1. Most motorcycle braking systems have a lever for the front brakes, and a separate
    lever for the rear brakes.
 
2. Integrated Brakes - Some braking system automatically affect the front brakes when
    the rear brakes are applied.  These are “integrated brakes”
 
3. Linked Brakes - Application of either brakes will force some pressure on the other
    brakes.
 
4. Anti-lock brakes - Designed to avoid skidding in a maximum braking straight line
    stop.


Straight Line Stopping

1. It’s very important to know how to stop your bike quickly.  Very quickly!
 
2. To achieve the quickest stop, you must learn how to apply both brakes quickly without
    causing either wheels to lock.
 
3. Simultaneously apply both brakes, look forward and ahead.


Braking in Curves

1. When braking in curves, the amount of traction is reduced.
 
2. Some of the traction is being used for turning, thus less is available for stopping.
 
3. To stop as fast as possible, straighten out your motorcycle, so that 100% of the
    traction can be devoted to braking.
 
4. Try to achieve a straight line stop.
 
5. Square the handle bars at the end of the stop.
 
 
Front Tire Skid

1. A front tire skid occurs when the front wheels lock.
 
2. To avoid a front tire skid, gently apply pressure to the front brakes - gradually as
    weight is shifted to the front tires during a stop.
 
3. Improper application of front side braking could result in a “low side” fall.  A low side
    crash is when the rider contacts the ground behind the sliding motorcycle, usually as
    the result of a front tire skid.

 
Rear Tire Skid

1. A rear tire skid is when the rear tire becomes “locked”.
 
2. A rear tire skid can occur when there isn’t enough weight on the rear tires when the
    brakes are applied.
 
    ie. all the weight has been applied to the front tires.
 
3. When a rear tire skid occurs, or when the rear tires are locked, the ability to turn is
    lost.
 
4. The greatest danger during a rear tire skid (or lock) is releasing the brakes as the
    rear tires are misaligned with the front wheels.  This could result in a loss of control
 
5. When you lose control during  a rear tire skid, you could potentially be thrown off the
    bike in what is called a “high-side” fall. 
 
6. A high side fall could produce serious injuries, as you will be airborne.
 
7. To prevent a high-side skid, keep your rear wheels locked and try to skid to a stop.
 
8. If you happen to fall, you will experience a low-side fall which will be less dangerous.
 
9. Release the back brakes during a rear tire skid only if both tires are properly aligned.
 
10. Even a slight misalignment could potentially cause a high-side fall.
 
 
Swerving

1. Swerving is basically two consecutive turns or counter steers.
 
2. The first swerve is the avoid the obstacle.  The 2nd swerve is to regain your original
    direction.
 
3. Avoid pressure to the appropriate handgrip to go in that direction.  Right to go right,
   left to go left.
 
4. Swerving may be necessary in some instances where stopping cannot be
    accomplished.
 
5. Research has shown that when traveling above 18mph, swerving may be a better
    answer than stopping.
 
6. Be sure you have enough time and space to swerve safely.
 
7. When swerving, keep the motorcycle lean independent of your body lean.
 
    ie. Keep your body upright at all times and do not lean with the bike.
 
8. Avoid target fixation, and keep your eye on the path.
 
9. Maintain a steady throttle and do not brake while swerving.
 
10. Any braking during a swerve may cause skidding.
 
11. Always brake while the bike is aligned straight.



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