| There's nothing like the feeling you get
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| | and physics, grip, and sudden inputs.
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| when you're on your favorite road with a
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| | These elements are mastered only with
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| familiar bike. You flow through corners
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| | practice and are the foundation for
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| as if on a rail, senses peaked,
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| | nearly every other element.
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| adrenaline raging uncontrollably
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| | Braking is probably the single most
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| throughout your body. When it's done
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| | important element used in controlling
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| right, it's almost as though everything
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| | your bike in an emergency. When done
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| is moving in slow motion.
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| | correctly, it can produce several Gs of
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| You've done it dozens of times before;
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| | stopping power, easily lifting the rear
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| coming into the corner hard on the
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| | wheel completely off the ground and
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| brakes. You feel the rear tire slide and
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| | flipping the bike over completely if you
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| skip slightly to the side as you approach
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| | have the grip. The front tire of a street
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| the corner. You ease off the brake as you
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| | bike is responsible for 70% to 90% of
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| push the opposite grip, forcing the bike
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| | braking power under normal or semi-hard
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| to lean into the turn, with your knee
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| | braking, and up to 100% in emergency or
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| sticking out as if it were a wing. You
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| | stunting situations. The only exceptions
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| continue to slow until you reach full
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| | to this are in low traction conditions
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| lean and approach the apex, covering the
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| | such as wet, dirty or oily roads, or
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| brake and looking deep into the turn.
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| | while at high lean angles.
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| Then you see it. From the corner of your
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| | Under low traction conditions, the front
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| eye you see what appears to be a rabbit
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| | brake can be extremely dangerous and
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| running towards the road. In an instant
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| | should be used with extreme care, or not
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| your mind calculates paths between you
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| | at all. When the brakes are applied
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| and the rabbit, and you realize they will
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| | (either front or rear), weight is
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| intersect. You've already committed to
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| | transferred to the front of the bike. If
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| the corner, and you know if you remain on
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| | traction conditions are less than
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| your present line you'll hit the rabbit.
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| | favorable, front braking will load the
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| You also know that at that speed and lean
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| | front tire which will result in a skid
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| angle, hitting even the smallest of
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| | and likely a crash.
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| animals will greatly upset the bike and
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| | Braking while leaning over in a corner
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| likely result in a crash for you.
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| | will cause the bike to either stand up,
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| What happens next has many variables.
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| | changing your line drastically, or a loss
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| Some were determined before you ever
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| | of traction causing the bike to wash out
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| entered the corner; others will be
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| | from under you. Which is often called a
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| determined by what you do next.
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| | low-side. Be sure to allow yourself
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| Motorcycling can be an absolutely great
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| | enough extra grip and lean angle reserved
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| sport, but it can also be frighteningly
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| | (not used) in case you need to get hard
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| dangerous if you get into a situation
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| | on the brakes in a turn. It's not a good
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| like the one described above without the
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| | idea to EVER go into a corner at max
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| proper skills or preparation.
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| | speed unless you're on a race track. You
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| Your riding skills are something to be
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| | need to have an out in case of emergency,
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| mastered through practice, patience, and
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| | like a rabbit running into your path.
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| as you will (hopefully) soon find out,
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| | Changing course mid corner in a split
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| common sense and natural reaction. These
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| | second requires at least a small amount
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| skills should be honed into a natural
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| | of reserve lean angle and/or braking
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| reaction by those of us who weren't born
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| | ability. Going in at 100% doesn't leave
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| with them.
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| | you any wiggle room.
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| The first and most important element of
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| | Get to know your brakes and your
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| riding is acceleration and braking. They
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| | accelerator. They can be your best friend
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| involve (and are largely dependant on)
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| | if you get to know them well or your
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| several other elements including dynamics
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| | worst enemy if you don't understand them.
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