Trail Braking

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Heard about this the other day - it's a new concept to me, and wondered whether anyone actually does this on the road; or if it's just an American thing?

What I understand of it (not looked at it much) is that you keep front brake pressure on, albeit very slightly, during a turn - or apply the same light touch during a turn, if it's going Pete Tong.

I think the only time I have ever used the front brake during turns, was back in the days of my R1 and my roundabout surfing to destroy countless knee sliders - but I was only doing that as a way to (hopefully) avoid being unable to slow whilst banked right over.

My instructor always told me, that if a turn is going wrong, use the rear brake - as it will help to 'tip the bike' into the turn.

 

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Think I'll stick to what I was taught, and what I have used for the last ~12 years of riding: braking done before the bend, gradually increase throttle through the turn as I watch the vanishing point; and use a bit of back brake to mop up if I run a bit wide.

After watching a bunch of videos, I just feel that trail braking seems unnecessary on the road, on the track yes, but I can't see the benefits for road riding; even fast road riding.

 

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Pretty much that, it's not something I use on the roads.

I use it for pretty much every corner on track. Modern race tyres are designed to be worked hard and it's astonishing how hard you can brake, deep into a corner. Maximum braking upright and then gradually reduce braking the more lean you add. braking into the corner keeps the weight forward, spreading the tyres contact patch, working the rubber to keep heat in it and compresses the front suspension which in turn shortens the wheel base making the bike easier to turn. As you reach the point you want to apply power (which isn't necessarily the corner apex) then you're off the brakes and feeding in the throttle. there should also be no coasting at any point, throttle or brake, nothing in between.

That sounds like the perfect application of the technique!

Adding it to road riding, is just adding yet another thing to think of when riding - fair enough, it will become muscle memory given time; but I would certainly dissuade newer riders (1-2 years of experience) from worrying about using it on the road. With the state of our roads and all the other things going on, I personally think a newer rider would benefit more on setting the correct speed for the corner, in advance.

I'd be interested to see if it's a skill that is taught on one of the Advanced riding courses.

 

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I’ve recently gone from an ‘86 XT600 to a 2010 Road King. I’m in the Algarve and the road I regularly use has 360 curves in a 30 mile run. Since the change I’ve started using rear brake only trail braking in most of the corners. It seems to give a lot more stability and with many corners being blind and the occasional tractor or camper van, that’s a big plus.
I keep a careful balance between the throttle and brake that means the power never goes completely off the rear wheel so no sudden jerk from power off to on.
For sure I’m not going fast but then the drivers here regularly go way over the solid white line.
So far no problems and my enjoyment of riding has shot up having alway been slightly bend fearful. For me it’s good that my throttle hand has only one thing to do. Curves are where it’s all at and there’s enough to think about already, speed, angle, ground clearance (especially on a big HD), road surface, other vehicles etc. To then have to think about both brakes and throttle and adjusting all three. Too much.

Welcome to the forum fella - totally not jealous of you living somewhere so nice

I too use the rear brake on corners (occasionally), as it's what I was taught during training, as one of the means to help slow down/help tip the bike into the corner more. Never really questioned it, as you would hope an advance rider training you, knows his beans.

I have always tried my best to be slow in and fast out.