Braking tips (YZ250)

[Stusmoke]

Hai all, pretty easy question for you more experienced riders but as some of you know I've made the transition from Dumper to screamer and I'm looking for some advice on braking tips. I might not ride official MX but I still like to go as hard as possible for as long as possible. Tips for the following would be great:

Rider position during braking
Mental strategies for the fear of overshot and washing out
When to start braking and stop braking

Thanks guys

[ford832]

That's a lot to write Stu.I'd do a search on here. http://www.thumpertalk.com/forum/53-mx-riding-technique/ lots of good info 

[Recovered]

really the only time you will want to change your riding position when breaking is if the corner is slick or muddy then you'll want to lean forward till your head is basically over your handlebars that way your weighting the front end more so the front tire will get more grip and traction. Stusmoke if your just getting used to riding a 2t don't take the corners too fast until you start getting the feel for how the bike react's in the corners according to your speed and if there is a hard packed burm to use or no burm. Start out slow and stay away maybe a ft from the burm and as you get faster move up closer to the burm until your actually useing it then by that time you should be railing it and keeping good corner speed. As far as when to start breaking and when to stop that also comes with your speed and how confident you feel. start breaking about 2 bike lengths away from the turn just enough to slow yourself and set yourself up to enter the turn. Just tap the breaks when you do it you don't need alot and as you get faster you'll notice yourself breaking later and closer to the turn. If the turns are muddy and there is a burm to use I enter the turn about 6 inches away from the burm and let the bike slide into it and the tires dig in and twist the throttle and exit the turn.

[Coop]

Rider position during braking
-The rider should be positioned on the bike. Braking sucks when you are your back watching the bike ride itself...
Mental strategies for the fear of overshot and washing out
-Stop being a nancy and pin it...
When to start braking and stop braking
-Start braking when you need to slow down, stop braking when you want to go fast again...

 

Obviously I am just messing. I am not a racer so any techniques I talk about would be all off-road. Lots of good info out there on web sites, in videos, and books. If you can find someone that is more experienced than you, that is really the best way.

[msambuco]

Those rear brake pads are your little bi**hes. Burn em up. Rather than the 4T brake anytime you chop the throttle you decide when there on. now you can brake and be on the gas feathering the clutch at the same time. As a poor front braker I set my lever to hit my fingers before I can apply too much. When I need more and I know It I lift my right two fingers and put them on the lever. Will any of my advice make you a better rider, No. Will any of my advice make you have more fun, Giggity Giggity.

[LukeDuke25]

A good rotor and pads will help out..if you really want to stop better go with an oversize rotor!

http://www.enduroarmor.com/braking-race-brake-rotors/

[Stusmoke]

Thanks for all the great advice guys, I appreciate it (Coop you're excluded here, but I do appreciate the humor haha)

I am definitely getting better at braking in the right time and controlling it while standing up. I did alot of relubing on my bike today since its been sitting in the shed while I was waiting for my fuel tank. Also did alot of personalisation stuff like handle bar position, lever position, softened up the shockies a little bit and got them timed perfectly (the previous owner had them hugely out of sink, part of the reason the original fuel tank got broke). I'm also improving my speed through the corners alot too, so my technique is coming along very nicely. Thanks again guys

[cnrcpla]

Also did alot of personalisation stuff like handle bar position, lever position,

Mine is set up for me, and when ever I hop on anyone's bike, it feels so foreign because of the handle bar and control position.

[Stusmoke]

As I've said a dozen times over, if you wanna be fast, the bike MUST be set up to your every rhythm and love. Like a girl... If I had the dollars I would love to get my suspension set up for me but the dollar problem is whats stopping me unfortunately. I was getting really bad shoulder cramps before as a direct consequence of the handlebars being too high

[VintageBlueSmoke]

I hate to quote every motocross instructor and training video but ...

Figure Eights,
Figure Eights,
and more Figure Eights.

Make the long and wide, short and tight, long and tight, short and wide, oblong, round...

Practice, practice, practice.

I may be old and slow (vintage bikes against moder machinery - I race a 1975 175 in MX1! All of about 14 Hp) but I am the fastest in the corners. It is really satisfying when a fast kid comes up and says he couldn't pass me in the turns.