Do You Trail Brake?

WJBertrand

Ventura Highway
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Jun 20, 2015
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Ventura, CA
I trail brake routinely. For me it’s part of the fun mastering your bike in the twisties. It also keeps the skill fresh in the case you actually need it.


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gunslinger_006

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May 21, 2016
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961
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Seattle, Washington
This isn’t directed at any specific person:

The term “chicken strip” is toxic nonsense that harms new riders.

There is *nothing* wrong with not using all of your tire on the street.

Having no unused tire also does *not* make you a skilled rider.
 
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scott123007

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Jul 27, 2012
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Jupiter, Florida
This isn’t directed at any specific person:

The term “chicken strip” is toxic nonsense that harms new riders.

There is *nothing* wrong with not using all of your tire on the street.

Having no unused tire also does *not* make you a skilled rider.
Well, I guess you could call them "Florida Strips", but other than that someone has to be REALLY thin skinned to be "harmed" by that phrase. LOL Motorcycling is not for pussies.
 

gunslinger_006

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Seattle, Washington
Well, I guess you could call them "Florida Strips", but other than that someone has to be REALLY thin skinned to be "harmed" by that phrase. LOL Motorcycling is not for pussies.
I wasnt harmed dude.

Its the second season rider who thinks they need to use all of their tire on the street because other riders think it makes them look “chicken”.

I can tell it got under your skin though, from your reply.
 

scott123007

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Jul 27, 2012
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Jupiter, Florida
I wasnt harmed dude.

Its the second season rider who thinks they need to use all of their tire on the street because other riders think it makes them look “chicken”.

I can tell it got under your skin though, from your reply.
To a degree it did. PC at its best. Reminds me of the time back in '73 (probably the dawn of this PC shit) when my boss at the Kawasaki shop where I worked, reprimanded me for using the phrase, "crash bars" instead of "safety bars". LOL
 

gunslinger_006

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May 21, 2016
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Seattle, Washington
Here is how this always goes:

Someone says “hey this thing is harmful to others”.

People who do the harmful thing either

1). Go “oh damn, ok” and change it up because they give a shit about new riders entering our sport.

2). Get defensive because agreeing means you gotta change. Attack the notion that maybe we can do better for new riders than to mislead them with this macho nonsense.

Which one did you choose?
 

scott123007

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Joined
Jul 27, 2012
Messages
1,461
Location
Jupiter, Florida
Here is how this always goes:

Someone says “hey this thing is harmful to others”.

People who do the harmful thing either

1). Go “oh damn, ok” and change it up because they give a shit about new riders entering our sport.

2). Get defensive because agreeing means you gotta change. Attack the notion that maybe we can do better for new riders than to mislead them with this macho nonsense.

Which one did you choose?
I'll end my part of this "difference of opinions" by saying that if a potential new rider is either so offended, or so insecure and butt hurt by hearing the phrase "chicken strips" that they will either not want to be a part of motorcycling, or do something out of their comfort zone to prove that they are not a chicken, they weren't good for the sport anyway.
 

BLW

Member
Joined
Sep 19, 2020
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Location
Reno ,Nevada
Thanks for your input "scott123007" , that was my first post on this site and I wasn't sure how to handle his reply,I agree with everything you said.
 
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ballisticexchris

Guest
The only place to ride on the edge of the tire past the chicken strips is the track. There is no public highway in the US where it is legal or safe to use up the whole tread of your tire. It is up to the rider if they are willing to risk a ticket or crash. Cornering at illegal speeds is one of the most dangerous things we do on a bike in regards to public highways. There are too many factors to consider. Line of sight, opposing traffic, debris, gravel, etc. If you cannot come to a safe stop within your line of sight in a corner, you are riding past your human reflex to keep the bike on the rubber in an emergency.
 

Sierra1

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Nov 7, 2016
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14,812
Location
Joshua TX
. . . . The term “chicken strip” is toxic nonsense that harms new riders. . . .
Seriously? o_O What else would call the unused portion of tire tread? I frequently refer to my own chicken strips being larger/smaller from tire to tire. I'm sure the phrase started way back when, before people stayed up late inventing ways to be offended. It's a descriptive term. . . . no more. . . . no less. If a person allows another person to influence/pressure the way they ride. . . . they probably shouldn't be riding. I've always told new riders to ease their way into their bike; stay in their comfort zone. But, I'm with scott. . . . motorcycles are dangerous, and aren't meant for the timid. :)

I whole heartedly agree with the rest of the original post. They, chicken strips, don't mean a thing about the rider.

I will dispute Chris's statement about the legality of using the entire tread. For the most part he's correct. Most roads do require high/illegal speeds to lean that far over. But, I have enjoyed roads that had turns that were so tight that I did use the whole tread. . . . and stayed below the posted speed limit. (or just a little over) And, actually, they were out in his neck of the woods.
 
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ballisticexchris

Guest
Yes Robert around here locally almost all the corners are blind. And you make a good point that all the tread can be used without speeding. Parking lot drills will have you using all the tread for sure. And I am quick to admit I'm afraid to use up the whole tires tread in a sharp turn. Hell it's scary enough wheeling through the canyons at a brisk pace and suddenly have some goofball cutting the apex in his drifting car coming at you.

Hey off the topic but has anyone else noticed random burn out donuts all over the place nowadays? I'm seeing more and more of them than ever the last year or so.
 

Sierra1

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Nov 7, 2016
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14,812
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Joshua TX
. . . . Hey off the topic but has anyone else noticed random burn out donuts all over the place nowadays? I'm seeing more and more of them than ever the last year or so.
No surprise. Mustangs, Camaros, and the Hell-Beasts pushing stupid amounts of HP. I know that the Ford & Chevy offerings have line locks; allows you to hold the front brake while you do your pre-race burnouts. Not to mention the ease of bolting on 100+ HP adders. Don't forget all the Bro-Trucks, with the tons of torque. The latest Ford and Dodge oil burners are pumpin' out 1,000 lb ft. . . . from the factory. Donuts for everyone!! :D
 

Boris

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Dec 21, 2013
Messages
2,051
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midlands. UK
The only place to ride on the edge of the tire past the chicken strips is the track. There is no public highway in the US where it is legal or safe to use up the whole tread of your tire. It is up to the rider if they are willing to risk a ticket or crash. Cornering at illegal speeds is one of the most dangerous things we do on a bike in regards to public highways. There are too many factors to consider. Line of sight, opposing traffic, debris, gravel, etc. If you cannot come to a safe stop within your line of sight in a corner, you are riding past your human reflex to keep the bike on the rubber in an emergency.
Really? You don’t need to be going fast to use all of the available tread, nor be riding dangerously or illegally.
 

PhilPhilippines

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Jun 20, 2020
Messages
952
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Philippines
In the UK there is Roadcraft. It is a book that develops safe techniques to an advanced level. In doing so it recommends: IPSGA
1) Observe the limit point of the bend
2) Reduce your speed so that you can comfortably stop on your side of the road within the distance you can see to be clear (before the limit point)
3) As you come off the brakes select an appropriate flexible gear for the bend
4) As you steer into the bend maintain the speed with the throttle to neither acc/decelerate
5) As the limit point starts moving away, accelerate.
This is the safest way to take a corner for all standards and encourages "information" to dictate the speed prior to entry.

There is however, the option to trail brake. That can be utilised once your observation links have been honed to a very high standard. So high that you never make an error in entry speed - To ".....Reduce your speed so that you can comfortably stop on your side of the road within the distance you can see to be clear (before the limit point)...." can be compressed slightly with trail braking, however, road surface condition, micro climates, camber, etc, must all have been taken into consideration 100% or an incident can ensue.

 
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