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Trail braking

Discussion in 'Tech' started by ZimZam, Aug 2, 2018.

  1. ZimZam

    ZimZam Well-Known Member

    What is it, and how is it performed in relation to racing? Arigato.
     
  2. Mongo

    Mongo Administrator

    This one is much more a tech type thing so I'll move it in there.

    Short answer is braking - albeit lighter than your initial grab - all the way to the apex of the corner.
     
  3. twodocs

    twodocs Well-Known Member

    slowing down slowly to go faster
     
    ZimZam and Knotcher like this.
  4. ZimZam

    ZimZam Well-Known Member

    I'll remember that in the future. Thanks.
     
  5. Mongo

    Mongo Administrator

    No worries at all - it's just one of those subjects that benefits all riders not just new ones.
     
    zrx12man and ZimZam like this.
  6. TurboBlew

    TurboBlew Registers Abusers

    in racing? Very aggressive and skillfully! :D
     
  7. mpusch

    mpusch Well-Known Member

    Phl218, beac83, ZimZam and 2 others like this.
  8. stangmx13

    stangmx13 Well-Known Member

    u could write a short book on trail braking and the how and why of it. a more specific question would be better for an Internet forum.

    if I had to type something as short as possible...
    - trail braking is braking while turning. the word "trail" comes from the idea that one might want to trail off the brakes (reduce braking force) while adding lean angle.
    - why? racers do this because its faster. it can help the moto turn a tighter radius. it can increase front tire grip. it scrubs off speed and can allow u to brake later. all of those lead to lower lap times.
    - how? thats too much for 2 sentences. reducing brake pressure inversely proportional to added lean angle is a good start.
     
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  9. MurfSVR

    MurfSVR Well-Known Member

    *all the way to the slowest point of the corner


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
    2blueYam, ZimZam, khill and 1 other person like this.
  10. gapman789

    gapman789 Well-Known Member

    Trail braking happens right before you crash. :)
     
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  11. mike-guy

    mike-guy Well-Known Member

    I really like understanding the science and math stuff behind things so maybe you do too.

    I guess the what it is is easy. Just breaking all the way to the apex (or about) while reducing pressure as you go.

    Ok so for the fun stuff. While the forks are compressed you get a much steeper angle on the steering which will make the bike far easy to turn. Secondly grip levels increase with more weight or forces being applied to the tires. Force = Mass x Acceleration but in this case I guess it's deacceleration. As you breaking your pushing that front tire into the ground which increases traction. If and when you start to practice trail braking DO NOT just let off them mid corner. I think most people learn trail braking though wreckless riding in a way. I know for myself I just entered corners way to fast and was like well ummmm here we go and then didn't crash. Some corners lend themselves to this a lot while others don't at all.
     
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  12. MurfSVR

    MurfSVR Well-Known Member

    *or past the apex


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  13. dobr24

    dobr24 Well-Known Member

    You trail brake in your car in every corner. Think about how you brake till you achieve the speed and direction you are happy with, then slowly applying less and less brake until you are back on the gas. That’s trail braking.
     
    ZimZam likes this.
  14. track wagon

    track wagon MCAS MIRAMAR

    Nailed it!
     
  15. tecknojoe

    tecknojoe Well-Known Member

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