Locked the Rear Tire Twice in Two Days

tlhamon · July 8th, 2009, 08:35 AM

It's not like I'm riding fast (about 45 mph) but I had to make a quick stop for a light the last couple of days and locked the rear tire both times. Not complaining, but a bit surprising as I never had it happen on my heavier bikes. The Ninja is so light that it has a lot of idiosychrocies I didn't experience before. Like, don't ride on a windy day. I do love that I can actually walk it around (I only weigh 120 lbs) and that it is super easy to control, no issues with the tire locking up as the bike stayed straight and true.

noche_caliente · July 8th, 2009, 08:49 AM

Thomas, sounds like you need to be a little lighter on the rear brake - a bit less pressure and it should help keep it from locking up on you - pick any one of the 2 or 3 threads and there are lots of opinions on the issue

Snake · July 8th, 2009, 08:49 AM

I am not sure if you can adjust the pedal pressure on the rear brake but I will check and see.

billmi · July 8th, 2009, 08:55 AM

The rear brake pedal is directly linked to the rear master cylinder. It is adjustable, but the adjustment sets the position of the piston at the start of the brake pedal's stroke.

The only way you could adjust the pressure it delivers to the brake relative to the pressure applied to the pedal would be to change the diameter of the master cylinder (i.e. replace it with a narrower cylinder to provide less force) so that the ratio between its piston and the caliper pistons changed.

I think it would be easier to just get the feel of the brake through practice, since the pressure level that can cause the rear tire to loose traction with the street varies with the road surface, the tire, and anything in-between (sand, water, oil, etc.)

Alex · July 8th, 2009, 08:56 AM

You need to stop doing that. Much more front brake. Much less rear brake.

Thread 1
Thread 2

If you're locking up the rear tire, you don't just have a rear braking problem, you have a braking problem that is keeping you from stopping the bike in the shortest distance. Just using less rear brake doesn't fully fix the issue.

Verus Cidere · July 8th, 2009, 10:48 AM

Generally in situations like that, I hit the front brake fairly hard, but ease onto the rear brake. It makes it easier to keep it from locking up on you.

July 8th, 2009, 08:35 AM	#1
tlhamon ninjette.org member Name: Thomas Location: Traverse City, MI Join Date: Feb 2009 Motorcycle(s): None Yet Posts: 183	Locked the Rear Tire Twice in Two Days It's not like I'm riding fast (about 45 mph) but I had to make a quick stop for a light the last couple of days and locked the rear tire both times. Not complaining, but a bit surprising as I never had it happen on my heavier bikes. The Ninja is so light that it has a lot of idiosychrocies I didn't experience before. Like, don't ride on a windy day. I do love that I can actually walk it around (I only weigh 120 lbs) and that it is super easy to control, no issues with the tire locking up as the bike stayed straight and true. __________________________________________________ It's not worth doing if you aren't completely stressed out about it.

July 8th, 2009, 08:49 AM	#2
noche_caliente ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Kim Location: mundo de ensueño Join Date: Nov 2008 Motorcycle(s): '08 250 Posts: A lot.	Thomas, sounds like you need to be a little lighter on the rear brake - a bit less pressure and it should help keep it from locking up on you - pick any one of the 2 or 3 threads and there are lots of opinions on the issue __________________________________________________ Progrip tank pad, blue rim stripes, blue Pazzos, Roaring Toyz lowering kit, Puig DB in dark smoke, Cortech sport tail, super mini tank, and saddlebags, OES swingarm spools and Intuitive frame sliders

July 8th, 2009, 08:56 AM	#5
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	You need to stop doing that. Much more front brake. Much less rear brake. Thread 1 Thread 2 If you're locking up the rear tire, you don't just have a rear braking problem, you have a braking problem that is keeping you from stopping the bike in the shortest distance. Just using less rear brake doesn't fully fix the issue. __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

July 8th, 2009, 10:48 AM	#6
Verus Cidere ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Michael Location: Southern NM Join Date: Feb 2009 Motorcycle(s): '91 Honda CBR600 F2 Posts: A lot.	Generally in situations like that, I hit the front brake fairly hard, but ease onto the rear brake. It makes it easier to keep it from locking up on you. __________________________________________________ 1991 Honda CBR600 F2, White/Gray, D&D slip-on exhaust, tail integrator, gel grips, Custom undertail.

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July 8th, 2009, 08:49 AM	#3
Snake ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Rick Location: Alexandria, Louisiana Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): 05 Blue Ninja 250 Posts: Too much. MOTY - 2017, MOTM - Jan '19, Oct '16, May '14	I am not sure if you can adjust the pedal pressure on the rear brake but I will check and see.

July 8th, 2009, 08:55 AM	#4
billmi ninjette.org member Name: Bill Location: Palm Bay, FL Join Date: Jul 2009 Motorcycle(s): 82 XV750, 99 DR200SE, 04 DR200SE, 08 DR200SE, 95 EX250 Posts: 71	The rear brake pedal is directly linked to the rear master cylinder. It is adjustable, but the adjustment sets the position of the piston at the start of the brake pedal's stroke. The only way you could adjust the pressure it delivers to the brake relative to the pressure applied to the pedal would be to change the diameter of the master cylinder (i.e. replace it with a narrower cylinder to provide less force) so that the ratio between its piston and the caliper pistons changed. I think it would be easier to just get the feel of the brake through practice, since the pressure level that can cause the rear tire to loose traction with the street varies with the road surface, the tire, and anything in-between (sand, water, oil, etc.)