Motorcycles are the ultimate toys for anyone who loves a vehicle that can go fast and make dominant sounds. Some bikes are so powerful they could outpace your average family sedan.
Do motorcycles brake faster than cars? Generally, motorcycles are light and can stop faster than cars. Even relatively cheap motorbikes are better equipped than many cars in tires, brakes, and suspension.
Many factors determine how fast a motorcycle will stop, including focus and reaction time. It is essential to learn the basics of motorcycle braking and how quickly you can brake on different sections of a road.
How Fast Can a Motorcycle Brake?
Many experienced riders believe so much in the efficiency of their motorcycle brakes that they sometimes tailgate cars. However, trainers often advise riders to keep a safe distance always because some cars can brake faster than a motorcycle.
Braking speed is determined by various factors, including the focus and reaction time of a rider or driver. There are two sides to the argument on whether motorcycles brake faster than cars.
Many riders argue motorcycles are lighter than cars and often feature bigger brakes for their sizes. Therefore, motorcycles can brake faster than a car.
Some drivers believe cars can brake faster than motorcycles because they have wider tires and a significantly larger area of contact with the ground. Both sides of the debate have a point, but it all depends on the type of car or bike.
The Science behind Braking
The lighter an object is, the faster it is likely to brake. For instance, an average sedan can brake faster than an 18-wheeler truck.
Some cars can brake faster than the average motorcycle because of the significantly greater area of contact between the car tires and the ground. In addition, a vehicle has a lower center of gravity than a motorcycle, which facilitates faster braking.
Although a sports bike has two wheels, it shifts most of its weight to the front tires when it brakes hard. Therefore, the area of most contact with the ground during a hard brake is four tires on a car versus one tire on a sports bike.
Some vehicles, including sports cars, are designed to create aerodynamic downforce, which facilitates fast braking. Although science argues that cars can brake faster than motorcycles, the situation is quite different in the real world.
Various factors affect a car’s ability to brake fast, including:
- Number of passengers
- Driver skills
- Technology
- Level of panic
- Luggage load
- Surface traction
These factors give the motorcycle the upper hand when it comes to braking speed.
How to Brake in a Corner When Riding a Motorcycle
When riding a motorcycle, it is always advisable to maintain a safe and reasonable speed. You should be able to stop at a safe distance from the nearest car, object, or road user.
Always reduce the speed when approaching a bend because you never know what could be around the bend. It could be mud, a car, a truck, or an animal, you will never know if it’s safe to accelerate around a bend unless you slow down to check if the path is clear.
Braking While Turning
Braking a motorcycle while turning is a technique that requires practice. It is advisable not to grab the front brakes abruptly while turning because it may affect the handling of the motorcycle.
Be smooth and consistent when pressing the front level to create greater contact between the tires and the ground as the bike moves forward. This technique only works on the tarmac and may not be helpful on ice or mud.
Be careful when braking the motorcycle while turning. It could easily lead to a fall, which may cause injuries.
Motorcycle Braking Tips
Like any other riding technique, braking is a skill that is perfected with practice. Contrary to the common misconception, braking a motorcycle is not as simple as it sounds.
The type of braking technique you will use depends on the situation. The motorcycle braking technique you use during an emergency may be different from the one you use when turning.
Close to a third of riders do nothing when they face adverse situations. Some riders don’t even apply the brakes in an emergency.
Panic can make it difficult for a rider to do the right thing in an emergency. It is essential to learn motorcycle-braking techniques, so they become instinctual responses.
Many riders do not have the skills to act accordingly during an emergency. Practice sharpens your emergency braking techniques to the point they become intuitive regardless of the situation.
Braking on the Front Wheels
The front brakes are the best and most effective brakes of your motorcycle. They provide up to 90 percent of your motorcycle’s stopping power, depending on the condition of the surface.
When you press the front brakes, a significant portion of your weight, as well as the motorcycle, is transferred forward to the front wheels and suspension. This is a case of action and reaction that enhances the motorcycle’s stopping power.
When you use the front brakes, the weight that transfers to the front suspension pushes down the tire and creates a larger area of contact between the tires and the surface. This increases the grip between the tires and the surface and causes the bike to stop.
Training
It is important to practice using correct braking procedures. Practice helps to instill the appropriate braking procedure into muscle memory.
Emergencies do not provide much opportunity to choose available options and apply the right one. Practice perfects braking techniques.
Braking on the Rear Wheel
When you brake a motorcycle, a significant portion of the bike and your weight is transferred to the front wheels. Therefore, the rear wheels become a bit light under braking.
The rear wheels are more susceptible to locking up when braking, especially if the brakes are over-applied. When the rear wheels lock, the motorcycle will skid.
The best way to prevent an accident or fall when your motorcycle skids are to:
- Keep calm
- Keep your eyes up
- Make sure your foot is on the footpegs
- Stop the skid by gently releasing the rear brake lever
If the motorcycle continues skidding:
- Try to steer into the skid so that the bike can travel straight
- Gently release the rear brake lever
Practice braking techniques in a controlled environment instead of the reality of a life-or-death situation.
Basic Braking Techniques to Learn
Some of the most valuable skills a rider should include proper braking techniques. Invest time in developing and practicing these skills.
When approaching a red light intersection, slow down, and check your mirrors to ensure other drivers and riders are at a safe distance. In addition, progressively change down through the gears to achieve compression braking.
Once your motorcycle stops at the intersection, engage the first gear, and be ready to move off. Always check the mirrors when slowing down as well as when the motorcycle comes to a complete stop.
The front brakes should supply about 70 percent of the braking force in normal stopping. The rear brakes should provide the rest of the braking force.
In an emergency stop, the front brakes should supply about 90 percent of the braking force while the rear brakes provide only 10 percent of the braking effort.
Avoid locking your elbows when braking because that may cause the bike to become unstable. In addition, focus on the pressure of your fingers on the brake lever and the amount of grip between the front tires and the road.
Brake slowly and smoothly. The initial squeeze on the brakes should last for about two seconds before you gently build pressure until the motorcycle comes to a complete stop.
