4 the endo practice, then scoot up on the seat (weight transfer is the key)
grab the lever with ALL your fingers and JAB the hell out of them quickly and FULLY, to get a BITE on those discs!
as soon as it BITES in and she starts to come up in the rear slowly start releasing (practise) to ride it out a bit. obviously we don't practise on public roads where oil and idiots are about! you'll get a few lock ups and sliding, all part of the practice to be able to ride those out (can't always predict all the variables that can screw up a nice ass wheelie)
as for the emergency braking, well, you prolly would like more control and therefore MORE rubber on the ground, therefore scoot back on the seat, and still just go out and practice slamming that front brake on FULLSTOP! don't use any rear brake at all (in the beginning, get used to 100% front brake), then you can add in a bit of rear brake and see what you think/notice of the difference. try adjusting the rear brake pedal angle/height for less/more engagement according to your geometry......
practice
practice
practice!
you must be 100% confident with your braking! do it in turns. on wet. on oil. on KY. etc etc etc
re: Nearly kissed a bus today. Stoppie advice?
Mon Mar 14, 2005 6:41 pm
hmm get out to the track & practice hard braking in a controlled environment..doin the "intro to raod racing" course a few weeks ago helped me realise how hard i can grab a fist full...failing that, an advanced braking course, failing that, practice in secluded roads that u know well....well done on avoiding the bus tho...