How quickly can YOU stop?

[snapshot]

I visited an old friend yesterday and we were discussing the difference between how good we really are at a skill set versus how good we think that we are. That got me to thinking about us riders and how we sometimes deceive ourselves about our ability.

A while back we got a group of friends got together to see just how quickly we could stop. Using an unused section of a local road, we set 30-mph as our speed to stop from and then measured each rider's attempt. We found that the distance varied a lot between the riders but that everyone improved. 43 feet was about the average stopping distance.

I found that due to my light weight (115 pounds) and constant practice a consistent 32-foot stop was manageable. That's with a very light touch on the rear brake and a smooth firm squeeze on the front.

So... The challenge is issued.

How short is the distance that you can stop from at 30-mph?

Let's find out!

Ride on,

J~

[crazymadbastard]

You ARE ON!
But first I have to finish it.

[fishdip]

Originally Posted by snapshot

I visited an old friend yesterday and we were discussing the difference between how good we really are at a skill set versus how good we think that we are. That got me to thinking about us riders and how we sometimes deceive ourselves about our ability.

A while back we got a group of friends got together to see just how quickly we could stop. Using an unused section of a local road, we set 30-mph as our speed to stop from and then measured each rider's attempt. We found that the distance varied a lot between the riders but that everyone improved. 43 feet was about the average stopping distance.

I found that due to my light weight (115 pounds) and constant practice a consistent 32-foot stop was manageable. That's with a very light touch on the rear brake and a smooth firm squeeze on the front.

So... The challenge is issued.

How short is the distance that you can stop from at 30-mph?

Let's find out!

Ride on,

J~

We need video of stops. Also it be nice some info about bike and tires.

[nickjpass]

I suuuuuuuuuuck at stopping.

[NevadaWolf]

Sounds like fun and I have the Msf course nearby to use their marked brake check lane.

[Whiskey]

Originally Posted by snapshot

I visited an old friend yesterday and we were discussing the difference between how good we really are at a skill set versus how good we think that we are. That got me to thinking about us riders and how we sometimes deceive ourselves about our ability.

A while back we got a group of friends got together to see just how quickly we could stop. Using an unused section of a local road, we set 30-mph as our speed to stop from and then measured each rider's attempt. We found that the distance varied a lot between the riders but that everyone improved. 43 feet was about the average stopping distance.

I found that due to my light weight (115 pounds) and constant practice a consistent 32-foot stop was manageable. That's with a very light touch on the rear brake and a smooth firm squeeze on the front.

So... The challenge is issued.

How short is the distance that you can stop from at 30-mph?

Let's find out!

Ride on,

J~

About 2ft if it involves a concrete wall, but you'll only do it once...

Let's not find out

[snapshot]

Originally Posted by fishdip

We need video of stops. Also it be nice some info about bike and tires.

Here's something on smooth braking that a friend shot a few years back during some practice that we were doing. He wanted me to do something with the video of it, so I put it together and posted it. That's on an '89 Honda Hawk GT with Metzeler Z6 tires, a CBR F2 front end and an aftermarket rear shock. It's about 430-pounds wet, iirc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJD9nUyRy3w

Bring it, peeps!

Originally Posted by NevadaWolf

Sounds like fun and I have the Msf course nearby to use their marked brake check lane.

Nice! Let us know how well you do.

Ride on,

J~

[crazymadbastard]

Originally Posted by nickjpass

I suuuuuuuuuuck at stopping.

but you ALWAYS manage to stop right?

[nickjpass]

Originally Posted by crazymadbastard

but you ALWAYS manage to stop right?

usually after low siding and hitting a tree or wall.

[cbinker]

does it matter what bike, i think the BMW may have a shorter stopping distance then my 250. even though it weighs more, the tires and brakes are much better.

[snapshot]

Originally Posted by cbinker

does it matter what bike, i think the BMW may have a shorter stopping distance then my 250. even though it weighs more, the tires and brakes are much better.

That's a good question. Why don't you check and see? Good data is a good thing.

During the group testing that we did, we found that it was more about the rider than the bike. One guy had a gixxer-one-million with aftermarket brake lines, rotors, and Brembo calipers. He was pissed (still is) that a stock single rotor '89 CB-1 400 was out-stopping his machine consistently by more than ten feet. So we swapped bikes and got the same results. He couldn't stop his own bike as quickly as I could. He did have about fifty pounds on me and I'm sure that it played a part.

I'm curious if anyone has tested their ABS equipped machine to see if does better than a non-ABS on dry pavement.

Ride on,

J~

[Sirref]

^ I'm jealous of the guy who has the '89 CB-1 400, sweet bike and hard to find at that

I'll do testing at some point, I know that my braking is definitely at a satisfactory level but I'm not sure if it's excellent.

On the track I brake just hard enough that the front begins to lock and the rear gets real loose

[cbinker]

Originally Posted by snapshot

That's a good question. Why don't you check and see? Good data is a good thing.

During the group testing that we did, we found that it was more about the rider than the bike. One guy had a gixxer-one-million with aftermarket brake lines, rotors, and Brembo calipers. He was pissed (still is) that a stock single rotor '89 CB-1 400 was out-stopping his machine consistently by more than ten feet. So we swapped bikes and got the same results. He couldn't stop his own bike as quickly as I could. He did have about fifty pounds on me and I'm sure that it played a part.

I'm curious if anyone has tested their ABS equipped machine to see if does better than a non-ABS on dry pavement.

Ride on,

J~

thats a huge weight difference.

[snapshot]

Originally Posted by Sirref

^ I'm jealous of the guy who has the '89 CB-1 400, sweet bike and hard to find at that

I'll do testing at some point, I know that my braking is definitely at a satisfactory level but I'm not sure if it's excellent.

On the track I brake just hard enough that the front begins to lock and the rear gets real loose

The CB-1 was a great machine. I've had two. Pic attached from a BattleTrax event in '04. Unfortunately, the parts supply has dried up. That's why I sold the last one.

Please do the braking test. When you know your limits it raises your confidence and lowers your lap times. It also makes you safer because you know that a sudden situation is manageable instead of being scary. "Fear is the mind-killer."

Ride on,

J~

[Sirref]

I have no issues braking and knowing how much I can brake at the track by feel and vision. I don't need to know exact feet amounts if I'm not measuring the track by feet. I'll do the test but I've done similar in practice just without exact measurements.

[spooph]

you're on, as soon as I get the bike running...

[ally99]

Originally Posted by crazymadbastard

but you ALWAYS manage to stop right?

Stopping is eventually inevitable.

[Sirref]

Originally Posted by ally99

Stopping is eventually inevitable.

tell that to alan shephard's golf ball


...yes I know it eventually stopped