I have always recommended that people occasionally practice hard breaking. I was a motorcycle instructor and apply the same principle to cars. I teach myself to apply the brakes in a rapid but controlled manner (not just stamp on the pedal. That way as you increase braking the weight is gradually transferred to the front and you increase traction and therefore braking effect. If you have your brain tuned to control what is happening if you start to get a lock up you are in a better position to ease the braking force and reapply again to get maximum braking effect. If you stamp and the brakes and lock everything up it will actually take longer to stop.

Having said all that I am a great believer in ABS and personally think it should be compulsory on all vehicles including road bikes. Trained braking is effective with ABS too but I'm not that clever any more so if I overcook it ABS, if fitted, is still there to back me up.

Peter

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